A LOOK INTO DEATH

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It was just a few days into my amazing vacation. I had no idea that something life changing was awaiting me.

I couldn’t have seen this coming.

Not in a million years, would I have thought that I would would be placed in such this situation. 

As I was flying, I remember seeing the flashing red lights, and hearing the urgency and seriousness in the pilot’s voice say, “We need a doctor or emergency professional staff  RIGHT away!”

There was NO question in my mind if I would help.

I swiftly got out of my seat headed to the back of the plane. 

As the flight attendant pulled the curtain back, I remember seeing her lifeless body and the staff frantically doing CPR.

Her skin was clammy and cold like ice.

I shook her, no response. 

I felt for a pulse, no pulse.

I pulled her eyelids back, no movement. 

In my heart I thought, “Lord is she already dead?”

The plane was several miles in the sky and we were currently over the Atlantic Ocean. There was NO WAY we could stop the plane and land.

My nursing instincts kicked in and I went into emergency mode.  

I took the scissors, cut her dress open, and I connected the AED and placed the pads on her.  I relieved the previous personnel doing CPR and I began compressions. 

1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10..11..12..13..14..15..16..17..18..19..20..21..22..23..24..25..26..27..28..29..30

She was already at the point where maintaining a patent airway was very difficult. Yet and still the flight attendants and other medical volunteers did their best to give her breaths and give her oxygen. 

5 mins past…no pulse..no heart rhythm..no breath..

10mins past..no pulse..no heart rhythm..no breath..

20mins past..no pulse..no heart rhythm..no breath..

I remember while doing her compressions I kept thinking…

I’m sure she did not wake up thinking today would be her last day.

I’m sure she never thought her last moments would be spent on an airplane.

I wonder what her last thought was before she slipped into unconsciousness?

I wonder if she told her family she loved them?

I wonder if she was kind?

I wonder if she knew God?

I wonder if she obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ?

I wonder if she was saved?

I wonder…

After almost 45min of doing CPR, no change in her status came about. It was then that time of death was called by one of Doctors on the flight. Those words felt like a knife piercing the depths of my soul.

She was dead and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

I stared at her lifeless body..in absolute disbelief.

I looked like a deer in headlights.

Did this really just happen?

Did this young lady just die on the plane?

What about her plans?

What about her family?

She was a person.

She was someone’s child.

She was someone’s daughter.

She was someone’s friend.

She was someone’s co-worker.

She was SOMEONE.

Someone that had a STORY.

Someone that had a JOURNEY.

Someone that HAS a SOUL.

The weeping cries from the flight attendants kept echoing through my ears and heart. Yet, I couldn’t move myself to cry. My brain and heart was still trying to process everything.

My heart ached for her.

It ached for her family.

It ached for her friends.

It ached for her soul.

When I made it to my destination that night, my mind was still restless. After showering and grabbing a bite to eat, I was able to settle in on the couch. Then suddenly..

EVERYTHING 

HIT 

ME 

LIKE

 A 

TON 

OF 

BRICKS.

I let out the loudest wail and wept from the depths of my soul! The gravity of what had just happened a few hours ago finally hit me. Grief overtook me and my tears could not be kept in or silenced any longer. My parents just comforted me and let me cry for as long as I needed. A person lost their life today and I was there to witness it face to face. As long as I live I will never forget this day, her face, and this experience.

As bad as my heart aches..God is STILL worthy to be praised! God is on the throne and He is in control. It was her appointed time with death and there was nothing anyone could do to change that. 

This experience has helped me realize the SERIOUSNESS of LIFE and DEATH. 

DEATH is awaiting ALL of us.

It can happen at ANYTIME and in ANY MOMENT.

EVEN on VACATIONS and EVEN on AIRPLANES.

Death is assigned to each of us.

So we must BE READY and STAY READY. 

For every faithful Christian, through Christ, we have the victory over death. Because of Him, death does not have to end in fear but in a confident peaceful rest. I’m just thankful to know Christ and because of that fact I want to fearlessly and faithfully proclaim Christ to others even more!

Because of HIM there is HOPE after DEATH!

For faithful Christians, DEATH is NOT something to fear.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”-Philippians 1:21

 

I stared death face to face on that day and I wasn’t scared. I was inspired to fight for life..SPIRITUAL LIFE. I was inspired to proclaim Christ even more. I was inspired to live the gospel and to teach the gospel to every soul I encounter. For it is through the gospel of Jesus that there is hope after physical death. It is because of Jesus that death has no victory and no sting. Thank you Lord!

 

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”-1 Corinthians 15:54-57

With love,

Ashley Moneet

Fearless.Faithful.Following

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3 Responses

  1. Wow! I almost don’t have any words. This is so powerful. God knew you would be able to go through this and come out with an encouraging word to help us put/KEEP things in perspective. Amen to that!! Praying for the young lady’s family.

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