1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: And you're here. Thanks for choosing the I Heart Radio 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: and Coast to Coast, a paranormal podcast network. Your quest 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: for podcasts of the paranormal, supernatural, and the unexplained ends here. 4 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: We invite you to enjoy all our shows we have 5 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 1: on this network, and right now, let's start with The 6 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: After Life with Sandra Schamplain. Welcome to our podcast. Please 7 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: be aware of the thoughts and opinions expressed by the 8 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: host are their thoughts and opinions only and do not 9 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 1: reflect those of I Heart Media, I Heart Radio, Coast 10 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 1: to Coast, am employees of premier networks, or their sponsors 11 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: and associates. We would like to encourage you to do 12 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: your own research and discover the subject matter for yourself. Hi, 13 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: I'm Sandra Champlain. For over twenty five years, I've been 14 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: on a journey to prove the existence of life after death. 15 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: On each episode, we'll discuss the reasons we now know 16 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 1: that our loved ones have survived physical debt, and so 17 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: will we. Welcome to Shades of the Afterlife. Have you 18 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: ever had some really great synchronicities and you think to yourself, 19 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: there's obviously something bigger going on here. We have guides 20 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: we have, I think people with a sense of humor 21 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: that can put people in our path just at the 22 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: time we need it. I get emails all the time 23 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 1: of these synchronous cities that happen where people end up 24 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 1: finding out about this show. And I remember a gentleman 25 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: writing me whose three year old daughter had passed. He 26 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: picked up his cell phone and he said, hey, Siri, 27 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: play me some news. And you may know that I've 28 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: had a second podcast for almost ten years now called 29 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 1: We Don't Die Radio. So when he asked for the news, 30 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: instead of getting news, up popped an episode of my 31 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: We Don't Die Radio. He went on to listening to 32 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: many episodes and wrote me to let me know how 33 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: much my words and episodes made a difference, believing his 34 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,239 Speaker 1: three year old daughter not only lives on but is 35 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 1: a part of his life, and witnessing what he and 36 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: his wife are doing. I also remember someone writing me 37 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:28,359 Speaker 1: who had never heard of me, but her child had 38 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,359 Speaker 1: passed as well. She lives alone. She walked into her 39 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: house and her smart TV was on YouTube was playing 40 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: and what was it playing? A replay of one of 41 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: my Sunday gatherings. Our Sunday gatherings are the weekly Inspirational 42 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: Service at two pm New York time every Sunday, but 43 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: with it is a medium demonstration. So she not only 44 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 1: was empowered by the words of the service, but also 45 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: see being how many people received beautiful communications from their 46 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: loved ones, and she was hooked. She's been a part 47 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 1: of our community ever since. I'm recording this. Prior to 48 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 1: Christmas in two and a couple of weeks ago, I 49 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 1: found a Christmas tree farm where you could go pick 50 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: out your tree. They put a tag on it and 51 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: they cut it fresh for you the day before you 52 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 1: pick it up. As I was waiting in line to 53 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,799 Speaker 1: pay for the tree, the couple before me saw a 54 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: big dog that someone had and they went, oh, we 55 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 1: miss whatever the name of their dog was. And so 56 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: the woman just turned around and I just said, well, 57 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: I believe our dogs and pets are the first ones 58 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: to greet us when we go, simple as that, and 59 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: she shared, Wow, I hope so, because not only do 60 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: I have many animals in the afterlife, but most of 61 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: our families are there too. And so I had that 62 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: decision to make am I honest about who I am? 63 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: Or do I just brush it under the rug and 64 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: pretend I'm just Sandra Champlain, Christmas tree buyer. You know 65 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: what I did? I said to them, I don't know 66 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 1: if this is appropriate to share, but I've actually been 67 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: studying the evidence of the afterlife for over twenty five 68 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: years now and I've written a book on it. With that, 69 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: they chose to tell me so many stories, not only 70 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 1: going to mediums and signs that they've received, but ultimately 71 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: I have two new friends for the rest of my life. 72 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: One story the wife told me was the night before 73 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: her sister passed, Her sister wanted her to iron her 74 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 1: green party dress, and she says, well, why do you 75 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: want me to iron the dress? She says, I need 76 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: to wear it. They're going to take me dancing. Before 77 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 1: she passed, she told her sister a in that they 78 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: were there for her and they were taking her dancing. 79 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 1: Goose bumps. Just telling you this, there's so many situations 80 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 1: where there's opportunities and our ego, our little negative voice, 81 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: will want us to be afraid, saying people will think 82 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 1: you're crazy and not share. But doing some research, there 83 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 1: are more than seventy pc of people that believe in 84 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 1: the afterlife, but there are probably nine percent of people 85 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: that are too afraid to talk about it. One of 86 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: our biggest fears is being cast out in society, not 87 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: being loved, not being liked, thought of as being weird. 88 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 1: I know when I wrote my book We Don't Die 89 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: and it came out, I was petrified at what people 90 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: in my life would think of me. At that time, 91 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: I was working with my mom. We had a thirty 92 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: plus year business catering for race car teams. I had 93 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: set up a table so if people wanted to buy 94 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: a book they could, and a race car driver's father 95 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: surprised me with a giant nine ft banner that says, 96 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: is there any proof of life after death? Sandra Champlain 97 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: says yes, and he put that up under our tent. 98 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: So we have between eight hundred and a thousand people 99 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: that walk through at any one given meal, and everything 100 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 1: in my identity was scared to death that people would 101 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 1: think I was a lunatic. A couple did. I mentioned 102 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: that previously, that someone wanted to pray for me and 103 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: have the demons cast out of me. I took their prayers, 104 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: but the rest of them were interested. Many people told 105 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: me about their near death experiences. People told me about 106 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 1: their own fears. One gentleman had his child transition to 107 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: the afterlife and wanted to know what I knew. One 108 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: woman had breast cancer and was facing her mortality and 109 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: wanted to know what I know. One man, while he 110 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: was making a cup of tea, told me the story 111 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: that when he is in the zone working as a 112 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: mechanic on a race car, he often sees his father 113 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: or his dog from when he was younger right there 114 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: by his side. When he's consciously aware of them and 115 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: turns his head, they disappear, but he says, I know 116 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: they're with me. None of these people would have had 117 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: the opportunity to share if I didn't open my mouth, 118 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: and that's why I opened my mouth here with you today. No, 119 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: you don't have to be pushy, but if there's an 120 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 1: opportunity to say something, you can always say, Hey, I 121 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: don't know if you believe in this, but this is 122 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: what just happened to me, or this is what I heard, 123 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: or this is a video I saw on YouTube. You'll 124 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 1: find more people than not will be interested, and you 125 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:10,119 Speaker 1: may end up with new friends. As we are going 126 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: into the holiday time, I feel certain that there are 127 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: many people whose hearts are heavy. Your loved ones may 128 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 1: not be with you, whether they're somewhere else on the 129 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: globe or they're in the afterlife. And I really want 130 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: to charge these episodes with heartwarming stories. So this episode, 131 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: let's pretend we're sitting around a fireplace together and this 132 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: is a fireside conversation with Sandra. Here's our first story 133 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: by Megan. My brother James was a beacon of light 134 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 1: in a very dark world. He was always smiling and 135 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: there never seemed to be a day that he was 136 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 1: in a bad mood. He was a generous man who 137 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: would never hesitate to give everything had he known you 138 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: were in need of it, always there to lend a 139 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: shoulder to cross ion, or tell a joke to lift 140 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 1: your spirits. He was truly one of a kind. Michael 141 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:09,439 Speaker 1: was tragically killed on impact when a teenager running from 142 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: the police in a stolen car hit him at over 143 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: one miles per hour. The police came to our home 144 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,840 Speaker 1: in the middle of the night to tell us the 145 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 1: shattering news. The night before Michael was laid to rest, 146 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 1: we viewed his beautiful face one final time at the 147 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: funeral home, a heart wrenching ordeal. We solemnly went home 148 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: to grieve. Once home, I curled up in the family 149 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 1: room with my brother Thomas and my future husband Jason. 150 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: We had the television on, but we were not really 151 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: watching it. My parents had gone to bed as soon 152 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: as we had gotten home. After maybe an hour, I 153 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 1: heard heavy footsteps in the upstairs hallway and assumed it 154 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: was my father coming downstairs to get a drink of water. 155 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: The kitchen door didn't open, so I shrugged it off 156 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: and didn't think too much of it, but the footsteps 157 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: continued into the kitchen. I looked up, but still didn't 158 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: see anyone. I turned to Thomas and asked him if 159 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:14,679 Speaker 1: he saw anyone. He glanced quickly and shook his head. Suddenly, 160 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: the stained glass sun catchers on the sliding glass door 161 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: started swinging back and forth for no apparent reason. Shocked, 162 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 1: I turned to Thomas and Jason to see if they 163 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:29,679 Speaker 1: also saw what I was seeing. Their eyes were wide 164 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: as they looked at me in disbelief. Thomas cleared his 165 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 1: throat and asked, Michael, are you here. The sun catchers 166 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 1: continued to swing, and now somewhat faster, Grin's spread across 167 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:48,479 Speaker 1: all three of our faces. Without warning, The swinging stopped. 168 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 1: Our shoulders drooped because we figured Michael had left. The dogs, however, 169 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: seemed to know he was still there because they jumped 170 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: off Jason and Thomas's laps to jump on the couch 171 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: next to the sliding door. This was astounding, because for 172 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: whatever reason, they would only do that on that particular 173 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: couch when Michael was sitting there. We all laughed and 174 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: tears of joy filled our eyes as we knew Michael 175 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: was there to say hello and let us know he 176 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: was still with us. We all told him that we 177 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: love him and that we missed him. Soon, the dogs 178 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 1: retreated from the couch and got back onto Jason and 179 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: Thomas's laps. We heard the floorboards creek upstairs in my 180 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: parents room, and we thought Michael has just gone to 181 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: visit them. The next morning, my mother told us about 182 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: how she had the most wonderful dream that Michael had 183 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 1: been in their room. He had hugged her and told 184 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: her not to worry. Thomas, Jason, and I each looked 185 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:02,959 Speaker 1: at each other knowingly and said, hey, Mom, you want 186 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:07,080 Speaker 1: to hear something else amazing. I like that story. The 187 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: good news is that there's an afterlife and that our 188 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: loved ones are still alive, and that we're going to 189 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: see them again. And we go on in the afterlife 190 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: to do all the things we didn't get to do 191 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:20,559 Speaker 1: when we were human. In a world with beautiful colors, 192 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: beautiful music, we can create anything. So that's the good news. 193 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 1: The bad news is that in a human body, in 194 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:34,319 Speaker 1: a human mind, our humanity will try to convince us 195 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,559 Speaker 1: not only to be skeptical, but that the afterlife isn't real. 196 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 1: Someone emailed me earlier today who has gotten a ton 197 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:45,839 Speaker 1: of proof that her loved ones are in the afterlife. 198 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 1: Yet she says, I wake up every morning a skeptic, 199 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: not believing these things have happened. My friends, I do 200 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: the same thing. I wake up forgetting who I am 201 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: and what I'm interested in. It's art of being human. 202 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: So be gentle on yourself. Let's go to the break 203 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: and we'll come back with some more fireside stories with Sandra. 204 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 1: You're listening to Shades of the Afterlife on the I 205 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: Heart Radio and Coast to Coast AM Paranormal podcast Network. 206 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: Don't go anywhere. There's more Shades of the Afterlife coming 207 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 1: right up. We are happy to announce that our Coast 208 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: to Coast AM official YouTube channel has now reached over 209 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:43,319 Speaker 1: three hundred thousand subscribers. You can listen to the first 210 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: hour of recent and past shows for free, so head 211 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,199 Speaker 1: on over to the Coast to Coast a m dot 212 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: com website and hit the YouTube icon at the top 213 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:58,439 Speaker 1: of the page. This is free show audio, so don't wait. 214 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: Coast to Coast a m dot com is where you 215 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: want to be. Hey, bring us along anywhere, even when 216 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: you're trimming your tree. Happy holidays from my Heart Radio. 217 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Shades of the Afterlife. I'm Sander Champlain 218 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: and just pretend that we are together with some friends, 219 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 1: drinking some hot coco cup of tea something stronger, telling 220 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 1: stories about the afterlife. Not ghost stories, but special stories 221 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: of reunions. Here's another This story he is from Mrs Kennedy. 222 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 1: I woke up when I felt someone sit on the 223 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: side of my bed. I glanced at the clock and 224 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: saw that it was the middle of the night. I 225 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: pushed my pregnant body up on my elbows, expecting to 226 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: see my five year old daughter in need of comfort 227 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: or refuge from a nightmare. Instead, I was surprised to 228 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 1: see my Italian grandfather sitting there looking at me, Pop, 229 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 1: What are you doing here? I said. He smiled and 230 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: patted my leg. I come to tell you something and 231 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: to ask you a favor, he said. Oh okay, I said, 232 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: still groggy from sleep. He put his hand on my 233 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: rounded stomach and smiled at me. You will have a 234 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: boy coming soon, he said. My jaw dropped. How do 235 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: you know, I asked. He nodded and tapped his finger 236 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: against the side of his head and smiled, a gesture 237 00:15:55,960 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: he always made to assure me of his wisdom. Now 238 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: I ask a favor, since I never had a son, 239 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: for you, to give him my name as part of his, 240 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 1: he said. I could never refuse my pop any favor 241 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 1: he asked of me, and least of all, this special one. 242 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: I will be happy to give him your name, I said. 243 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: He nodded and smiled, then stood up, waved goodbye, and 244 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: walked out of the room. I let my head sink 245 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: back onto the pillow and lay there thinking about what 246 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 1: just happened. It must have been a dream, I told myself, 247 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 1: because my grandparents and other relatives lived three thousand miles away. 248 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: But I was awake, and he was there, and he 249 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: touched me, and he talked to me at dawn, the 250 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: telephone rang. I wondered who would be calling at this 251 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: early hour, and I stumbled out of my bed. My 252 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: aunt's voice greeted me when I answered the phone. I 253 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 1: have bad news, she said. I sucked in my breath 254 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: and grasped the top of the kitchen chair. Pop had 255 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: a heart attack in his sleep and passed away. I 256 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,200 Speaker 1: could feel the goose bumps rising on my arms as 257 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: I slid onto the chair. I know, I said, My 258 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: aunt gasped at my response. How did you know? Did 259 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:25,400 Speaker 1: someone else call you? She asked. I wanted to tell 260 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 1: her about Pops and visit, but I knew it would 261 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:32,200 Speaker 1: be impossible for her to understand and believe me because 262 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: I was still struggling to put what happened in perspective. Yes, yes, 263 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: the call woke me up, so I don't remember who called, 264 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 1: I said, knowing that that was a plausible excuse, since 265 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: my relatives usually forget about the three hour time difference 266 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 1: between the East and West Coast. We talked for a 267 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: few minutes and agreed it would be unwise for me 268 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: to travel during the last trimester of my pregnancy, so 269 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: I wasn't expected to attend the funeral, as was the 270 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 1: custom in my family. She said she would send me 271 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 1: a copy of the obituary and one of the funeral cards. 272 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:13,120 Speaker 1: I rested my head on the table, feeling a mixture 273 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:16,679 Speaker 1: of sadness at his passing and joy from his visit. 274 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: Memories of my grandfather played through my mind for the 275 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: next few days. With the reality of his visit, I 276 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 1: knew it wasn't a dream. It was far too real, 277 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: and I felt his presence. When the copy of the 278 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: obituary and the funeral card came in the mail, I 279 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:39,199 Speaker 1: read the brief chronicle of my grandfather's life. He was 280 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 1: born in Sicily, emigrated to America, married and fathered two daughters. 281 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: He was a self taught mandolin player, having learned to 282 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:53,200 Speaker 1: play by ear at an early age. His work history 283 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:58,360 Speaker 1: and retirement date and church affiliation were also included. At 284 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 1: the end of the obituary was the cause and time 285 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: of his death. I blinked and read the time listed 286 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:10,959 Speaker 1: once again. Pop's time of death was only minutes before 287 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: I awoke to find him sitting on the side of 288 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: my bed. I gave birth to a boy two months later. 289 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: His middle name is Sebastian. In honor of my grandfather, 290 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:27,119 Speaker 1: and like his great grandfather, he is a self taught 291 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: musician of a similar stringed instrument, the guitar, which he 292 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: learned to play by ear at an early age. I 293 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:40,439 Speaker 1: write this in loving memory of Pop and no, he 294 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 1: will never die. That's a sweet story. And I'm just 295 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: thinking about episode ninety three of this show. Do you 296 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: remember that one? That's when I did the different meditations 297 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: and then at the end connected you with your loved one. 298 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 1: But one of the things I talked about was looking 299 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: and seeing all of our ancestors there. So this story 300 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,880 Speaker 1: just makes me remember that around each and every one 301 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: of us, it's not just those closest to us, but 302 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 1: it's those closest to them, and so on and so forth, 303 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: all kinds of love coming from the afterlife, all related 304 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 1: to you. Now here's a story by Megan. Our dog, 305 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 1: Jonathan was special. I purchased him for my husband as 306 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 1: a Christmas gift, and we made the long track over 307 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: the snowy mountains to pick him up in eastern Washington. 308 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 1: A beautiful dark gray color, his eyes shone bright blue 309 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 1: in the light, and his fur felt like a velvet. 310 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: My husband decided to name him Jonathan, since we've always 311 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: liked that name, we called him Johnny for short. He 312 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 1: was smart and learned tricks quickly. He always had a 313 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: smile on his face and loved his tennis balls. He 314 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:59,480 Speaker 1: played with them for hours. When tired, he would hide 315 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:03,159 Speaker 1: his tennis balls under the couch so our other dog, Jasmine, 316 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 1: would not take them. Water was Johnny's vice, and he 317 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:11,359 Speaker 1: would swim for hours or open his mouth wide to 318 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:14,199 Speaker 1: be doused when we ran the hose. He was the 319 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:17,120 Speaker 1: king of making funny faces, and he loved nothing more 320 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:21,399 Speaker 1: than being fond over and loved. He would even dance 321 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: by chasing his tail when we played music. He especially 322 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:28,160 Speaker 1: loved the song by the Charlie Daniels band, The Devil 323 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 1: Went Down to Georgia, because they sang his name in it. 324 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: One day, when he was about nineteen months old, he 325 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:40,239 Speaker 1: began having terrible seizures. Some would last five minutes, some 326 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: would last more than forty five minutes. It was terrifying 327 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:47,199 Speaker 1: to watch him have these episodes. We took him to 328 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 1: the veterinarian and they put him on anti seizure medication. 329 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:55,440 Speaker 1: The medication did not stop the seizures, so he took 330 00:21:55,520 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 1: him to a neurologist who diagnosed him with epilepsy. They 331 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 1: recommended that we start him on a customed compound medication 332 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: we had to pick up from a special pharmacy. This 333 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: combination of medications did nothing to help Johnny. They made 334 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: him sick. He was unable to keep anything down. He 335 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: lost interest in his tennis balls and even forgot his tricks. 336 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:23,160 Speaker 1: The doctors recommended that we restrict his activity, and they 337 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:27,399 Speaker 1: thought possibly too much stimulation was adding to his issue. 338 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 1: After being on medications for close to three months, he 339 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 1: was still having seizures. We were unable to stop them 340 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: and made the heart wrenching decision to euthanize him. We 341 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,199 Speaker 1: chose to do it on fourth of July because we 342 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:47,120 Speaker 1: felt that every year his life would be celebrated by fireworks. 343 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 1: That morning, as we drove to the veterinarian, he relished 344 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: the wind on his handsome face. While spending our last 345 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:58,919 Speaker 1: moments with him, he kissed away our tears. It seemed 346 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: like he was telling us not to be worried, that 347 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 1: he would still be here with us. He loved us 348 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 1: and forgave us. We were distraught for the next few weeks, 349 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: for our house seemed devoid of happiness. It seemed so 350 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,880 Speaker 1: unfair that Johnny had gotten so sick, so young, and 351 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: worse that we were not able to cure him. One 352 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 1: lonely evening, after sharing our favorite memories of Johnny once again, 353 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 1: we headed upstairs to bed. Our other dog, Jasmine, refused 354 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: to climb the stairs behind us. We wholeheartedly believe in 355 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 1: life after death, so we asked, Johnny, are you here. 356 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 1: Suddenly the phone rang. I looked at the caller I 357 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:48,120 Speaker 1: D and it said my husband's cell phone was calling. Confused, 358 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 1: he pulled his phone out of his pocket and the 359 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 1: screen showed that it was not actually calling our home phone. 360 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: We let the call go to the answering machine. After 361 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:05,119 Speaker 1: our recorded greeting, four barks sounded from the speaker. The 362 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 1: call hung up then, but it didn't save the message 363 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 1: or the caller I D. Smiles crept across our faces 364 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: as we realized Johnny had come back to let us 365 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 1: know he was still around. That night, my husband had 366 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: a dream that he visited Johnny in a large field 367 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:28,160 Speaker 1: with a pond, where Johnny was running around with other dogs, 368 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,959 Speaker 1: a huge smile on his face. We strongly feel that 369 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 1: he is at the rainbow bridge, waiting for us to 370 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:38,439 Speaker 1: join him someday, and because he was my husband's special friend, 371 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:42,200 Speaker 1: he was the privileged one to view him in that setting. 372 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:46,120 Speaker 1: Johnny now seems to come visit us when we miss 373 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 1: him or need him the most. When my husband's knee 374 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 1: was bothering him, he prayed that his pain might be 375 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: taken away. He woke up in the middle of the 376 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: night to find the bedroom bathed in a bright light 377 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 1: and our dog Johnny lying by that specific knee and 378 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:09,640 Speaker 1: licking it. And guess what, he has never had discomfort 379 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:13,639 Speaker 1: in that knee again. Though Johnny is no longer with 380 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:17,360 Speaker 1: us physically, we are grateful that he still visits us 381 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:22,440 Speaker 1: from time to time. So love is love is love. 382 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter if it's a human with two legs. 383 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,120 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter if it loves tennis balls and has 384 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:33,440 Speaker 1: four legs. It doesn't matter if it chirps, it quacks, 385 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:38,879 Speaker 1: it oints. Our pets will be right there to greet 386 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 1: us in the afterlife. A while ago, I talked to 387 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 1: a gown named Brandy who had had a near death experience, 388 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:50,439 Speaker 1: and as vivid and as clear as could be, she 389 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 1: was being held by her mother and all of the 390 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 1: pets she had ever had were around her so special. 391 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:02,480 Speaker 1: I honestly think that we grieve more for our pets 392 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 1: sometimes than with human beings, because they're filled with that 393 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 1: unconditional love. Aren't they so special? But worry not, you 394 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:16,439 Speaker 1: will see them again too. It is time for another break, 395 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 1: so we'll come back with some more stories. I'm glad 396 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 1: you're here today, and I'm glad you're part of our community. 397 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:26,359 Speaker 1: You're listening to Shades of the Afterlife on the I 398 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:30,880 Speaker 1: Heart Radio and Coast to Coast, a m paranormal podcast network. 399 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 1: Don't go anywhere. There's more Shades of the Afterlife coming 400 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 1: right up. Hey, you want to know a secret. Even 401 00:26:48,720 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 1: Santa listens to I Heart Radio. Happy Holidays, Welcome back 402 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 1: to Shades of the Afterlife. I'm Sandra Champlain and we 403 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:18,679 Speaker 1: are sharing some special stories. This next story is from Patricia. 404 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:23,720 Speaker 1: My husband Ben's health was quickly declining. He needed a 405 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:27,680 Speaker 1: liver transplant to survive. We spent weeks with him in 406 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:31,199 Speaker 1: the hospital hoping to get on a transplant list, but 407 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:35,399 Speaker 1: hope was growing dim. He was losing his battle. Ben 408 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:39,399 Speaker 1: was only forty three years old. Once athletic, strong and 409 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:44,040 Speaker 1: strikingly handsome, with black hair and olive skin. He was 410 00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:47,880 Speaker 1: always quick to volunteer, be a leader and help others. 411 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:51,639 Speaker 1: He made it a priority to help kids play baseball 412 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:56,439 Speaker 1: by providing scholarships and coaching Little league teams. Now the 413 00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:59,119 Speaker 1: man in the hospital bed looked more like a frail 414 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:03,200 Speaker 1: old man than my husband. We celebrated our twenty first 415 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:07,120 Speaker 1: wedding anniversary in the hospital. We sat close on Ben's 416 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 1: hospital bed as friends served us a romantic Italian dinner. 417 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:14,720 Speaker 1: You're still my prince, you know, so keep looking for 418 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:18,439 Speaker 1: that white horse, I said playfully to Ben. From the 419 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 1: time we were dating, I had called him my handsome 420 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 1: prince and teased him that he needed to find me 421 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 1: a white horse. I had always admired white horses. After all, 422 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:31,920 Speaker 1: the prince always arrives on the white horse to save 423 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:35,280 Speaker 1: the princess, and the night on the black horse never 424 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 1: stands a chance. More than once, he planned a night 425 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 1: out for us in a chauffeured white limousine. It has 426 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 1: a team of white horses under the hood, he would say. 427 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 1: I smiled now, thinking of those sweet memories. Our three children, Amanda, Benjamin, 428 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 1: and Jordan, visited their dad as often as they could, 429 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 1: but it was difficult with the hospital located so many 430 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 1: miles away in a different state. I wish they were 431 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:03,480 Speaker 1: here with me now to say their final goodbyes to 432 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 1: their daddy. A storm the night before had covered everything 433 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: with a thick blanket of ice, completely shutting down the city. 434 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:14,880 Speaker 1: It was much too dangerous for friends to bring our 435 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 1: children to the hospital to visit their dad. Early that morning, 436 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 1: Ben and I held hands as we watched the news 437 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 1: on TV. People driving looked more like they were playing 438 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 1: bumper cars at a carnival. It was heartbreaking and scary 439 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:32,720 Speaker 1: to watch them helplessly skidding on the ice. My sister 440 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 1: Cheryl stayed with me and was my strong support. I'm 441 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 1: thankful we decided to stay the night at the hospital. 442 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:42,200 Speaker 1: I said, we wouldn't have been able to come back today. 443 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: I looked at Ben, who was intently watching me. Ben 444 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 1: wasn't able to talk, but his eyes were full of expression. 445 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:54,720 Speaker 1: By ten o'clock on that icy January night, Ben's condition 446 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:58,560 Speaker 1: took a bad turn. We're losing him, Nurse Lisa said, 447 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:02,920 Speaker 1: checking Ben's aygen levels. We have to help him, I said, 448 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: holding Ben's hand, Please don't leave me, Ben, I need you. 449 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 1: I brushed the hair off his temples. Tears streamed uncontrollably 450 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:16,280 Speaker 1: down my cheeks as his breathing became shallow. Dear Lord, 451 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:20,200 Speaker 1: please help him, I cried out. Suddenly, a feeling of 452 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 1: peace swept over me. I told Ben it's okay to 453 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:27,960 Speaker 1: let go and go home. God is waiting and has 454 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 1: a beautiful place prepared for you. I love you, and 455 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:34,880 Speaker 1: when you get to heaven, please find me a white horse. 456 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:38,760 Speaker 1: Ben took in another deep breath in a panic. I 457 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 1: looked Nurse Lisa and waited as she checked for a heartbeat. 458 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:46,680 Speaker 1: He's gone. I'm so sorry, she said, through her tears. 459 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 1: I sobbed, barely able to catch my breath as I 460 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 1: lay close to Ben, burying my face in his neck 461 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 1: and wrapping my arms under his shoulders. I don't know 462 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 1: how long we stayed like that, but some point I 463 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:06,920 Speaker 1: opened my eyes and saw soft, pink, iridescent lights dancing 464 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 1: around the room. They reminded me of floating bubbles, only 465 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:14,920 Speaker 1: they were tear drop shaped. It didn't register at first 466 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 1: that anything odd was happening. I was mesmerized watching the 467 00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:22,760 Speaker 1: dance of the lights around the room. Then I stopped crying. 468 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:27,160 Speaker 1: And I was filled with the unexplainable sense of peace 469 00:31:27,280 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 1: and calmness. I truly believe what I saw was the 470 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:34,800 Speaker 1: dance of angels in the room, rejoicing with Ben. Do 471 00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 1: you see that? I whispered to Cheryl with no answer. 472 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:41,640 Speaker 1: Sitting up, I could see her through the windows in 473 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:45,840 Speaker 1: the hallway outside the room. She was already busy making 474 00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:49,560 Speaker 1: phone calls. I laid back down next to Ben and 475 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 1: watched the dancing lights for a long long time. Then 476 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:57,840 Speaker 1: suddenly they took a turn out the window to dance 477 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:01,600 Speaker 1: on the rooftops and were gone. Was it my imagination? 478 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:06,360 Speaker 1: Was I seeing things? I dismissed the questions as I 479 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:10,800 Speaker 1: basked in the peacefulness that I felt. The iridescent lights 480 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 1: appeared again several days later, at the end of the 481 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:19,200 Speaker 1: cemetery service for Ben. We had just released a bouquet 482 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:22,600 Speaker 1: of balloons to float up to Heaven when I noticed 483 00:32:22,760 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 1: the large display of swirling lights coming closer. They were 484 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 1: beautiful as they danced through the air. Do you see that, 485 00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:34,560 Speaker 1: I said with excitement to my mother in law, Joanne, 486 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:36,840 Speaker 1: who sat next to me, as I pointed to the 487 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:39,959 Speaker 1: edge of the cemetery. What do you see? She asked, 488 00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 1: little lights everywhere. I think they're angels dancing with Ben. 489 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:49,480 Speaker 1: I see them too, she said. We both stood mesmerized. 490 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 1: Look a white feather. She bent down to pick up 491 00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:56,479 Speaker 1: the feather. That's a sign from heaven that an angel 492 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:59,640 Speaker 1: has been here. She placed the feather in her purse. 493 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:04,280 Speaker 1: Six months after Ben passed away, I made a spontaneous 494 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 1: decision on a beautiful, warm, sunny day to visit a 495 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:12,280 Speaker 1: nearby horse stable. All three of my kids had plans 496 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:14,960 Speaker 1: with their friends that afternoon, so I knew the house 497 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:19,320 Speaker 1: would feel extra empty and lonely. I found comfort walking 498 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 1: through the stables and petting the velvet soft noses of 499 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:26,480 Speaker 1: horses as they greeted me over their stall doors. The 500 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:30,560 Speaker 1: sweet smell of alfalfa hay wafted through the air, and 501 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:34,920 Speaker 1: the sounds of horses whinnying brought back fun childhood memories 502 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:38,440 Speaker 1: of horse shows that I attended with my dad. I 503 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:41,760 Speaker 1: liked hearing the clamp clamp sounds of the horses hoofs 504 00:33:41,960 --> 00:33:45,600 Speaker 1: as they were led down the concrete center walkways. It 505 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:50,520 Speaker 1: refreshed my spirit to be near these magnificent animals for 506 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:54,280 Speaker 1: a little while. I could escape the deep pain in 507 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:58,360 Speaker 1: my heart. I found solace sitting on a straw bale 508 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:02,680 Speaker 1: next to the stall in a quiet barn. Dear Lord, 509 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:05,240 Speaker 1: thank you for the wonderful piece you have given me 510 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:08,719 Speaker 1: with the gift of spending time at the horse stables. 511 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:12,560 Speaker 1: I miss being around horses. Is there any work I 512 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:15,759 Speaker 1: can do here at the stable? I had no more 513 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:20,000 Speaker 1: finished my prayer when a pretty lady with long blonde 514 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:24,480 Speaker 1: hair came walking around the corner. After a brief introduction, 515 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:28,719 Speaker 1: I learned she was the manager of the stables. Know 516 00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:32,680 Speaker 1: of anyone that would like help with their horses? I asked, hopefully, 517 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:35,960 Speaker 1: funny you should ask. I just told my sister an 518 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:40,200 Speaker 1: hour ago that we need to find someone to exercise Freckles. 519 00:34:40,239 --> 00:34:45,239 Speaker 1: She said, Freckles, she is our old barn mayor and 520 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 1: really needs someone to ride her. Do you have any 521 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:52,560 Speaker 1: experience riding? Oh? Yes, I said, jumping off the straw bail. 522 00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:55,960 Speaker 1: I used to be a rodeo queen and I barrel 523 00:34:56,080 --> 00:35:00,360 Speaker 1: raced and showed horses for years. Well, then you're welcome 524 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:03,759 Speaker 1: to ride Freckles anytime you want. That would be great. 525 00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:07,479 Speaker 1: I would love to ride her, I exclaimed. Well, let's 526 00:35:07,520 --> 00:35:11,480 Speaker 1: go meet Freckles. My heart jumped for joy when I 527 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:15,719 Speaker 1: saw the manager lead out a white horse out of 528 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:20,080 Speaker 1: her stall. Freckles was beautiful, with a long, flowing white 529 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:27,520 Speaker 1: mane and tiny specks of red dots on her sleek coat. Oh, 530 00:35:27,719 --> 00:35:29,600 Speaker 1: I can see why you call her Freckles, I said. 531 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:33,760 Speaker 1: My last words spoken to Ben kept running through my mind. 532 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:37,080 Speaker 1: When you get to Heaven, find me a white horse. 533 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:39,960 Speaker 1: Shall we saddle her up and you can take her 534 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:43,640 Speaker 1: her a ride? Now? That would be great. That was 535 00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:47,480 Speaker 1: the beginning of my relationship with Freckles, my beautiful white horse, 536 00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:50,920 Speaker 1: a gift from Ben. On one of our rides a 537 00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:54,200 Speaker 1: month later, with the warm July breeze on my face, 538 00:35:54,719 --> 00:35:57,520 Speaker 1: Freckles and I headed to the middle of a meadow 539 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:02,200 Speaker 1: covered with yellow and white daisies and surrounded by green 540 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:07,320 Speaker 1: horse pastures. Snow capped mount Hood looked majestic in the distance, 541 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:12,240 Speaker 1: with clear blue skies as the perfect backdrop. The beauty 542 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:16,160 Speaker 1: was amazing. The saddle leather creaked as I shifted my 543 00:36:16,239 --> 00:36:20,600 Speaker 1: weight to look around. Come on, girl, let's go. Freckles 544 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:24,719 Speaker 1: stopped in her tracks, her gaze fixed on something ahead, 545 00:36:25,040 --> 00:36:28,439 Speaker 1: ears forward, nose lifted to the air to catch a scent. 546 00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:32,120 Speaker 1: What is it girl, I said, patting the side of 547 00:36:32,160 --> 00:36:38,000 Speaker 1: her neck, my heart pounding in my chest. Suddenly, hundreds 548 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:45,400 Speaker 1: of swirling, iridescent lights resembling bubbles appeared in front of us. Mesmerized, 549 00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:50,319 Speaker 1: I watched as a calm peacefulness settled over me. I 550 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:53,839 Speaker 1: felt arms wrap around me in a hug, but there 551 00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:58,360 Speaker 1: was no one else there. Freckles sensed something too. She 552 00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:03,200 Speaker 1: appeared to watch the light move angels. I whispered to Freckles, 553 00:37:03,880 --> 00:37:08,880 Speaker 1: we're watching the dance of angels. The silvery pink lights 554 00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:13,360 Speaker 1: danced around us for several minutes, and neither one of 555 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:18,000 Speaker 1: us moved a muscle. Then, just as quickly as they appeared, 556 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:23,560 Speaker 1: they were gone. Freckles took a big, sighing breath and 557 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:26,799 Speaker 1: started walking again. Freckles and I covered a lot of 558 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:29,600 Speaker 1: ground that summer, but I didn't see the dance of 559 00:37:29,600 --> 00:37:33,200 Speaker 1: the angels again, although I felt their presence many times. 560 00:37:34,200 --> 00:37:37,320 Speaker 1: I'm thankful for my summer with my beautiful white horse 561 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:42,120 Speaker 1: and the dance of the angels, my special gifts from Ben. 562 00:37:43,080 --> 00:37:47,200 Speaker 1: About a year ago, on episode sixty, I spoke with 563 00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:54,319 Speaker 1: Lorna Byrne, who is a world famous author who sees angels. 564 00:37:54,360 --> 00:37:58,200 Speaker 1: She describes them as these lights, and she saw them 565 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:03,520 Speaker 1: ever since she was Field makes me wonder. Also, a 566 00:38:03,560 --> 00:38:07,880 Speaker 1: friend of mine told me that he thought he was 567 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:12,600 Speaker 1: seeing the soul of his loved ones after they had passed. 568 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:17,759 Speaker 1: He described the similar light, all these little flecks of 569 00:38:18,560 --> 00:38:24,000 Speaker 1: pink dancing around and leaving the room, angels the soul 570 00:38:24,040 --> 00:38:28,319 Speaker 1: of the loved one. Something's happening. I'd be interested in 571 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:32,000 Speaker 1: finding out if you have any of these kind of experiences. 572 00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:35,279 Speaker 1: I think it's good to hear the different experiences to 573 00:38:35,480 --> 00:38:39,239 Speaker 1: know that we're not crazy. And this story was a 574 00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:41,880 Speaker 1: little tender to my heart, as I know many of 575 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:44,359 Speaker 1: us have been by the bedside of a loved one, 576 00:38:44,760 --> 00:38:49,920 Speaker 1: and unfortunately, the more we love, the more it hurts. 577 00:38:50,080 --> 00:38:54,040 Speaker 1: So grief can be devastating. But in those quiet moments, 578 00:38:54,520 --> 00:38:59,520 Speaker 1: keep an eye out for signs, sparkly lights, strange behavior 579 00:38:59,560 --> 00:39:04,719 Speaker 1: with a pet or animal. You never know. We'll continue 580 00:39:04,800 --> 00:39:07,719 Speaker 1: with more stories. In just a minute. You're listening to 581 00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:10,799 Speaker 1: Shades of the Afterlife on the I Heart Radio and 582 00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:20,040 Speaker 1: Coast to Coast AM Paranormal podcast network. Stare right there, 583 00:39:20,160 --> 00:39:35,239 Speaker 1: there's more, Sandra coming right out. Did you know that 584 00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:37,359 Speaker 1: tests that could save your life from cancer are now 585 00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:39,799 Speaker 1: available for a little or no cost thanks to the 586 00:39:39,880 --> 00:39:43,279 Speaker 1: healthcare law called the Affordable Care Act. Let this be 587 00:39:43,360 --> 00:39:46,440 Speaker 1: the year you get screening tests that can detect cancer 588 00:39:46,520 --> 00:39:49,960 Speaker 1: early when it's most treatable. Don't let concerns get in 589 00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:53,400 Speaker 1: the way. Talk to a doctor or other medical professional 590 00:39:53,840 --> 00:40:06,759 Speaker 1: to learn more about the best cancer testing options for you. Yeah, 591 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:11,200 Speaker 1: happy holidays from your friends at I Heart Radio and 592 00:40:11,280 --> 00:40:27,799 Speaker 1: Coast to Coast AM. Welcome back to Shades of the Afterlife. 593 00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:31,160 Speaker 1: I'm Sanders Champlain. The more and more I read these 594 00:40:31,239 --> 00:40:37,840 Speaker 1: stories to you, I feel compassion for us. Life isn't easy. 595 00:40:38,640 --> 00:40:41,640 Speaker 1: Some of us have dealt with a lot of pain, 596 00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:45,799 Speaker 1: a lot of grief, perhaps a lot of death, and 597 00:40:45,880 --> 00:40:50,520 Speaker 1: we still managed to go on. Whoever you are and 598 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:55,000 Speaker 1: whatever you've been through, either give yourself a hug or 599 00:40:55,160 --> 00:40:58,440 Speaker 1: pretend you're giving yourself a virtual hug. But I want 600 00:40:58,480 --> 00:41:01,040 Speaker 1: you to pat yourself on the back for the tough 601 00:41:01,080 --> 00:41:05,640 Speaker 1: times that you've made it through. We are souls having 602 00:41:05,719 --> 00:41:09,680 Speaker 1: a human experience, and many people say that we signed 603 00:41:09,760 --> 00:41:12,799 Speaker 1: up for this life knowing how hard it would be. 604 00:41:13,280 --> 00:41:16,920 Speaker 1: We get the real soul growth out of the tough times, 605 00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:22,360 Speaker 1: not the easy times. This next story is by Joanne 606 00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:26,759 Speaker 1: and for those who have parents or loved ones with 607 00:41:26,800 --> 00:41:32,240 Speaker 1: Alzheimer's or dementia, I send lots of love. I've always 608 00:41:32,239 --> 00:41:34,960 Speaker 1: been close to my mom, not that we didn't fight. 609 00:41:35,480 --> 00:41:38,920 Speaker 1: We fought like cats and dogs, but the fighting was 610 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:43,560 Speaker 1: part of our connection. My mother was very outspoken. She 611 00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:46,720 Speaker 1: didn't care who you were. If she had something to say, 612 00:41:47,160 --> 00:41:50,600 Speaker 1: she'd say it. I tend to be the same way, 613 00:41:50,680 --> 00:41:54,240 Speaker 1: so the two of us budded heads quite a bit. However, 614 00:41:54,520 --> 00:41:58,160 Speaker 1: we were also best friends, always in each other's corner. 615 00:41:58,880 --> 00:42:02,000 Speaker 1: If I needed her, she was there. If she needed me, 616 00:42:02,360 --> 00:42:06,520 Speaker 1: I was there. We supported one another, We loved one another. 617 00:42:07,160 --> 00:42:11,440 Speaker 1: We shared many fights, but many more laughs. We laughed 618 00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:15,040 Speaker 1: all the time, sometimes until our stomachs hurt and tears 619 00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:19,320 Speaker 1: streamed down our faces. About ten years ago I noticed 620 00:42:19,360 --> 00:42:25,880 Speaker 1: the laughter slowly subsiding, and Mom seemed constantly preoccupied. Something 621 00:42:25,960 --> 00:42:29,200 Speaker 1: just felt wrong. She couldn't remember where she put anything, 622 00:42:29,640 --> 00:42:32,040 Speaker 1: and she seemed to be so mad at me all 623 00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:36,680 Speaker 1: of the time. When she couldn't remember certain things, I figured, well, 624 00:42:36,760 --> 00:42:39,840 Speaker 1: we all have bad days. Maybe she was just having 625 00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:44,440 Speaker 1: many bad days. But the problems were consistent, and what 626 00:42:44,560 --> 00:42:48,040 Speaker 1: started off as every now and then became more frequent. 627 00:42:49,200 --> 00:42:53,080 Speaker 1: Then the laughter seemed to stop. I asked my husband 628 00:42:53,120 --> 00:42:56,160 Speaker 1: one night, when was the last time you heard Mom laugh? 629 00:42:57,080 --> 00:43:01,399 Speaker 1: He said he couldn't remember. Slowly, the connection between mother 630 00:43:01,440 --> 00:43:05,160 Speaker 1: and daughter fell away. At times, I felt like I 631 00:43:05,200 --> 00:43:08,600 Speaker 1: was talking to a stranger and taking care of a stranger. 632 00:43:09,760 --> 00:43:13,160 Speaker 1: It was obvious to me that something was seriously wrong 633 00:43:13,200 --> 00:43:16,240 Speaker 1: with my mom. Mom and I shared the same doctor. 634 00:43:16,760 --> 00:43:19,440 Speaker 1: I phoned our doctor and relayed all of my fears 635 00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:22,799 Speaker 1: and concerns. The doctor said she would talk to Mom 636 00:43:22,920 --> 00:43:25,480 Speaker 1: the next time she was in, but that my fears 637 00:43:25,480 --> 00:43:28,640 Speaker 1: and concerns were nothing to worry about. She said that 638 00:43:28,680 --> 00:43:32,160 Speaker 1: she had seen Mom recently and she felt fine. I 639 00:43:32,239 --> 00:43:35,279 Speaker 1: kept telling her that Mom was not fine. My mother 640 00:43:35,480 --> 00:43:38,800 Speaker 1: was the best actress around, and she had everyone fooled. 641 00:43:39,640 --> 00:43:43,560 Speaker 1: She learned the little tricks and manipulated everyone around her, 642 00:43:43,680 --> 00:43:46,040 Speaker 1: to the point that when I said something was wrong, 643 00:43:46,280 --> 00:43:49,640 Speaker 1: people thought I was being a negative daughter. As time 644 00:43:49,680 --> 00:43:52,880 Speaker 1: went on, I pleaded with my family and our doctor 645 00:43:52,960 --> 00:43:56,880 Speaker 1: to do something. Finally, my doctor saw that something was 646 00:43:57,080 --> 00:44:01,359 Speaker 1: seriously wrong and we had Mom properly test did four 647 00:44:01,440 --> 00:44:04,719 Speaker 1: years ago. The medical community finally agreed with me that 648 00:44:04,840 --> 00:44:08,160 Speaker 1: my mother had Alzheimer's. I wanted my mother to come 649 00:44:08,200 --> 00:44:11,719 Speaker 1: live with me, but she accepted my brother's invitation instead. 650 00:44:12,440 --> 00:44:16,760 Speaker 1: My brother lives across Canada in Niagara Falls. I couldn't 651 00:44:16,840 --> 00:44:20,920 Speaker 1: understand why she would move all that way. To be honest, 652 00:44:21,080 --> 00:44:24,080 Speaker 1: it hurt and it was a blow to me. All 653 00:44:24,120 --> 00:44:26,640 Speaker 1: I wanted to do was to take care of my mom, 654 00:44:26,719 --> 00:44:28,799 Speaker 1: as I had hoped one of my sons would do 655 00:44:28,920 --> 00:44:31,879 Speaker 1: for me. My brother wanted to do the same thing. 656 00:44:32,600 --> 00:44:36,680 Speaker 1: I voiced my concern about sending our sick mother across country, 657 00:44:36,719 --> 00:44:39,799 Speaker 1: but he insisted that he wanted to do this, so 658 00:44:39,840 --> 00:44:43,760 Speaker 1: I stepped aside. I packed all of her things, ship 659 00:44:43,800 --> 00:44:46,600 Speaker 1: to what she needed across the country and put her 660 00:44:46,640 --> 00:44:50,000 Speaker 1: apartment up for sale. I drove her to the airport 661 00:44:50,239 --> 00:44:52,359 Speaker 1: and put her on a plane with a one way 662 00:44:52,440 --> 00:44:56,320 Speaker 1: ticket to Ontario. It was one of the worst days 663 00:44:56,360 --> 00:44:59,640 Speaker 1: of my life. My husband couldn't be there that day, 664 00:45:00,239 --> 00:45:02,799 Speaker 1: so I had my two boys with me. They were 665 00:45:02,840 --> 00:45:06,640 Speaker 1: seven and five years old. As I watched mom walking 666 00:45:06,680 --> 00:45:09,279 Speaker 1: with a flight attendant to the plane, she turned to 667 00:45:09,320 --> 00:45:12,000 Speaker 1: me to wave goodbye, and the tears were streaming down 668 00:45:12,040 --> 00:45:15,719 Speaker 1: her face. It took everything I had not to run 669 00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:18,279 Speaker 1: up to her, grab her and tell her she was 670 00:45:18,360 --> 00:45:21,399 Speaker 1: coming home with me. I turned to my seven year 671 00:45:21,400 --> 00:45:24,279 Speaker 1: old with tears streaming down my face and said, I 672 00:45:24,320 --> 00:45:28,879 Speaker 1: think I've made a mistake. Mom. Granny won't remember who 673 00:45:28,920 --> 00:45:32,000 Speaker 1: we are next year. He said, it's time to let 674 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:34,920 Speaker 1: her go and be with the other part of her family, 675 00:45:35,320 --> 00:45:38,440 Speaker 1: and you haven't made a mistake. That stopped me in 676 00:45:38,520 --> 00:45:42,400 Speaker 1: my tracks. My mother had two sons, one daughter, and 677 00:45:42,560 --> 00:45:46,880 Speaker 1: six grandchildren back east. My son was right, it was 678 00:45:46,920 --> 00:45:49,600 Speaker 1: time for her to go home due to work in 679 00:45:49,680 --> 00:45:52,479 Speaker 1: everyday life. It was a full year before I saw 680 00:45:52,560 --> 00:45:56,040 Speaker 1: my mother again. My son was right. We got off 681 00:45:56,080 --> 00:45:59,440 Speaker 1: the plane in Toronto and drove straight to Niagara Falls 682 00:45:59,480 --> 00:46:02,680 Speaker 1: to be with um. She walked into the room and 683 00:46:02,719 --> 00:46:05,600 Speaker 1: I could see it in her eyes. She had no 684 00:46:05,760 --> 00:46:09,600 Speaker 1: idea who I was, who my children were, or who 685 00:46:09,680 --> 00:46:13,240 Speaker 1: my husband was. The actress part of her came out again. 686 00:46:13,880 --> 00:46:17,279 Speaker 1: She did her best to please everyone and pretend she 687 00:46:17,360 --> 00:46:20,720 Speaker 1: knew who we were, but everyone in that room knew 688 00:46:21,200 --> 00:46:24,719 Speaker 1: that Mom had no clue who we were. It was 689 00:46:24,760 --> 00:46:27,840 Speaker 1: a weird two weeks, no connection to Mom at all. 690 00:46:28,360 --> 00:46:32,120 Speaker 1: I tried, We all tried. We saw her every moment 691 00:46:32,120 --> 00:46:34,640 Speaker 1: we could, and it was like I was sitting with 692 00:46:34,680 --> 00:46:37,520 Speaker 1: a woman down the street, a woman I hardly knew. 693 00:46:38,400 --> 00:46:41,680 Speaker 1: The day we left Niagara Falls, I drove by myself 694 00:46:41,960 --> 00:46:44,640 Speaker 1: to the home of where my mother was living. It 695 00:46:44,760 --> 00:46:47,080 Speaker 1: was just the two of us. I had left the 696 00:46:47,160 --> 00:46:50,480 Speaker 1: children and my husband at my brother's house. I wanted 697 00:46:50,480 --> 00:46:54,640 Speaker 1: the time alone. Three hours and my mother and I 698 00:46:54,760 --> 00:46:58,319 Speaker 1: hardly said a word to each other. We sat outside 699 00:46:58,640 --> 00:47:01,120 Speaker 1: in the garden just to beat the other, but the 700 00:47:01,160 --> 00:47:04,560 Speaker 1: connection was still lost. On the flight home, I tried 701 00:47:04,600 --> 00:47:08,880 Speaker 1: to remember the mother I once had, the laughter, the arguments, 702 00:47:08,920 --> 00:47:12,479 Speaker 1: all the connections, but I couldn't get the Alzheimer's mom 703 00:47:12,560 --> 00:47:16,000 Speaker 1: out of my head, the woman who didn't know her daughters, 704 00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:20,720 Speaker 1: her sons, her grandchildren. This past Christmas, my brother phone 705 00:47:20,800 --> 00:47:23,360 Speaker 1: to tell me that our mother had taken a bad fall. 706 00:47:24,280 --> 00:47:26,920 Speaker 1: She broke her ribs and one of the broken ribs 707 00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:29,799 Speaker 1: punctured her lung. We didn't think she would make it, 708 00:47:30,440 --> 00:47:33,840 Speaker 1: but sure enough, she survived, and the doctors thought she 709 00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:37,040 Speaker 1: might even get out of the hospital. One night, my 710 00:47:37,160 --> 00:47:42,400 Speaker 1: mother asked about me, my children, and my husband. My 711 00:47:42,480 --> 00:47:45,359 Speaker 1: brother called to tell me that she asked for all 712 00:47:45,440 --> 00:47:48,640 Speaker 1: of us by name. He said, for the very first 713 00:47:48,680 --> 00:47:51,080 Speaker 1: time in a long time, he felt like he was 714 00:47:51,120 --> 00:47:54,960 Speaker 1: talking to Mom again. My heart went cold because I 715 00:47:55,080 --> 00:47:59,280 Speaker 1: knew that this was a short lived gift, the clarity, 716 00:47:59,480 --> 00:48:03,160 Speaker 1: the record mission, because Mom hadn't remembered who I was 717 00:48:03,239 --> 00:48:07,480 Speaker 1: for two years. My brother was so happy. I told 718 00:48:07,520 --> 00:48:11,200 Speaker 1: him I was thrilled that she had some clarity. However, 719 00:48:12,120 --> 00:48:15,040 Speaker 1: I didn't think it was a good sign. The very 720 00:48:15,120 --> 00:48:18,640 Speaker 1: next day, Mom fell into a coma, and no one 721 00:48:18,719 --> 00:48:22,360 Speaker 1: knew why. The next forty eight hours were a strange 722 00:48:22,440 --> 00:48:26,040 Speaker 1: time because I lived across the country and was not 723 00:48:26,080 --> 00:48:28,920 Speaker 1: sure what to do. No one knew how long she 724 00:48:28,960 --> 00:48:32,279 Speaker 1: would be in the coma. I was torn should I 725 00:48:32,280 --> 00:48:37,120 Speaker 1: fly back east now or wait. That night, I felt 726 00:48:37,160 --> 00:48:41,080 Speaker 1: the connection of Mom come back. Mom came to me 727 00:48:41,120 --> 00:48:44,640 Speaker 1: in my dreams as my mother, not the woman I 728 00:48:44,719 --> 00:48:49,040 Speaker 1: hardly knew, but the mother I knew so well. I 729 00:48:49,080 --> 00:48:53,080 Speaker 1: could almost smell her and feel her. She told me 730 00:48:53,120 --> 00:48:56,879 Speaker 1: I needed to stay where I was. I woke up 731 00:48:56,920 --> 00:48:59,520 Speaker 1: with peace in my heart and told my husband I 732 00:48:59,560 --> 00:49:03,279 Speaker 1: would wait to see what happened. Twenty four hours later, 733 00:49:03,680 --> 00:49:06,240 Speaker 1: my husband and I took our children to a movie. 734 00:49:06,880 --> 00:49:10,480 Speaker 1: On the way home, I fell asleep. I'm not sure 735 00:49:10,480 --> 00:49:13,839 Speaker 1: how to explain it, but it felt as if this 736 00:49:14,040 --> 00:49:17,759 Speaker 1: energy moved through me. The feeling was so abrupt that 737 00:49:17,840 --> 00:49:21,680 Speaker 1: I woke up immediately. I said to my husband, Mom 738 00:49:21,800 --> 00:49:25,640 Speaker 1: is gone. The connection was there and then it was gone. 739 00:49:26,440 --> 00:49:28,239 Speaker 1: When we got into the house, I went to the 740 00:49:28,280 --> 00:49:31,120 Speaker 1: phone expecting to see a message on the answering machine. 741 00:49:31,960 --> 00:49:34,640 Speaker 1: There was no message, but I knew in my heart 742 00:49:34,680 --> 00:49:38,360 Speaker 1: that Mom had moved on. Ten minutes later, the phone 743 00:49:38,440 --> 00:49:41,560 Speaker 1: rang and it was my sister in law. She said 744 00:49:41,560 --> 00:49:45,160 Speaker 1: that Mom had passed away. I asked her what time 745 00:49:45,200 --> 00:49:48,719 Speaker 1: it was, and she told me what I already knew 746 00:49:49,239 --> 00:49:53,680 Speaker 1: about a half hour earlier, the precise time I felt 747 00:49:53,680 --> 00:49:57,680 Speaker 1: the energy moved through me. Mom, you see, had managed 748 00:49:57,719 --> 00:50:03,040 Speaker 1: to reconnect with me after all. In this story, Joanna 749 00:50:03,200 --> 00:50:06,920 Speaker 1: told of her mom coming back to life just before 750 00:50:07,000 --> 00:50:11,320 Speaker 1: she had passed, and we hear that so much, whether 751 00:50:11,480 --> 00:50:17,600 Speaker 1: someone has Alzheimer's or not. There are people that haven't 752 00:50:17,680 --> 00:50:21,000 Speaker 1: spoken in days and weeks, and just moments before they 753 00:50:21,040 --> 00:50:24,520 Speaker 1: pass some can sit right up out of bed and 754 00:50:24,719 --> 00:50:28,640 Speaker 1: become alive, alert, and it's natural for families to think, oh, 755 00:50:28,719 --> 00:50:33,000 Speaker 1: they're getting better, but not so. It's actually quite miraculous 756 00:50:33,200 --> 00:50:37,600 Speaker 1: when people who don't have mental faculties, can have full 757 00:50:37,640 --> 00:50:41,719 Speaker 1: memory again just for a few brief moments. Those who 758 00:50:41,760 --> 00:50:46,760 Speaker 1: have loved ones with dementia, it is said that part 759 00:50:46,760 --> 00:50:49,640 Speaker 1: of them is in this world and part of them 760 00:50:49,800 --> 00:50:53,520 Speaker 1: is already in the other world. Also, those of us 761 00:50:53,520 --> 00:50:56,800 Speaker 1: who have seen our loved ones suffering, it is said 762 00:50:57,280 --> 00:51:00,320 Speaker 1: that our loved ones soul can leave their body before 763 00:51:00,360 --> 00:51:03,000 Speaker 1: they do. I hope so, as that was the case 764 00:51:03,160 --> 00:51:07,920 Speaker 1: with my dad, I know with myself this episode brought 765 00:51:08,320 --> 00:51:14,680 Speaker 1: up some raw emotions, some memories. It's good to experience them. 766 00:51:14,719 --> 00:51:19,880 Speaker 1: What we resist persists. Part of being human is to 767 00:51:21,239 --> 00:51:25,480 Speaker 1: experience emotions, and the more we experience, the more growth 768 00:51:25,560 --> 00:51:28,800 Speaker 1: we have for our soul. And I really do believe 769 00:51:28,920 --> 00:51:32,960 Speaker 1: that that's the purpose of life. It's to experience, to love, 770 00:51:33,480 --> 00:51:37,400 Speaker 1: to forgive, to make a difference for others, to have fun, 771 00:51:38,000 --> 00:51:41,959 Speaker 1: a sense of wonder, of joy, and, like Joanna said, 772 00:51:42,600 --> 00:51:47,440 Speaker 1: a good laugh. We can feel alone so often, can't we. 773 00:51:47,920 --> 00:51:51,680 Speaker 1: I want you to know you are never alone. Right now, 774 00:51:51,840 --> 00:51:56,560 Speaker 1: wherever you are, you have some smiling faces looking at you. 775 00:51:56,560 --> 00:51:59,200 Speaker 1: You may not see them, but they're your loved ones 776 00:51:59,640 --> 00:52:03,000 Speaker 1: cheering you on. You've made it this far, you can 777 00:52:03,080 --> 00:52:06,480 Speaker 1: make it all the way through. Also, you have a 778 00:52:06,560 --> 00:52:09,680 Speaker 1: huge community of almost seven thousand people. If you'd like 779 00:52:09,719 --> 00:52:12,200 Speaker 1: to join our Facebook group, just go to our home 780 00:52:12,239 --> 00:52:15,920 Speaker 1: base We Don't Die dot com and click on Facebook 781 00:52:15,920 --> 00:52:19,160 Speaker 1: group at the top of the page. My friend, you 782 00:52:19,200 --> 00:52:22,719 Speaker 1: are not alone. Don't be so hard on yourself. It's 783 00:52:22,760 --> 00:52:27,680 Speaker 1: hard being human. I'm Sandra Champlain. Go find something that 784 00:52:27,719 --> 00:52:31,440 Speaker 1: will make you laugh today. Thank you for listening to 785 00:52:31,600 --> 00:52:34,719 Speaker 1: Shades of the Afterlife on the I Heart Radio and 786 00:52:34,800 --> 00:52:44,600 Speaker 1: Coast to Coast am Paranormal Podcast Network. Thanks for listening 787 00:52:44,640 --> 00:52:46,520 Speaker 1: to the I Heart Radio and Coast to Coast Day 788 00:52:46,520 --> 00:52:49,600 Speaker 1: and Paranormal Podcast Network. Make sure and check out all 789 00:52:49,719 --> 00:52:52,640 Speaker 1: our shows on the Heart Radio app or by going 790 00:52:52,680 --> 00:52:59,160 Speaker 1: to I heart radio dot com.