Everyone we meet is fighting a battle we are unaware of. They may have smiles on their faces or strong voices. However, beneath the tough and happy exterior is a different story that deserves everyone’s kindness, support, and understanding.

In the case of Jyrl Oldham, a sweet surprise awaited her as soon as she boarded her plane bound for Hawaii.

That’s because Jyrl only recently recovered from cancer. The difficulties began in March 2021, when she received news from her doctor that no one ever wants to hear: she had breast cancer.

And, to make matters worse, Jyrl was pregnant at the time she was diagnosed with cancer. But having a baby on the way only strengthened Jyrl’s resolve to fight on and prove to cancer that she would not be defeated.

Jyrl began cancer treatments as soon as she gave birth to her daughter. It had been a brutal and intense few months. Jyrl nearly died during one of her treatments, according to Valeri Jones, one of her closest friends.

It was at that point that Jyrl considered taking a well-deserved vacation, her way of telling the universe that she was still alive and well.

Jyrl’s vacation location? Hawaii is stunning!

And if your wife beats cancer while caring for your newborn, isn’t it only natural to surprise her with a small token of your admiration and gratitude? Jyrl’s husband, Garrison, did this on her Southwest Airlines flight to Hawaii.

Jyrl listened to the captain’s voice on the speaker as he welcomed a’special guest’ on their flight, accompanied by Valeri and another friend.

Instead of the usual greeting, the pilot began telling everyone about this guest’s battle with late-stage breast cancer and her recovery. With that, he motioned for a round of applause for Jyrl.

How did Garrison pull off such a delightful surprise? He emailed Southwest Airlines and printed a letter for the flight attendants days before Jyrl’s flight. Garrison knew that Jyrl would appreciate the gesture and be moved by the onboard announcement because she was a former pilot herself.

And, as expected, his wife was genuinely surprised and visibly moved by the passengers’ and crew’s heartfelt applause and words of congratulations.

She could be seen getting teary-eyed as she smiled at everyone and soaked in the love in a video taken and uploaded by her friend Valeri.

It’s a lovely and thoughtful way to support this cancer patient and survivor, as well as an exciting way to begin their Hawaiian vacation!

To some, a simple shoutout like this may appear insignificant. But it means everything to a cancer patient. Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, with an estimated 10 million deaths in 2020. One of the most common types of cancer is breast cancer.

Cancer causes physical, emotional, and mental distress. Furthermore, medical expenses continue to mount, often with no guarantee that you will even beat cancer despite all of your cancer treatments. Any act of kindness or message of support can certainly brighten someone’s day.

To borrow the captain’s words, it’s pretty special in today’s world to share a human bond and care for one another. And he’s right; after all, everyone is just one big family.

And if we can brighten someone’s day and make them happier in our own small way, we should do it right away, no questions asked.

To everyone who is fighting cancer, may Jyrl’s story inspire you to keep fighting and beating cancer.

Watch the touching surprise announcement and Jyrl’s heartwarming reaction in the video below, which has gone viral. Don’t forget to bring some Kleenex!