Amber Kavanagh, 43, was in bed with her husband when she suffered a double stroke, causing an extreme brain haemorrhage. Given a coin-toss chance of survival by doctors, Kavanagh claims to have seen “the other side”, where she saw her “childhood dogs”.

The Canadian psychic medium was watching a film with her family when she was suddenly struck with a crippling migraine. She retired to bed early, but woke up to find herself unable to move the right side of her body or see out from one of her eyes.

She desperately alerted her husband, Michael, 41, by banging on the wall with the only arm she could move. He called an ambulance where paramedics told her she’d had a double stroke and “uncontrollable” brain bleeding in her sleep, leaving her with 50/50 odds of survival.

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During the ordeal, Kavanagh claims to have passed over to the “place we visit just before entering heaven,” saying, “death was the most incredible thing I have ever been through.”

She continued: “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 – [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.”

However, she found other aspects of the experience frightening.

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.”

But, throughout this, she didn’t feel scared.

“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.”

Kavanagh said she was presented with two options by her spirit guides, who help her in her psychic consultations as a medium.

They said she could either stay, but burden her family with immense grief, or return to her physical form and endure the challenging recovery process ahead.

Kavanagh decided she was not yet ready to leave her family behind, then closed her eyes and suddenly found herself back in her body.

Since the double stroke, Kavanagh has had to relearn basic functions, take regular physiotherapy and undergo speech therapy sessions.

She says her life has largely returned to normal, with the only physical side effect being a light numbness on the right side of her body.

She reflected: “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.