As much as I joined this site for support, I feel that I was meant to share my stories to bring some hope and inspiration to everyone here on DS. Below is the amazing story about the angel who helped me after my husband died on our honeymoon in Maui.


MY ANGEL IN MAUI

My husband, David and I met a young woman named Zhanna on our honeymoon, who was traveling alone from Reno, Nevada. She was staying at the same hotel in Maui. We met her briefly during a day trip to the other side of the island. We walked around together, sat down to eat together and took some pictures for each other. We learned that she was returning home on Thanksgiving morning, the same day that we were leaving. Zhanna was going to take a shuttle to the airport, but we offered to give her a ride.

On that fateful morning while the emergency crew was working on my husband, I asked the hotel staff to contact Zhanna. I had to let her know we couldnt leave for the airport as planned. When Zhanna learned what happened to my husband, she came down to the beach immediately to be by my side.

Back in my hotel room, the police and the chaplain helped me to prepare for those heartbreaking phone calls with the terrible news to my family and friends and to make travel arrangements to return home on the following day. There was no way I would have been able to get on the plane on the same day. The chaplain encouraged me to go home as soon as possible to be with my family. I told him that I really wanted to leave Maui immediately and I did not want to be there any longer, but I was dreading that long and awful flight home alone now without my husband.

Then something truly amazing and unexpected happened. Without any hesitation, Zhanna offered to travel to New Jersey with me so I would not have to be alone on that long flight. She had already been away from her family for nine days. This stranger, who my husband and I met for only a few hours, gave up going home to see her husband and her baby to fly back with me. The airline graciously allowed her to use my husbands ticket. I felt so grateful for Zhanna and I knew in that instant that she was an angel sent by God.

Zhanna sat next to me on the plane, held my hand and wiped away my tears. She was there for me during the bleakest moment of my life. I dont know how I could have ever survived that day without her. I have made a friend for life and I will always remember her. She is indeed my angel. I still think about Zhanna quite often and we continue to keep in touch today. I only met Zhanna for a very short time, but strangely, our souls connected and I felt like I had known her all my life.