34-year-old, Jerome Lawrence has finally achieved becoming a pilot and also flying his mother on her first-ever flight home after his father’s death.
Jerome, A United Airlines pilot from Tobago surprised his mom with a flight back home after their fathers death. He told GMA that it took him years to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot after he began flight lessons at 17. T
He credits all of his achievements to his parents, mom Gwendoline Lawrence and late dad John Lawrence adding that they knew about his dream and they supported him. So when he realized he had the chance to surprise his mom on a trip home to their hometown, he jumped at the opportunity.
“I always wanted to fly my mom and dad as an airline pilot because they saw the dream. They saw me through it all so it was always a goal of mine to do that,” he said.
Jerome mentioned that he used the opportunity and did not wait “for the perfect moment” to fly his 62-year-old mother considering just four months ago, his father died on Christmas Day, and he did not have the opportunity to fly him during his lifetime.
With the help of his fellow United Airlines staffers, he pulled the surprise Onboard United Flight 2353, from Houston to Port of Spain in Trinidad.
“The biggest thing was her seeing me before we got to the plane. But everyone from the gate agents to the flight attendants, even my captain, everyone was like, ‘OK, cool. Let’s make this happen,” he said.
During the flight, he made a special announcement over the public address system, which was caught on camera in a video that went viral on social media. He introduced his mother adding that it was his first time flying his mom and also his first time returning to the Caribbean islands in 17 years.
“It’s a special moment for me I’d like to share with you guys. There’s a lady in here — she’s in first class — is my mom. “I can’t even begin to express how important it is to share this moment with you. It’s been a long road for us,” Jerome said.
”My dad should have been here on this flight. But he decided to fly higher than all of us. He’s up there with the other angels watching over us, and so, again, thank you for flying United. Thank you for being here with us,”’ he added.
Jerome concluded the surprise speech with a message to al parents noting that they should always encourage and support their children in the pursuit of their dreams.
“Keep encouraging your children to be great and do whatever it is that they want to, because, without the support of my mother and my father, I wouldn’t be here flying you down to Port of Spain,” he said.
Jerome’s mother stated that she had no idea that her son had planned a big surprise, which she said nearly overwhelmed her. “I was so emotional leaving my niece at the airport that morning because I told her it will be the first time I’m traveling out and going home to no one,” Gwendoline said.
“My husband would come to the airport and meet me, and so this was the first time in all my years of traveling, so I was very emotional,” she added. Jerome describes his father as a gentle giant because he played a major role in his success.
“Without his support, I probably wouldn’t be here today. And that was why me flying him was always such an important thing, because I wanted him to see, hey, this is what you invested in all these years, come and see what it is … but he was loving, caring, very supportive,” he said.
“He provided for us in an immense capacity that I’m hoping one day, when I do have my own family, I’m able to replicate that in some capacity,” he added.