For most, losing your first tooth is a huge milestone. When one little girl lost her tooth on an airplane, she couldn't have been more thrilled. That was until she realized the tooth was gone.
Lauren And Lena Go To South Carolina
Lauren Larmon and her six-year-old daughter Lena had planned a trip from New York to South Carolina.
They hopped aboard a United Airlines flight and found their seats in coach.
Nap Time
Similar to many six-year-olds, Lena needed to take a nap to get her through the approximately two-hour flight.
She was able to get in a long nap, but when she woke up, she realized something was wrong.
She Lost Her First Tooth!
Lena woke up from her nap feeling refreshed but quickly realized something was amiss.
The six-year-old soon noticed that her tooth had fallen out. This would be her very first lost tooth.
Where Was The Tooth?
Although she was excited to lose her first tooth, Lena started to freak out when she couldn't find where it went!
This would become a big deal for both Lauren and Lena because they needed to find a small tooth on a large airplane.
Lena Recalls The Story
When Lena and Lauren appeared on Good Morning America, Lena wanted to share what happened on the plane.
"I was sleeping on the airplane. My mom woke me up...and we were going to pick our suitcases up," said Lena.
Lena Asks About The Tooth Fairy
Lena continued, "And I said, 'Mommy, mommy, I think my tooth fell out.'"
Lena's mother then heard her say something quite precious. She asked, "Do tooth fairies even fly coach?"
Lena Didn't Think Her Tooth Would Fall Out
Lena knew her tooth was wiggly but thought she had more time before it would fall out.
She and her mother had been traveling for a few days already, and there were no signs that it was ready to come out.
Trying To Retrieve The Tooth
Lauren examined her daughter and saw that the missing tooth was one of her bottom teeth.
The two turned around and tried to get back on the airplane. Unfortunately, security had already closed the doors.
Lena Has An Outburst
After Lena found out she wouldn't be able to look for her missing tooth, she broke down.
Her mother told Good Morning America that Lena was "very emotional" and "crying."
Hope Was Almost Lost
Lena was completely devastated that her very first missing tooth would be gone forever.
"I was like, 'We're never gonna find my tooth again!,'" Lena shared with Good Morning America.
A Pilot Pays It Forward
Lena really wanted a visit from the tooth fairy but didn't think she'd get one without her tooth.
After their pilot heard what was going on, he wanted to step in and help.
Captain Josh To The Rescue
Captain Josh Duchow from United Airlines wanted to save the day.
He had the idea to write the tooth fairy a letter explaining what happened to Lena's tooth. Lena wasn't sure it would work.
The Note
Captain Josh wrote a letter explaining why there wouldn't be a tooth under Lena's pillow for the tooth fairy.
"Dear Tooth Fairy, Lena had a tooth fall out on our flight to Greenville, please take this note in place of her tooth." He signed it "Captain Josh."
Lena Was Skeptical
While Lena wasn't sure that Captain Josh's note would work, she tried it anyway. And it's a good thing she did.
Much to Lena's delight, the tooth fairy accepted the note.
The Tooth Fairy Responds
Lena was ecstatic when the tooth fairy accepted the note, and she even got a reply directly from the tooth fairy herself.
"Lena, it is OK that you have lost your tooth on the airplane. I will get it. Keep brushing," she wrote.
Lauren Shares The Story Online
Lena's mother thought this situation was so heartwarming and wanted to share it with others on social media.
She took to her Facebook and Instagram pages and made the story public.
Her Post
Lauren shared her daughter's story on Facebook.
The caption on her post said, "In a world full of bad airline stories, @united came through when Lena fell asleep on her flight home and woke up without a tooth."
The Post Contined
The post went on to say, "Very concerned that The Tooth Fairy would not show up because the tooth is somewhere on the airplane."
"The pilot saw Lena trying to go back through security to get her tooth and helped her out."
Finishing The Post With A Big Thank You
Lauren ends the caption by writing, "Thank you, Captain Josh! I'm sure the Tooth Fairy will accept this note in lieu of a tiny tooth."
If it weren't for Captain Josh, Lauren wasn't sure what she would've done.
A Happy Ending
Captain Josh isn't just a pilot, but an everyday hero. Lena was able to get her visit from the tooth fairy thanks to his quick thinking.
Hopefully, Lena will take the tooth fairy's advice to "keep brushing."
