A flight attendant rescued the life of a 62-year-old business-class passenger—and two years later, the woman rewarded her with a Christmas gift as a token of gratitude.

During my years as a flight attendant, I met passengers of every description. Yet one passenger remains unforgettable, and two years later, she would change my life in ways I never expected. Let me set the scene: I was living in a modest basement apartment in the city, paying $600 a month—just enough at 26…