Six weeks ago, I was begging God for a day—even half a day or just a few hours—a chance to see my mom again before she passed into eternity. On the morning of May 1, as our family prepared to board a plane in Vienna bound for the US, Mom’s heart still beat, albeit weakly.

International flights usually offer in-flight wifi, and this time, I planned to pay for it. I couldn’t bear the thought of being off-grid when the end came. If we couldn’t make it in time, a video call was the next best option to say goodbye.