From Hidden Brain Media, I'm Shankarvedantam. This is my unsung hero,

stories where one person reached out to help another in a time of need. My story is about a group of

unsung heroes. He just pulled up a chair and we talked I'd say for about 90

minutes. I don't know if she really understands or appreciates the full impact that she's had in my life and still continues to have.

This week we're featuring stories that take place in airports as many of us travel for the Memorial Day holiday. Today's story comes

from Linda Reddish and unlike so many of the people who share their stories with us

Linda knows the name of her unsung hero, Karen Clemson.

In 2013, Linda and her husband were flying from Nebraska to Chicago

with that three-month-old baby.

It was our first time flying as a family and

I was so nervous because it was my first time flying with a newborn.

I knew that people have all kinds of feelings when there are children on an airplane.

It was also the holidays so at that time you know lots of people were flying and I knew we would probably be

smushed in. It was also one of the carriers where you have to pick your seats so we couldn't

necessarily, you know know pick our spot and as we boarded the

plane there was Karen. Karen she had this like really beautiful, I remember, smile, just so warm.

And she had those glasses, you know, like the librarian glasses that kind of like tucked down to the bottom of your nose

that people kind of look over with their eyes and Karen peered up over her glasses

and looked at me and said oh honey you're sitting next to me and just plop me down next to her.

And she said, I've been a pediatric nurse my whole life and I have no problem having a beautiful brand new mother and

babysit next to me and I remember in that moment that I just wanted to cry, like cry because I felt so much gratitude,

cry because I did not feel beautiful right after giving birth.

...