A mum has revealed where we go before crossing the gates to heaven and the tough decision we’ll have to make when we get there.
While watching a film with her family, Amber Cavanagh suffered a sudden “excruciating” migraine and so took herself to bed early.
A few hours later, though, she woke up and fell to the ground, as the right side of her body had become completely paralysed; including being blind in one eye.
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Terrified, she banged on the wall to alert her husband, Michael, 41, who immediately called for an ambulance, rushing her to hospital.
While there, the 43-year-old was given a 50/50 chance of survival due to a double stroke and intense brain bleed.
She then crossed over to the “other side” – but only briefly – and now she’s sharing where we go right before entering heaven.
And the tough ultimatum some of us will have to make.
“Death was the most incredible thing I have ever been through,” the psychic medium, from Vancouver Island, Canada, told Need To Know.
“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.
“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.
“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 had a relatively healthy lifestyle prior to the sudden strokes.
At first, she thought the whole ordeal in December 2021 was a “dream”.
But as she arrived at the hospital, reality set in.
The mum-of-two, who was semi-conscious, was told her body was going through a second stroke, with her brain bleeding “uncontrollably”.
To stop the bleeding, she was given a blood clotting drug with a 50% survival rate due to its intense effects on the body.
Sadly, this didn’t work and she was life-flighted to another hospital nearby for emergency brain surgery.
But throughout all of this, her family assumed she couldn’t hear them – but she could, leaving Amber “petrified”.
She said: “It was horrific.
“It was looking more than likely that I was actually going to die.
“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.”
While in the helicopter, she recalls taking one last glimpse at the sun before shutting her eyes.
When opening them again, she was in another dimension.
Amber said: “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.
“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.
“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.”
Amber says her guides told her about the two outcomes.
If she stayed, her family would suffer and they would have to overcome the intense grief of losing her so soon.
But if she returned to her physical body, she would face a gruelling recovery journey – and would regret the decision.
However, she knew her time wasn’t up yet.
Amber closed her eyes and suddenly, she was back in her own body again.
For the next two weeks, she remained in hospital, but medics were adamant she would need to be in care for the rest of her life.
Miraculously, the mum was talking and moving within hours.
She said: “They still don’t understand it.
“My doctor says I’m his ‘miraculous patient’ as I didn’t even need the surgery like they planned.
“Yes, there was a lot of damage to my body and brain, but I was alive – and that was the main thing.”
Over the course of 10 weeks, she had to relearn all her basic functions, alongside regular physiotherapy and speech therapy.
Now, while she’s still numb in the right side of her body, life has gone back to somewhat normality again.
Though, her experience has taught her a valuable lesson and it’s changed her outlook on life.
Amber hopes her story will help people feel less afraid of dying and to help us realise that we’re never truly alone.
Her book, At the Stroke of Eternity, describes her full account of the experience.
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.
“I question then if I made the right decision; but I know I was given the choice to spread the message that we’re all here for a reason.”
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