A mother from Texas is determined to find the woman who stopped to pray for her son, who died in a tragic Christmas Day accident while he was based in Suffolk.
Michael Mahoney was an Aerospace Propulsion Mechanic for the US Airforce. The 22-year-old airman was based at RAF Lakenheath, where he served until his untimely death in 2018.
Michael’s mother, Nancy Harrison, said that Christmas Day 2018 began like any other.
She and her family spent their morning video-chatting with Michael, talking, laughing and opening presents.
Nancy especially remembers the mug she received from Michael that year, embossed with maps of the UK and America and bearing the message: ‘The Love between a mother and son knows no distance, I love you, Mom’.
With the UK being six hours ahead of Texas, by this time, it was late in the afternoon for Michael.
His close friend was having a gathering for Christmas dinner at his home. Christmas Day 2018 was bright and sunny, and Michael decided to ride his motorbike to his friend’s house, rather than his car.
However, Michael never made it to his friend’s house. He was exiting a roundabout on the A11 at Barton Mills when his bike began to wobble. Unable to correct the steering, Michael collided with the central reservation at the junction with Newmarket Road
He was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge in a critical condition but sadly died on Boxing Day.
Nancy later discovered that a woman she believes is named Lorraine Porter was driving her car in the opposite direction.
In a letter which Nancy now treasures, the woman wrote: “Further up the road, whilst travelling home, I just felt led to pray, lifting up all involved to the Lord for comfort, strength, healing and hope but always, in his will, never mine.”
The following day, the stranger saw the news that Michael had died, and felt compelled again to write to his mother.
Her own daughter, she explained, had been born on Christmas day 12 years ago. She was struck by the fact that, on a day when her family celebrated the birth of a child, Michael’s parents would be mourning the loss of their son.
This letter was delivered by hand to Colonel John Kent, vice commander of the 48th Fighter Wing, who passed it onto Michael’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Darrell Chase.
Lt Col Chase brought the letter with him to Texas when he attended Michael’s funeral, and delivered it safely to Nancy.
Nancy then put a notice in a Newsquest title in the hope of finding her to thank her personally.
Nancy said: "I cherished the letter and the thought that someone prayed for Michael. I did a quick Facebook search at the time and didn't find Lorraine, then put the letter in a keepsake box, only to come across it almost five years later.
“I have renewed interest in finding Lorraine and letting her know how special it was that someone had prayed for Michael. It's hard for me to express the joy that my heart feels at the thought that someone prayed for my son as his life was leaving his body on this earth, and that he felt those prayers and the presence of our Lord at that time.
“I always have prayed when I see an accident or ambulance, it just warms my heart to know that someone did the same for my son."
She takes comfort in the fact that Michael’s life has enabled other lives to be saved; four people in the UK received his heart, liver, and left and right kidneys, and were able to live as a result of this gift.
Was it you who wrote the letter Michael’s family? Or else, do you know who did? Contact Nancy by emailing: nharrison410@yahoo.com
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