03/15/2025
What would you say if you saw a loved ones heart stop beating, their eyes roll back, arms fall limp, flatlined all in the middle of a conversation?
What about that happening to you not once but five times to be exact.
About a year ago I witnessed something that many people haven't witnessed before. Something that takes your breath away and tugs at your inner being. Someone's heart stopping. I witnessed throughout a 24 hour period my mom's heart stopping 5 times. Was she on her way to be with Jesus? It was a Saturday afternoon my brother in from Georgia wanted to eat Chinese food at his favorite Chinese restaurant. He decided that having not seen our mom in a few months he would pick her up at her nursing home and spend some time with her along the way for dinner.Just as he was approaching the restaurant he asked her a question but did not hear a response. He looked in his rearview mirror and saw our mom slumped in the back seat he thought maybe she had fallen asleep. As I opened the door to help her out she seemed dazed and unaware of her surroundings. Within about 10 minutes she was back to her somewhat normal self. We ordered dinner and she cleaned her plate. We both kinda just wrote it off to her being 92 years old. Early the next morning I went to visit her and while visiting her in the middle of our conversation her heart stopped for 17 seconds. I hurriedly called the nurses station and she was rushed to the hospital. Once arrived at the hospital the hospital staff ran countless test but were unable to find any issues. They decided to keep her overnight for observation at which time I went home for the night.The next morning, I arrived at the hospital and was informed that during the night her heart had stopped again and they would be looking into placing in her a pacemaker. The next 4 hours were very painful to witness.
Around 11:30 during our conversation my mom suddenly slumped in her bed, eyes rolled back and she was out. I ran to the nurse’s station at which time they checked for a pulse NONE then suddenly she began to shake and came to again. The same happened again at 1:30. Then again at 3:40. Each time not knowing if it were her last breath. I would ask myself is this one final? My heart felt torn but my soul quenched. Filled with happiness that my mom was right where she wanted to be in HEAVEN. Then it was like God would breathe fresh life into her and she would come back.
Acts 17:25
25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.
Right before the 5th time my mom said I'm not afraid to die. I love you so much and don't want to leave you. I would like to be able to see my sister's again. Tears rolled down her face hoping to spend some more time with me and to see her sisters once again.
By 4:00 she was on her way to the emergency room for a pacemaker. Each time I watched as she passed not knowing whether or not she would awake. Each time I asked was that her last breath? I knew she had been ready to go to Heaven. Just to see a loved one basically die, no heartbeat, no vital signs was hard to watch over and over. It made me question each episode as if it were her last. It was as if God would take her and then decide I want her here with Me, but I can get more mileage out of using her to bring more souls to Me? Each time she passed it had a huge impact on those around her. When she came out of surgery she told me she had gotten a new heart. I told her no your heart has been given a pacemaker to control the irregular heart beat. She cried and told me how much she loved me and how she couldn't leave me so soon. After her surgery all the nurses from the nurses station and nurses from the day before came to tell me how much she meant to them. She throughout her episodes continue to let Christ shine to everyone around her. That day she began her job, a job specifically designed for her to let those around her see Christ in her. If there was a bus to take you to Heaven she would be the driver. She enjoys the job God has given her as well as all of us to be a light that shines. Make someone’s day today. They may just follow your light.
