The mother of the young woman from Jacksonville who died earlier this week experienced heart problems while planning her daughter's memorial service.
Megan Twist of Jacksonville died in November after she fell from a truck in Brunswick, Ga. Twist was only 23 years old.
Police said that Twist was riding on the side of her boyfriend’s truck when she fell and hit the concrete. Police said Twist's boyfreind, Robert Wilfang, was not being looked at as a suspect, but they have not ruled out alcohol as a factor.
Her mother, Barbara Bernotas, told Action News Jax that her grief caused heart and breathing problems. Bernatos had a heart attack Thursday morning and doctors had to actually stop and restart her heart.
Bernatos said that her attack was caused by the stress of planning her daughter's memorial, which is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3 at 11 a.m.
She said she is now doing better. She just misses her daughter terribly.
“Her smile was unreal. She just made you smile and be happy. She had a contagious laugh,” Bernotas said.
When Megan was at UF Health, Bernotas said medical staff braided Twist's hair before the family arrived at the hospital. She said that her family was very grateful for the kind gesture and all of Twist's sisters stayed in the hospital room before they said their farewells.
Twist’s memory will live on in others, her mother said. Twist's organs were donated to multiple families in need.
Cox Media Group
