Pilot Shouts Out Breast Cancer Survivor on Hawaii-Bound Flight
A woman headed to Hawaii to celebrate surviving late-stage breast cancer was filled with emotion when the captain on her Southwest flight gave her a special shout-out on September 4.
Jyrl Oldham, seen in video in a striped shirt, was diagnosed with cancer in March 2021 while she was pregnant, according to her friend, Valeri Jones, who captured this video and posted it to Instagram.
“She started treatments ASAP after her daughter was born in August 2021,” Jones told Storyful. “She finished surgeries and treatments and was deemed cancer-free in August 2022. After almost passing away during one of her treatments, she thought a vacation was necessary to prove to cancer it hadn’t won and she still had the strength to go on with life!” she said.
The surprise announcement was planned by Jones’s husband, Garrison, who wrote an email to the airline ahead of the flight and printed a letter for the flight attendant before boarding the plane, Jones told Storyful.
In the footage, the captain can be heard in his announcement saying, “I would like to add a special welcome to a special guest in today’s flight: We have a passenger who’s headed to Hawaii with us today to celebrate her victory over late-stage breast cancer…”
The captain continues, “She fought valiantly and is now cancer-free. Please join me in giving her, Jyrl Oldham, a round of applause.”
“Jyrl, who is a former pilot herself, loved the announcement and was elated at the reaction the passengers on the plane gave her. It was a great way to kick off our trip,” Jones said. Credit: Valeri Jones via Storyful
Video transcript
PILOT: I would like to add a special welcome to a special guest in today's flight. We have a passenger who is headed to Hawaii with us today to celebrate her victory over late-stage breast cancer.
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS]
You got me early on that one. She fought valiantly and is now cancer free. Please join me in giving her-- Gerald Oldham a round of applause.
[CHEERS]
In today's environment it just makes it special that we can share that with you. Give a thought to take care of each other. Everybody's a big family out there. Welcome aboard. Congratulations.
And I would like to add a special welcome to a special guest in today's flight. We have a passenger who's headed to Hawaii with us today to celebrate her victory over late-stage breast cancer.
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS]
You got me early on that one. She fought valiantly and is now cancer free. Please join me in giving her-- Gerald Oldham a round of applause.
[CHEERS]
In today's environment, it just makes it special that we can share that with you. Give a thought to take care of each other. Everybody's a big family out there. Welcome aboard. Congratulations.
