Death and Blessings

Sudden and completely unexpected. Our helper and caregiver to my father-in-law sat up in bed this Monday morning, had a drink of water and a spoonful of porridge, then said she was breathless, before collapsing on her bed. She had been ill on Sunday and had lay in bed sleeping. We thought it was her usual stomach ailment, which had caused her pain, on and off, since she joined us in December last year. This pain was usually relieved within a day or two by arcoxia and it appeared to be the same this time round. I was already at work in the clinic when Lwin collapsed. As God had ordained it, my daughter was at home today, because she was told to start her first day of work as a newly minted Medical Officer only on Tuesday. We had thought it unusual not to start work on a Monday, but this was another lesson on God’s timing and providence. Lwin was found in her collapsed state by our other helper, Thandar, who called Jan for help. Jan quickly realised that Lwin had no pulse and was not breathing. She immediately applied CPR and called 995. Within 5 minutes, a First Responder arrived at the scene. He was a member of the public, who happened to be in the vicinity. Paramedics arrived another 5 minutes later in an ambulance. Other responders arrived soon after. Jan followed Lwin to the hospital in the ambulance and resuscitative efforts continued for a good 15 minutes, at the emergency department. Unfortunately, Lwin could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the hospital. What are the blessings on a day such as this? I saw God’s hand at work, directing the events. They may have been shocking to us, but not to God. He sent angels in the form of responders to our distress call (there were at least 10, comprising 4 paramedics, 3 persons from our neighbour across the road and 3 members of the public). God was assuring us that we were not alone. One of the paramedics spoke to me on the phone whilst I was in the clinic and assured me that they were doing their best to revive Lwin. The eventual outcome was tragic, but there was peace throughout. Jan was guided by the Spirit and her presence of mind to start CPR and call 995 for help was the work of the Holy Spirit in her. I was not part of this morning’s story. But I know God was present. Postscript: I went to the mortuary the following day to identify Lwin’s body after the postmortem. Her face was serene and she seemed to be smiling even. I thank God for Timothy and Angie, who helped me through the process of collecting Lwin’s body, arranging for her cremation (on Thursday) and repatriation of her ashes to her family in Myanmar.