Mum’s Facebook post goes viral after sentimental hat was lost on Jetstar flight

A MUM’S heartfelt plea to help her find her son’s cap that went missing at the airport on Monday has taken off on the internet for a heartbreaking reason.

Katie Peden with her children, in a picture taken just months after her husband Bryn died.

TASSIE toddler Braxton Peden doesn’t have much to remind him of his dad Bryn who died in a tragic motorbike accident last year.

But he has a hat — a hat that he lost two days ago at Sydney Airport.

Distraught mum Katie is desperate to track down the sentimental item, posting a plea to social media in the hope that someone could help.

The Aussie public has gotten behind the grieving family’s mission, sharing her heartfelt post more than 19,000 times, with 1900 likes and as many comments.

Ms Peden said losing her son’s prized possession felt like they were losing Bryn all over again.

“This Kings snap back hat was given to our son Braxton two years ago by my husband Bryn, as it turned out to be too small for him and he said it’ll fit Braxton soon,” the 26-year-old told news.com.au.

Braxton Peden wearing his beloved hat.

Katie and Bryn Peden with their children. This is the only photo they have all together.

“Bryn was away interstate working for five weeks due to the lack of work on the north west coast of Tasmania and we were in the process of relocating from Tasmania to Canberra to be with him.

“It was all booked for the Easter long weekend of 2016.

“Unfortunately on March 2, 2016, Bryn had a single vehicle motorcycle accident and hit a lone tree, which resulted in his death.

“So this hat is very sentimental to us, as Bryn’s belongings are all we have left of him, they are very special to us.”

Braxton Peden wearing his dad's hat.

The mother of two said Braxton was devastated by the loss, and thinks the hat was misplaced at Jetstar’s Terminal 2 at Sydney Domestic Airport.

“He knows what happened to his dad and talks about him openly, as I try and keep his memory alive for the boys as much as possible,” a distressed Ms Peden said.

“We were travelling from Sydney to Launceston on flight JQ749 at 3.15pm on Monday, March 20, at gate 54, with a last minute gate change to 55.

“I feel it would be around that area as I only noticed we didn’t have it when we were disembarking from the aircraft in Launceston.

“I feel Jetstar have been as helpful as they can be — I’ve explained the situation and I could feel the empathy in their response.

“I’m just hoping that who ever picked up the hat can see how much it means to us, the sentimental value it holds to us, especially Braxton, and can contact me or the airline.

“I’m feeling a little flustered that it’s my fault, but it’s so hard to juggle two children on your own, especially in an airport and also trying to deal with the usual daily tasks of being a mum and coping with the grief of losing my husband.”

Bryn Peden died in a motorbike accident last year, and a hat he bought for his son Braxton (pictured left) was one of the few possessions the toddler had of his dad.

“It’s definitely bringing everything up, the raw emotion of not having any help with the children and also only having these objects and not him standing in front of us.

“People say ‘but he’ll always be with you’ — but it’s not the same as Bryn physically being here.

“Some people say ‘it’s just a hat’ — but it’s so much more than that now.”

Braxton was just two when his dad died, and baby brother Archie just seven-months-old.

“I’ve had a large amount of messages from complete strangers that are wonderful — from staff that work there, ground crew, engineers, to passengers that are travelling today [Wednesday] who said they’ll go and ask the staff and have a look for me,” Ms Peden said.

“Staff have circulated my post within their departments to try and track it down, which is so nice of them.

“It’s great to see that there really are good people out there that are happy to try and help a complete stranger.

“I think this situation may hit home and touch people’s hearts.

“This can happen to anyone — you never know how long you have here on Earth.

“What I want is for people to keep sharing the post, because if it’s found and returned, then I’ve done everything in my power to try and bring the hat home to Braxton.

“It will mean so much to me and he will be so excited.”

Katie Peden and her kids on the plane

Originally published as Mum’s Facebook post goes viral after sentimental hat was lost on Jetstar flight