How do you thank someone who performed the ultimate sacrifice? How can words express gratitude for someone who gave up her life to save others?
It’s impossible.
My 15 year old son’s best friend (M) from junior high was in a bus crash over the weekend. M’s bus was coming back from a marching band competition when the driver fainted. The woodwind instructor, Heather Christensen, grabbed the wheel to keep the bus on the road. But the bus still veered off and rolled. Christensen was thrown out the windshield and died at the scene. You can read more about the story here.
If it had not been for the teacher, many people believe that the crash would have been much worse. A few of the students were life-flighted, and some were taken by ambulance to the hospital, but no one sustained any life-threatening injuries. No one but Heather Christensen, who died trying to save everyone on the bus.
M lost his cell phone in the crash (which caused much anxiety when he didn’t answer texts), and gained some cuts and bruises, but was otherwise fine (if anyone is ever fine after such an event).
My son and M have been friends since junior high, mostly because they have so much in common. They are both taller than average for their age. They both share the same quirky sense of humor. They both love art. And they are both involved in band.
This year, they went to two different high schools. M lives in the American Fork High School boundaries. AF is a school with a nationally acclaimed marching band. M was excited to perform in it. Since AFHS has open enrollment, my son planned on going there, too. Then, he changed his mind and decided to go to the high school in our boundaries with his older brother and the rest of our neighborhood. (If my son had gone to AFHS, he would have been on that bus.)
Even though they don’t attend the same high school, M and my son have kept in touch with each other through texting and Facebook. We get periodic updates on the AF marching band. We hear how they practice longer than our band does. We hear how they have a much bigger budget. And we hear how they are not allowed to touch the feathers in their helmets unless they are wearing gloves.
And, so, I just wanted to say thanks to Heather Christensen. If not for her quick actions, it’s possible that my son’s friend might not still be alive. Fortunately, now they have many more years to discuss formations, drills, and feathers.
And thanks to her, there are 45 other teenagers whose parents, brothers, sisters, and friends have at least one more precious day to spend with their child, sibling, friend.
While I am so saddened by her death, I am so grateful for her sacrifice.
May we always remember her.
And the One whose ultimate sacrifice saved us all.
Thank you, Heather. You will always be in our hearts.
I read about this yesterday. Such a tragic thing and I really feel for Heather’s family. Obviously her actions saved the children.
I hope that should I be in this situation, I would do the same thing.