Mystery surrounding death of ‘healthy’ Indiana mother, 41, on board American Airlines flight home from Dominican Republic

An Indiana doctor flies to the Caribbean to find out why a happy and healthy mother of two died suddenly on a flight home after a dream vacation.

Stefanie Smith, 41, was returning from the Dominican Republic with her unidentified boyfriend and another couple when she became fatally ill just minutes into the flight.

The American Airlines plane was diverted to the Turks and Caicos Islands, where Smith was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.

“Everyone is in shock and waiting for news,” said her brother Chris Volz, “there are still a lot of unknowns.”

The IUPUI graduate worked as an X-ray technician at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, and her sudden death has devastated friends and colleagues.

A Gofundme appeal has raised $78,000 for her teenage children Coen and Macee

Friend and colleague Kristina Swinney (left) said Smith ‘wouldn’t let anyone have a bad day’

“I can’t remember the last time I felt such heartache,” friend Kristina Swinney wrote on Facebook.

“When I look to my left today, see you gone and know you’re not coming back, I left a mess behind, Stef.

“Today’s news has devastated us.”

a Gofundme appeal to raise money for her two teenage children Coen and Macee had raised $78,000 as of Wednesday morning, including contributions from passengers on her last fatal flight.

“I didn’t know Stefanie, but I was in line for her,” Erika Remillard-Hagen wrote.

‘When I was 41, my own two children were the same age as hers. My heart breaks for her family.”

“Today we talked about how you wouldn’t give anyone a bad day,” Swinney wrote on Facebook, “you had no part in it.

“I’ll say ‘Hi, sweetheart!’ morning greetings, you play with my hair, you hear about the latest Dateline story, our country karaoke, shots of Diet Coke and you put your cold hands in your hot back,” she added.

The two children, pictured last September, are now in the care of their father Eric

“She gave her best for you every day,” Swinney told her children, “Know that your mother would want you to achieve your goals and always strive to be a better version of yourself.”

‘You were the energy of the work.’

“The doctors who work in that room are going to suffer greatly,” added colleague Linda Kulikowski.

“She single-handedly made them feel comfortable enough to show their true personalities. I know they not only looked forward to working with her, but also greatly enjoyed the relationships she developed with each of them.

“I really hope she has realized her impact.”

Coen and Macee are cared for by their father Eric while her family tries to take their grief into account.

“She went above and beyond for you every day and went above and beyond to care for both of you,” Swinney wrote.

“This GoFundMe will not ease your pain, but as you move forward, know that your mother would want you to achieve your goals and always strive to be a better version of yourself.”

Volz said no one in the family was aware that his sister had pre-existing conditions before she flew to the Caribbean on Feb. 24.

He said he “couldn’t believe it’s true” after hearing from his parents Wednesday night that everything seemed to be moving in slow motion.

He told the After that his sister called him regularly because she “always wanted to confirm her love.”

Members of Smith’s family in the last photo she posted on Facebook

The family is sending its own doctor to the Caribbean to perform an autopsy before her body is returned to Indianapolis on Sunday for a celebration of life ceremony.

“The love she shared with Coen and Macee cannot be measured or described in words,” fundraiser Kristi Spratt wrote on the appeal page.

“Also, her endless love for her family, friends and community will leave a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing her.

“Stefanie will be deeply missed by all who knew her, and we pray that the memory of her kind soul will live on forever.”