A woman who stopped breathing for three minutes after a piece of steak lodged in her throat says she was transported to the 'other side' for a life review. Kelsey Abernathy McLean, 53, from Philadelphia, US, had been looking forward to a family barbecue, but her first bite led to serious difficulty. Despite the Heimlich manoeuvre, the steak would not move.
Kelsey recalls drifting into a vast pit of darkness and being wrapped in a tight cocoon. 'I was not ready to leave this life,' she said. 'I desperately wanted to watch my young son grow up and grow old with my husband, Rob.'
The Near-Death Experience
'As the lights dimmed, I felt wrapped in a cocoon of infinite love. Time didn't exist, and there was no beginning or end. No words were spoken, yet I understood a universal language,' she explained. 'I started seeing snippets of my life, like watching a movie on a large screen. I felt the emotions I had caused others, both good and bad. My life review showed me the karma I had created.'
She felt sadness for hurting people and sought forgiveness, but also pride in moments of love, especially towards those who didn't deserve it. 'I learned that material possessions, status, and money don't matter. It struck me as absurd that I had spent so much time caring about things you can't take with you when you die.'
A Guardian Angel Photo
Before the ordeal, Kelsey had been looking at old family photos. A picture of her husband Rob, tucked into her wallet, she believes acted as a 'guardian angel' to bring her back. Suddenly, a beam of bright light radiated through her. 'For several seconds, I was utterly confused. I had been passed out for three minutes and 30 seconds. At four minutes, brain damage begins.'
Despite bruised ribs, medics called it a 'miracle' she survived. According to the National Institutes of Health, full airway blockage choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional injury death in the US, killing around 5,500 people annually.
Life After the Experience
Now, Kelsey moves forward with a new attitude. 'I am terrified of having another near-death experience; this was such a close call. I cut my food into smaller bites, chew thoroughly, and took a CPR class with my husband and son.'
'But the main lesson is to forgive myself and others, be kinder, and savour every moment. I question each action: will it be a positive moment in my next life review or a moment of hurt I will feel myself? Overall, I'm grateful. It's changed my life miraculously. I used to fear dying, but now I'm not afraid after glimpsing the other side. I'm afraid of not living my full life here and not appreciating what I have. Karma is real. I hope that when I die, my review will leave me proud. The real miracle is having a second chance.'
