July 21, 2025
She Only Had Months Left—But She Got to Fly
Terminally Ill 17-Year-Old Girl With Down Syndrome Fulfills Her Lifelong Dream of Becoming a Flight Attendant There are stories that break your heart, and then there are stories that gently stitch the pieces back together. This is one of those stories. It’s about a teenager who refused to let her diagnosis define her limits. A girl whose joy could light up a room, whose smile could melt the hardest of hearts, and whose dream—to become a flight attendant—took her somewhere far beyond what anyone expected. Her name is Shantell Pooser. Most people call her “Shannie.” At just 17 years old,