Southwest Airlines Gets a New Mechanic for the Day

Five-year-old Randy was born with a rare heart defect that led to the left side of his heart being severely undeveloped. Randy has undergone three open-heart surgeries in his short life. 

Despite this, Randy is a fun-loving kid who enjoys being with his friends and hanging out with his little brother. “He is essentially like any other kid,” his dad, Randolph, said.

Randy knows he has a special heart, so he likes to make connections to things with hearts on them. He feels particularly connected to Southwest Airlines because of the brand’s heart logo on the side of their planes.

“Mom, there’s a heart, just like my heart,” Randy has said to his mom, Vicki, while watching the planes go by at the Southwest terminal at the airport. He also loves to watch the Southwest luggage handlers and airplane mechanics at work.

When Make-A-Wish® gave Randy the opportunity to imagine his one true wish, he knew he wanted to be a Southwest Airlines mechanic at the Los Angeles International Airport.

During his wish, Randy was able to check the tire pressure, fix seatbelts and even start the engine on an airplane. “It was super fun,” Randy said. He was also given a locker and a uniform with his name on it, just like the rest of the crew.

Southwest Airlines gives children like Randy the chance to experience life beyond illness through the power of a wish. Southwest Airlines has been a dedicated partner with Make-A-Wish since 2011. In 2019 alone, Southwest has provided $1.04 million worth of travel to thousands of wish kids.

Thank you, Southwest Airlines! Your support is opening the door to endless possibilities for kids like Randy when they need it most.