Terryville resident Chalaine Kilduff and her 2-year-old son Beckham were traveling through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport last December when, like many 2-year-olds, Beckham started to cry during a long travel day.
“We were at a layover in Atlanta and it already had been a long day of travel for a little 2-year-old,” Kilduff said. “I also have two other kids, so it was a long day of travel for all of them. We were eating at TGI Fridays and my 2-year-old started having what I call a ‘meltdown’ as he didn’t want to be sitting anymore.”
But what happened next caught Kilduff by complete surprise.
“That’s when a waitress walked over and just happened to be walking by at the moment. She saw my son cry and immediately put her arms out to him,” she said. “She said ‘no crying in here’ and then she asked if my son wanted to get some strawberries. My son went right to her, which was surprising, because he’s usually very shy. She asked if she could take him to get some strawberries and cherries and we agreed. She was so comforting and my son immediately felt safe.”
Kilduff said she was so taken aback by the genuine act of kindness that she began recording with her phone.
The waitress, who works at the TGI Fridays, immediately comforted Beckham in the now-viral video on Instagram. In the video, Bell picks up Beckham and immediately stops him from crying. She takes him to get strawberries and cherries and hugs and comforts him. The moment of kindness became an internet sensation, according to Kilduff.
“My son had the biggest smile on his face. He immediately felt safe with her,” Kilduff said. “It was such a genuine moment.”
After Kilduff posted the video to social media, she said it immediately resonated with so many people. Since early December, the video has been seen by millions of people on TikTok and Instagram. Many viewers began asking if they could donate to the waitress.
“Almost immediately the video blew up, I think because in today’s world, people just want to see something good,” Kilduff said. “People want to see kindness.”
She said that she immediately set out on a mission to identify the waitress so she could set up a GoFundMe to show support for her good deed. After an online tip, she said she found out the waitress’ name is Brittany Bell.
This past Friday, Kilduff and her son Beckham presented Bell with a check at the airport for over $12,000. Bell said she plans to use the money as a down payment toward a home.
“At first, when we launched the GoFundMe, it had raised about $400,” Kilduff said. “Brittany was so happy with just that. She was going to a pay a bill for her mother. Now she’s going to be able to get a house. I couldn’t be more thrilled. She says she now calls herself ‘Auntie Bell’ and my son loves her. He calls her ‘Princess Bell’ after the Disney character. I think we will be friends for a long time.”
Kilduff and Bell are now working on an effort to help mothers who receive difficult diagnoses during pregnancy. Kilduff is the CEO of the No Fear Foundation, which helps new mothers overcome the challenges and difficulties of receiving a difficult diagnosis for their baby. She said she started the foundation after her own child was born without a hand. The No Fear Foundation acts as a support network and helps cover costs for mother’s navigating a difficult diagnosis.
The pair have now launched a GoFundMe to help raise funds for the nonprofit.
“We’re here to pour love into moms,” the GoFundMe says, “to help remind them that they’re not alone and to do whatever we can to alleviate stress so they can focus on their baby.”
Stephen Underwood can be reached at [email protected].