Life after death discussion to benefit NSCC Labor of Love Fund

LYNN – There is no doubt in author Elissa Al-Chokhachy’s mind that there is life after death.As a hospice nurse for nearly two decades, Al-Chokhachy has heard stories from patients and their loved ones that have confirmed her belief.”People don’t like to talk about these experiences because they don’t want to seem crazy,” says Al-Chokhachy. “I originally thought these experiences were rare, but the more I’ve talked to people about it, I’ve realized that it’s actually extremely common.”Her new book, “Miraculous Moments: True Stories Affirming That Life Goes On,” is a collection of 88 true stories from people who have seen, heard and felt love from their family, friends and acquaintances in spirit.Al-Chokhachy says the majority of experiences happen to people while they are dreaming and are visited by a deceased loved one, but can happen in more inconspicuous ways as well.”Most of the time people think it’s just their imagination and don’t even realize that a loved one is trying to make a connection with them,” she says. “The more I have worked with people who are dying, the more I believe in life after death.”On Wednesday at 7 p.m., Al-Chokhachy will discuss her book in the gym of the McGee building at North Shore Community College, where she works as the Interim Coordinator of Health Services.All book sale proceeds will benefit the NSCC Labor of Love Fund, which provides money for the college’s student community outreach, New Orleans Labor of Love service trip. It also helps pay for other service initiatives at the college and in the community.Twelve contributions in “Miraculous Moments” are personal accounts from NSCC students, faculty, retirees and graduates. In acknowledgement for their contributions, Al-Chokhachy collaborated with NSCC Vice President Sandra Edwards to establish the Labor of Love Fund shortly after she began writing the book in 1998.Al-Chokhachy hopes her book will provide comfort and healing to bereaved individuals attempting to make sense of the end of their loved one’s life.”As I help families that are about to experience a loved one dying or someone that has just passed, they would say, ‘If I only knew that my loved one would be okay, it would help,'” says Al-Chokhachy. “The experiences (in the book) really show that after death, the spirit lives on.”The narratives featured in “Miraculous Moments” have been collected by Al-Chokhachy for more than a dozen years, many of which are written by medical professionals and educators.”Two weeks after my cousin died, he came to me vividly in this experience to tell me he was alright,” she says. “He stood in front of me completely healed, radiating an unbelievable glow. My emotions were completely amplified on this occasion and that doesn’t happen unless you have had this kind of experience. After the experience, I knew my cousin was healed and at more peace.”Al-Chokhachy says even a trip to the post office sparked a postal worker to share his own experience with her after she told him what the book was about.”The majority of people have either had an experience like this or have known someone who has,” she says. “The book shares narratives from ordinary people speaking about extraordinary experiences. I hope it can help educate people that death is not the end. Our soul lives on.”Al-Chokhachy is working on a companion book, “Miraclous Moments For Bereaved Parents,” which is a compilation of stories from parents who have lost a child. She hopes the book will be completed by early 2012.To learn more about the author and the book, visit www.miraculousmoments.com.