‘I died for 10 minutes – one heartbreaking moment made me return’ | Weird | News

An author who was clinically dead for more than 10 minutes claims she encountered angels, profound peace, and what she believes was the entrance to heaven — but one devastating sight persuaded her to return to life. Rosemary Thornton says the experience occurred following one of the most difficult periods of her life. Her husband died by suicide, leaving her grief-stricken and grappling with guilt.

Twenty-nine months later, Rosemary was diagnosed with stage two cancer. At the time, she prayed each night for respite from the anguish she had been enduring. She also prayed that she would not have to revisit distressing memories or face any more challenging decisions. Shortly after her diagnosis, she underwent a gynaecological biopsy and was discharged despite severe bleeding.

Speaking on the Shaman Oaks YouTube channel, she said: « I remember standing in the shower and thinking… I’m bleeding to death. At first I thought, this is my way out, » reports the Mirror.

After considering friends who had stood by her through her husband’s death, she sought assistance. An ambulance transported her to the emergency department, where she says medical mistakes occurred, including being administered morphine whilst still losing blood, which caused her blood pressure to plummet.

Her friend later informed her the monitor displayed « 32 over 25, which for all purposes is gone. »

Rosemary recalls drifting into sleep before suddenly being forcefully expelled from her body. « I felt like I’d been catapulted out of my body, » she said. « Like toast popping out of a toaster. My heart has stopped. Actually, you’re not dying, you’re dead. I thought, wow, every single thing I am, down to my funny little giggle, has made this transition. »

The most profound transformation was psychological: the remorse and sorrow she had borne following her husband’s passing vanished immediately.

« The guilt, the self recrimination, the anxiety, the sadness, the pain, the regret… every negative emotion you can imagine is what I had left behind, » she said. « The predominant thought I had was the peace… it was like peace was infused into every iota of who I am. »

« If I had to sum it up in three words, » she said, « it would be: ‘Welcome home dearie.' »

She also perceived an overwhelming spiritual presence. Upon enquiring about its identity, the answer arrived instantaneously: « You, Rosemary. You are the image and likeness. I’m the original. »

Rosemary claims the declaration suddenly clarified the scriptural passage regarding humanity being fashioned in God’s image. Subsequently, she discovered herself within a dazzling white chamber shrouded in mist, with a solitary door before her.

« I knew the door was… the thing that would make sure I didn’t go back, » she said. She began advancing towards it but hesitated to pose one ultimate question. Is this the divine will for my life that a medical mistake sends me to my reward? »

« The answer was, ‘No!' » She was told the decision was still hers. « Whatever you decide you go with all of God’s mercy and blessings and grace and care and love. »

Just as she prepared to push the door open, Rosemary saw a vision of a nurse from the emergency room, who had comforted her earlier. « Oh honey, we’re not gonna let you die, » the nurse had said. In the vision, the nurse was later alone, sobbing. She said: « This nurse was leaning forward, head in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. And I’m witnessing this. I know she can’t hear me, see me, experience me. But I’m witnessing this and she says, through tears, ‘I promised that woman I wasn’t gonna let her die and I’ve lost her.’ I recognised that as the same grief and despair I had known since my husband’s death. If I can spare one human being that much pain, I have to go back. »

As soon as she lowered her hand from the door, she was back on the hospital gurney. « There was no backwards whoosh… I was just back. »

Doctors subsequently informed her she had been clinically dead for more than 10 minutes following internal bleeding. CPR was not administered; instead, medics concentrated on restoring circulation and restarting her heart. Given the duration her brain was deprived of oxygen, serious complications were anticipated. Instead, examinations showed no neurological impairment or cardiac damage. Subsequent tests revealed no evidence of the cancer she had previously been diagnosed with. « There’s not one cell of cancer anywhere on your body, » a doctor told her.

She says the emotional transformation was equally profound. « The grief and despair I had over my husband’s unfortunate end was gone, » she said. « The self recrimination, the self hatred, the wish that I was dead… all of it was gone. I said heal me or let me go. And I did get both. »

The experience altered her life fundamentally. Rosemary disposed of most of her belongings and relocated to rural America. « I realised when I was floating away from my body I was the happiest I’d ever known, » she said. « You don’t need stuff to be happy. »

She now resides amongst cornfields, which she says remind her how life can flourish again following adversity. During recovery, she also witnessed something extraordinary: angels materialised around her bed and commenced singing. « The music was so incredibly beautiful that I began sobbing, » she said. « They said, this is for your healing. This is for your peace. This is for your joy. We know that life on earth is hard. »

During her first church service after departing hospital, she observed light explode from the piano as the musician performed. « It was yellows and greens and blues and pinks and reds… just so much light, » she said. The colours ascended to the ceiling before floating down over the congregation like sparks. Ever since then, hearing music reminds her of what she witnessed. « We’re being showered with light and love. »