ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

I woke up with no hands and feet

I woke up with no hands and feet

How chalk found me love!

How chalk found me love!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Pregnant at 51 – My mum had my baby

Pregnant at 51 – My mum had my baby

{headline}

{headline}

Brave Bella - saved by her twin!

Brave Bella - saved by her twin!

We found $40,000 in our garage!

We found $40,000 in our garage!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

{headline}

{headline}

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

Dumped wife's revenge: 'Be fabulous!'

Dumped wife's revenge: 'Be fabulous!'

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

I became an ice addict at 40 - Now I'm helping others

I became an ice addict at 40 - Now I'm helping others

I'm ageing EIGHT TIMES FASTER than normal!

I'm ageing EIGHT TIMES FASTER than normal!

There was no room for my boy's brain

There was no room for my boy's brain

Aussie Dad's mission - I had two months to save my girl's life

Aussie Dad's mission - I had two months to save my girl's life

  1. Home
  2. Real Life

Flight attendant’s letter to heartbroken mum goes viral

Get the tissues ready for this one. - by Travel at 60 Writers
  • 28 Aug 2017
Flight attendant’s letter to heartbroken mum goes viral

A private encounter between a flight attendant and a mourning mother has gone viral after a handwritten note was shared on Facebook.

Tricia Belstra was on a Southwest Airlines flight on the way to bury her recently deceased son. Not feeling well and wedged between two strangers on the flight, Belstra asked for a diet coke and a water when one of the flight attendants passed through the cabin during drink service.

“I sat in my seat between two strangers holding a barf bag down low between my legs,” Belstra posted onto Facebook.

“Then this young man came by; I wish I would have gotten his name."

"He leaned in and asked if I was okay. I told him I was flying back to bury my son. He said he was so sorry and brought me a can of water, a glass of ice and my diet coke.”

That wasn’t the last Belstra had seen of the flight attendant, who handed the grieving mother a napkin as she disembarked the plane at the end of the flight.

“I said thank you and walked out,” she said, not knowing what she held in her hand.

It was a heartfelt letter expressing understanding, support and a lot of love to Belstra, a complete stranger.

“In 2004, my family lost my older brother," the note said. "As traumatic as it still is for me, I can’t even pretend to truly know the pain you feel as a mother. I did, however, watch my mother’s grieving process (a process that will never end).

“My mum struggled desperately chasing a far away goal of somehow lessening the pain. As she has realised now, the pain hardly lessens.

"Don't expend your energy trying to chase this. Instead, go all out finding opportunities to experience joy. Visit family, get closer to those you’ve lost touch with, travel.”

Love What Matters

Since the story was posted on Facebook on Friday, there have been more than 27,000 likes and more than 600 comments, including others who have shared their own heartbreak after losing a loved one.

“In Feb 2015, my son died in an accident,” shared Kimberly Lewis Orr. “The next day we flew to where he was living. I cried the entire trip. The airline personnel were so kind and loving!

“They let the pilot know that we were on the plane and what we were going through. The pilot instructed everyone on the aircraft to stay in their seats when we landed so that my husband and I could quickly exit the aircraft. 

“Prayers for peace and comfort for you and your family. It DOES get better.”

This article first published on Travel at 60.

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

I woke up with no hands and feet

I woke up with no hands and feet

How chalk found me love!

How chalk found me love!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Pregnant at 51 – My mum had my baby

Pregnant at 51 – My mum had my baby

{headline}

{headline}

Brave Bella - saved by her twin!

Brave Bella - saved by her twin!

We found $40,000 in our garage!

We found $40,000 in our garage!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

{headline}

{headline}

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

Dumped wife's revenge: 'Be fabulous!'

Dumped wife's revenge: 'Be fabulous!'

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

I became an ice addict at 40 - Now I'm helping others

I became an ice addict at 40 - Now I'm helping others

I'm ageing EIGHT TIMES FASTER than normal!

I'm ageing EIGHT TIMES FASTER than normal!

There was no room for my boy's brain

There was no room for my boy's brain

Aussie Dad's mission - I had two months to save my girl's life

Aussie Dad's mission - I had two months to save my girl's life

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • Airtasker
  • Society One
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!