Amber Cavanagh, a 43-year-old mother from Canada, suffered two major strokes in December 2021. She was rushed to hospital and later flown by helicopter for emergency treatment after doctors found severe bleeding in her brain. At one point, her chances of survival were uncertain.
Although she appeared unconscious, Cavanagh says she could hear doctors and family members speaking around her. She recalls hearing loved ones say goodbye, believing she would not survive. She describes this as one of the most terrifying moments of her life.
During the crisis, she says she had a near-death experience. She felt separate from her body and described entering a peaceful place filled with light and familiar faces. She says she was given a choice: stay there or return to her family.
Cavanagh chose to return. Doctors were surprised by her recovery. While she needed therapy and had to relearn basic skills such as walking and speaking, she improved faster than expected.
Today, she says the experience changed her perspective. She values time with her family more deeply and encourages others to recognize stroke warning signs and seek help immediately. Although she worries about her health, she says she no longer fears death.