‘I died after a double stroke and I felt the most peaceful I ever have’ | World | News
Amber ‘died’ after suffering a double stroke (Image: Jam Press/West Coast Medium)
Amber Kavanagh, 43, was lying in bed beside her husband when she experienced a double stroke, triggering a severe brain haemorrhage.
Given 50/50 survival odds by medical professionals, Kavanagh says she witnessed “the other side”, where she encountered her “childhood dogs”.
The Canadian psychic medium had been viewing a film with her family when she was abruptly hit by a debilitating migraine. She went to bed early, but awoke to discover she couldn’t move the right side of her body or see from one eye.
She frantically alerted her husband, Michael, 41, by hammering on the wall with her functioning arm.
He called an ambulance, where paramedics informed her she’d experienced a double stroke and “uncontrollable” brain bleeding whilst asleep, leaving her with equal chances of survival or death.
Amber says she saw the other side (Image: Jam Press/West Coast Medium)
Throughout the crisis, Kavanagh maintains she crossed over to the “place we visit just before entering heaven,” declaring, “death was the most incredible thing I have ever been through.”
She added: “The whole experience has actually made me grateful for the strokes. I went into what I can only describe as the ‘meeting point’ of heaven before officially passing over.”, reports the Mirror.
“There was no fear, only love. I looked like the best version of myself and had everyone I had ever loved that was no longer with us around me – including my childhood dogs. But I had to make a choice – [to choose] if I wanted to be with my kids again, or stay in this place where I felt peace like I had never done before.
“It really wasn’t easy, as it was like coming home, I didn’t want to leave.
“I’ve had to relearn everything; how to walk, talk and eat. It’s put my family through hell and back. But now, I don’t fear dying or going over to the other side. I fear I won’t be able to go back to that place again.”
Amber, recovering in hospital (Image: Jam Press/West Coast Medium)
Nevertheless, she found certain elements of the ordeal deeply disturbing.
She added: “I heard the nurses tell my kids ‘Say everything you want now to your mum, as you probably won’t see her again’.
“I was literally scared to death, and I was non-verbal, everyone thought I was just mumbling in a state of unconsciousness. When really, I was trying to talk to them to find out what was going on.
“I heard everyone saying their goodbyes and crying, not knowing I was still in there. It’s still, to this day, one of the most terrifying things I have ever experienced.
“I could see my physical body beneath me, but I could also see my kids being driven by their grandparents to the hospital. I could see my husband weeping over my body.”
Yet, despite all this, fear was absent.
“There was no going toward the light, or people calling me – I was just watching over everything and everyone. It sounds bad, but I wasn’t scared for my family, as I knew everything was going to be OK.
“There was no who, what, why, when or where to answer anymore, I just knew everything. Around me was an incredible garden, where I could really feel the grass beneath my feet.
Amber Cavanagh before her stroke. (Image: Jam Press/West Coast Medium)
“Then, I saw all my loved ones to the right, every version of me; past, present and future to the left and my guides stood right in front of me.
“I spoke telepathically to everyone, including my nan and grandma. Even my dogs from childhood surrounded me. I could touch them, but I didn’t as that wasn’t why I was there.
“But there was such a deep-rooted feeling of pure comfort. Knowing I had to leave this place that had an overwhelming glow of loving light was so difficult.”
Kavanagh explained she was given two choices by her spirit guides, who help her during psychic consultations in her work as a medium.
The scan of Amber’s brain (Image: Jam Press/West Coast Medium)
They told her she could either remain, but leave her family to cope with tremendous sorrow, or return to her physical body and face the arduous rehabilitation journey that awaited.
Kavanagh decided she wasn’t prepared to abandon her family, then shut her eyes and discovered herself back in her body.
Following the double stroke, Kavanagh has been forced to remaster fundamental abilities, attend regular physiotherapy appointments and participate in speech therapy sessions.
She maintains her life has predominantly returned to normality, with the sole physical consequence being a slight numbness down the right side of her body.
Amber and her husband (Image: Jam Press/West Coast Medium)
She added: “I’ve learned a lifetime worth of patience. There’s more to life than society’s expectations of humans – and there’s proof we’re not alone. On the other side, there’s a squad of loved ones cheering us on everyday.
“I’ve been stripped down and had to build myself back up again. It’s been horrible, but humbling. My family and I are much closer and we don’t take life so seriously. It’s made me appreciate the beauty of life and has given me a new perspective.
“I am human, so I’m fearful I will have another stroke again, but I’m not afraid of dying anymore. I do worry I’ll leave my kids too soon, as they’ve been through enough and I want to see them grow up. But it’s something I’ll never regret going through, it’s given me a chance to grieve the old me and welcome this new chapter.
“I’ve found that life is school, but that place is home – I’ve been given the gift of seeing my life from a completely different view point. Sometimes, when I’m having a tough day, I’ll close my eyes and remember feeling the grass under my feet.”
