As a flight attendant, I’ve met a lot of different people, and each one has a story. But the life of a woman I saved in the middle of a flight two years ago will never leave me. I had no idea how much her Christmas present would change my life.
To make ends meet, I was 26 and living in a small flat in the basement. It was impossible to breathe because of the stress of unpaid bills and the sadness of losing my mum six months before. Things changed dramatically when I saved Mrs. Peterson’s life on a business-class trip.
I jumped into action when I heard a coughing sound and a desperate cry for help. When I did the Heimlich manoeuvre on her, the object stuck in her throat came out on the third push. She gasped and took deep breaths, then thanked me very much.
Things kept going, but when my mum died, everything changed. I quit my job to take care of her, and we sold some things to pay for her hospital bills. It was very hard for her to give away her last drawing, a tiny watercolour.
That Christmas Eve, I was sad and locked myself in my flat by myself. Then someone knocked on the door and things changed. A well-dressed guy brought a gift box with a red bow. When I got inside, I saw my mom’s picture, and my heart stopped.
Mrs. Peterson gave me the gift after seeing the picture online and getting in touch with me. She said it made her think of her late daughter. The things Mrs. Peterson said moved my heart, and I felt warm for the first time in months.
She asked me to spend Christmas with her. That night, with the lights sparkling and the smell of pine, I realised that love doesn’t end when someone dies; it just changes form. A new bond was made between Mrs. Peterson and me through fate, kindness, and care.
I wasn’t by myself that Christmas, and Mrs. Peterson’s gift made me think of how the people we save can save us too.
