Ocieanna Fleiss - Love Like Theres No Tomorrow: How a Cardiac Arrest Brought My Heart to Life

Endorsements

Love Like Theres No Tomorrow is a beautifully encouraging book about the second (and third!) chances God grants us, and how he intersects our trauma with genuine grace. Poignant storytelling, raw honesty, and glimpses of Gods planthis book will remain with you.

MARY DEMUTH, author of Worth Living:
How Gods Wild Love for You Makes You Worthy

Ocieannas dying wasnt the beginning nor the end of her story. The suffering of one moment has given her a clear vision of who she was, who God is, and what she is to do now. She reminds us that serving Christ isnt the same as knowing him, along with so many more lessons of love that will have me thinking and incorporating them for yearsperhaps my entire life.

PETER LEAVELL, author of Gideons Call,
award-winning novelist, speaker, and historian

Ocieannas personal journey of trials, emotional pain, and ultimate redemption will inspire you to look at yourself and others the way God doeslike a child who is loved, like theres no tomorrow.

ANNA DEBORD, mom of two

In the grips of a cardiac event, life becomes a vapor Ocieanna cant grab onto, drifting away from her grasp. In her book Love Like Theres No Tomorrow, she describes the intensity a cardiac arrest has on everyone around herand the residual effects it leaves forever. Through the experiences and stories she shares, her candor and openness transport the reader into a changed life and changed world. But the goal is clear: Ocieanna offers the privilege, discovery, and new life derived from her faith in Jesus. Cardiac arrest need not be fatal, but instead, a gateway to renewed love for life and our Creator.

CINDY SCINTO, heart transplant recipient, speaker, teacher,
and author of A Heart Like Mine and A Heart Like Yours

There are few memoirs like this one. Love Like Theres No Tomorrow is at once an exploration of our common human wounds, a vulnerable account of spiritual failings, very solid theology, triumphant, longing, hopeful. Young, old, rich, poor, alive or nearly dead, it is likely youll find elements of your own story echoed in these pages. And it is certain you will find the grace of Jesus, which has clearly shaped every word.

MATT BARKER, pastor, Grace Reformed Church, Walkerton, Indiana

Gods faithfulness and healing is revealed in this inspiring true story. I was deeply moved by Ocieannas openness and vulnerability in her memoir of love.

HEIDI DALRYMPLE, homeschool mom of three

Love Like Theres No Tomorrow taught me one thing above all else: he LOVES me. I can stop striving to please him by my works, worrying that hes frowning on me, or doubting his grace. He LOVES me. I will always be grateful for this books reminder of that.

CAROL PERLOT, entrepreneur and mom of two

If youre going through a struggle in life, whether emotional, physical, or financial, you should read Love Like Theres No Tomorrow. It is a wonderful and wonder-filled book about how God works in our lives, especially in our trials. Its a reminder of how graciously he gives us second chances, and how he brings beauty from ashes. You will not be the same after reading this book.

MARY STARMAN, product marketing and management maven

I thought this was going to be Ocieannas story, but instead I found myself in the middle of my own story, which helped me to evaluate my own relationships with my immediate family, parents, and God. What wonderful reminders that each moment was orchestrated by God and that these relationships are a gift from Him and should be treated as such. Thank you for sharing your heart, Ocieanna!

STEPHANIE JOHNSON, teacher and mom of four

Ocieanna provides insight into the most humbling of experiences in a way that takes the reader alongside her life-changing journey.

ABBY RIEB, marketing manager, Christian Care Ministry

BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC

Racine, Wisconsin, USA

BroadStreetPublishing.com

Love like theres no TOMORROW
How a Cardiac Arrest Brought My Heart to Life

Copyright 2016 Ocieanna Fleiss

ISBN-13: 978-1-4245-5142-2 (softcover)

ISBN-13: 978-1-4245-5143-9 (e-book)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV). Copyright 2000; 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

Cover design by Yvonne Parks at www.pearcreative.ca

Interior design and typeset by Katherine Lloyd at TheDESKonline.com

Printed in the United States of America

This book is for my Ben, who watched his mom die.
I pray youll always know the love of Christ.
I love you like theres no tomorrow.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your name give glory for the sake of
your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
(Psalm 115:1)

T his is a story of faithfulnessa testament of Gods unceasing a faithfulness toward those he loves. Prior to her medical crisis, Ocieanna Fleiss had no way of knowing what lay ahead of her or the challenges she would face. However, a life of following and depending on Christ prepared her and her family to weather a storm that hit them out of nowhere. The importance of being in fellowship and connected to other Christians is also a central theme. God truly knows what we need, and who we need, before we ever do.

From the prayers of a desperate husband watching powerlessly as the paramedics frantically tried to revive his wife, to the simple words uttered in confidence by a child who was trusting the Lord for a miracle, the Fleiss family was faithful. Their pastor and their church family were faithful. Their friends were faithful. And ultimately Christ was faithful.

Ocieannas story is an extraordinary one, and while most of us will never face a life-and-death crisis like hers, the challenges of everyday life are ones to which we can all relate. Regardless of the severity of our struggles, through them all we see Gods hand of healing, protection, and provision. We, at Medi-Share, were privileged to walk alongside Ocieanna on her medical journey, but we will always give God the glory for the fact that her fellow Medi-Share members shared her healthcare expenses. Our God is faithful, and He uses the faithfulness of His people to work in the lives of others to meet their needs.

Thank you, Ocieanna, for sharing your story. Seeing your faith lived out has been a blessing to all of us. His kingdom come!

Tony Meggs

President & CEO, Christian Care Ministry

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

Although events and people in this book are real, names and some minor details have been changed. In one case (with the pastor in the third chapter) I combined two characters into one to avoid confusion. Every emotion in this book is absolutely real.

The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me.

(Psalm 116:3)

T hat Saturday in January, the day my wife died, was the best day our family had experienced in months. It was relaxing, fun, and family centered. I loved it, a pocket of peace between the holidays and the return to lifes heavy busyness.

The scent of bacon and pancakes lingered through our home as we broke out the longed-for Wii that Ben, our ten-year-old, got for Christmas. We jumped around our messy family room playing tennis, boxing, and bowling.