May 15, 2026 • 50 mins
Explore the "final glow" where children lost in the fog of illness suddenly regain complete clarity to say goodbye. Discover breathtaking stories of children greeting siblings they never met, being reunited with beloved pets, and providing undeniable proof that we are never alone in our final moments.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And you're here. Thanks for choosing the iHeartRadio and Coast
to Ghost, d A and Paranormal Podcast Network. Your quest for
podcasts of the paranormal, supernatural, and the unexplained ends here.
They invite you to enjoy all our shows we have
on this network, and right now, let's start with Shase
of the Afterlife with Santra Champlain.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Welcome to our podcast. Please be aware the thoughts and
opinions expressed by the host are their thoughts and opinions
only and do not reflect those of iHeartMedia, iHeartRadio, Coast
to Coast am employees of Premiere Networks, or their sponsors
and associates. We would like to encourage you to do
(00:42):
your own research and discover the subject matter for yourself. Hi,
I'm Sandra Champlain. For over twenty five years, I've been
on a journey to prove the existence of life after depth.
On each episode, we'll discuss the reasons we now know
(01:05):
that our loved ones have survived physical debt and so
will we. Welcome to Shades of the Afterlife. Recently we
talked about our pets and the beautiful way they bridge
the gap between our two worlds, sending us signs and
letting us know they're still right here with us. Today,
we're stepping into even deeper waters. We're going to talk
(01:27):
about something that touches the very core of the human heart.
Saying goodbye to a child too soon, However, the incredible
words that many leave us knowing that they're greeted by
loved ones. This is a powerful episode, and I have many,
many breathtaking stories for you centered on a theme called
(01:50):
terminal lucidity. Today we're going to look at the miracle
of clarity, those moments when a child who has been unresponsive,
notbal or lost in the fog of a devastating illness
suddenly wakes up. They become bright, clear and vibrant, often
just minutes or hours before they pass. I've gathered so
(02:14):
many incredible true stories for you today, from a groundbreaking
study of real families to first hand accounts from hospice
nurses and doctors who witnessed the impossible. You will hear
about children describing waterfalls of light, greeting siblings they never
met on earth, and being reunited with beloved pets who
(02:37):
have come to escort them home. If you are carrying
the heavyweight of grief, today, Please know that these stories
are not just memories. They are proof that no one
dies alone. They prove that children's souls and the souls
of all of our loved ones are fully aware, vibrantly alive,
(02:57):
and greeted with overwhelm love in their final moments. Get
ready for some serious goosebumps, because I had them creating
this episode for you today. But the message is clear,
words of I love you, joyful smiles, and a window
into the reunion that never ends. So this brand new
(03:18):
study I was referring to came out in February of
twenty twenty six. Natasha tassel Metamua and her team at
Massy University in New Zealand looked closely at eleven real
children from nineteen months old up to sixteen years old.
These kids had been very sick. Many couldn't talk or
(03:41):
respond for weeks. Their bodies were tired and worn out.
But right near the end, something amazing and beautiful happened.
They suddenly became clear and peaceful. While the report itself
focuses on the clinical data and the scientific why, it
validates the exact day experiences we hear from families every
(04:03):
day to help us understand what this looks like in
the real world. I've gathered several breathtaking accounts, some similar
to those in the Massy study, and others from hospice
archives that show us the human side of this miracle.
Let's start out with a story about a sweet little
three year old girl. She had a serious problem with
(04:24):
her liver and lungs from an immune disorder. For weeks,
she had stopped talking, eating, or even looking at her
mommy and daddy. She just lay there so quiet and
far away. Then on the very day her doctors changed
her care to focus only on comfort, not getting well.
(04:45):
She woke up that night her eyes got bright and sparkly.
This little girl asked for her favorite Lion King movie
and her special stuffed animal toys. She wanted to color
a little picture with her crayons. She talked, walked in
full clear sentences, something she hadn't done in such a
long time. She looked right at her parents with so
(05:08):
much love and told them I love you. She said
not to worry because she would be okay. The nurse
standing there and her whole family felt like they were
watching a miracle unfold. She gently went back to sleep
and passed peacefully a few days later, safe in her parents' arms.
That one beautiful night when she came back to life
(05:30):
was a treasure that her family still holds onto. They
knew their little girl was aware, she had felt their love,
and she was at peace as she got ready to
go home. Another child in that same study had been
quiet and far away for weeks, then all of a sudden,
he became alert and present. He used simple words and
hand signs to tell his mom and dad that he
(05:52):
was ready to go home and that he would be okay.
He looked at them with such warmth and said I
love you in a way that filled the whole room
with tears. They were happy and sad, tears that felt
like a hug from his little heart. The nurses and
family said he seemed more like his sweet old self
in those few precious minutes than he had been for months.
(06:15):
Those gentle words became the soft goodbye as his parents
felt sad, of course, but not as much fear in
their hearts. In a children's cancer clinic, doctors saw this
happen with several kids. One little boy had been getting
weaker and quieter every single day than he suddenly sat
up with bright shining eyes and said, hi, Andy. Andy
(06:38):
was his big brother who had died earlier. He wasn't scared.
He looked calm and happy, like he was talking to
someone the rest of the room couldn't see. He smiled
as he reached out toward the empty space family, knowing
he was reaching out to his big brother. Other children
in that same clinic suddenly sat up, turned their heads,
(06:59):
recognized their family, and had real clear conversations with family
members and invisible family members. Right at the very end,
one precious little girl looked past her mommy with eyes
wide open in pure wonder and said, in the sweetest
little voice, it's so beautiful here, there are waterfalls of light.
(07:22):
Then she turned straight to her mother with complete clarity
and said, you don't have to worry about me anymore.
I'm going to be with the angels. A few moments later,
she passed away peacefully. Her mom has said many times
that that single minute became her greatest treasure. It took
away the scary nightmare of her daughter's suffering and left
(07:44):
her with a warm picture of joy and safety with
the angels that still brings her comfort on her hardest days.
She says she can close her eyes and still see
her daughter's happy face when she said those words. Palliative
care doctor Christopher her, author of Death Is But a Dream,
has sat with thousands of dying people in hospice, and
(08:07):
he sees these moments with children too. He says kids
often see their pets first. One mother told her hospice
nurse that her young son, who had been so quiet
for days, suddenly reached out his little hand. He was
petting a dog, a dog that had died years earlier.
(08:27):
He smiled the biggest, brightest smile she had seen in months,
and he whispered the dog's name with so much happiness.
That image of her boy happily reunited with his old
furry friend stayed with her and made the sharp edges
of her grief softer for years afterwards. He wasn't frightened
at all. He was joyful, like his best buddy had
(08:50):
come running to walk him safely home. There's another story
about a little boy who had never spoken a single
word in his whole life, and was very sick and
quiet near the end. Then just before he passed, he
looked into the corner of the room. His face lit
up with the biggest, sweetest smile, and he said his
very first word out loud, Hello. His mom knew right
(09:13):
away he wasn't talking to an empty corner. He was
greeting someone who had come to bring him home, maybe
a grandparent, a pet, or a loving angel. Sometimes these
children see relatives they never met on Earth. One young
child who was very ill started talking about a nice
lady who came to visit him. He described her pretty dress,
(09:36):
her warm smile, and how she sang soft songs to him.
His parents were stunned because the description matched his great grandmother,
who had died long before he was even born. He
had never seen a photo or heard family stories about her,
or knew the songs that she sang. Yet he knew
her name and little details only the grown ups remembered.
(10:00):
It felt like she had come especially to comfort him
and help him feel safe as he got ready to
cross over. The parents said it brought them a deep
sense of peace, knowing someone who loved him in the
family was there waiting. In some near death experiences, in
glimpses that children have brought back, they talk about seeing
(10:20):
pets or family waiting with joy. One little boy who
almost died saw his old dog running to meet him,
healthy and wagging his tail like he was when he
was a puppy. He named the dog and described the
dog jumping up and licking his face, just like old times.
Another child described playing with a grandma she had never
(10:42):
known on earth, but the details matched perfectly, the way
she laughed, what she looked like, and also knew the
exact songs Grandma would sing. These moments show that even
young kids can have clear, real connections that go beyond
what their tired bodies show allow. It's good news that
love always finds a way through. These are true stories
(11:06):
coming from real families, real nurses, and real doctors who
were right there holding hands at the children's bedside. They
show us again and again that a child's soul can
stay bright and filled with love even when the body
is so very tired. The brain may be shutting down,
but the soul is still doing its gentle work saying goodbye,
(11:28):
giving comfort, and stepping toward home surrounded by love. My friend,
if you have lost a child or someone close, they
may have had one of these experiences in their final moment,
even if you did not witness it. We are never
ever alone in our last moments, our loved one's souls
(11:49):
were aware, they felt your love, and they are still
connected to you through a bond that can never ever break.
In our busy world, we're taught to fight death with
everything we have, and I've been told that over ninety
percent of our health care dollars is spent in the
last months of someone's life. We think of death as
(12:10):
something terrible and wrong, and granted, it's very difficult and
unpleasant to see a loved one pass, but sitting quietly
with these children teaches us something different is going on.
Their bodies know how to go softly, and in those
final hours, the soul can break through with light smiles
and so much love. I've got tons of stories for
(12:33):
you on this episode, and when we come back, we'll
hear some of these from hospice rooms. We'll talk about
how these clear moments often include seeing those beloved pets
or family members who have already crossed over, and we'll
look at what it all means for our own hearts.
When the grief feels too heavy to carry alone, We'll
(12:53):
be right back. You're listening to Shades of the Afterlife
on the iHeartRadio and Coast to coast, a Hairinormal Podcast Network.
(13:23):
Welcome back to Shades of the Afterlife. I'm samda Champlain.
Let's keep going with these beautiful stories of terminal lucidity
in children. From one case in that twenty twenty six collection,
a five year old boy with advanced brain cancer had
been unresponsive for nearly two weeks. His eyes stayed closed
most of the time. He barely moved. His parents sat
(13:46):
by his bed day and night, holding his small hand
and whispering over and over just how much they loved him.
The room felt heavy with sadness. Then, on what turned
out to be his last afternoon, he suddenly open and
his eyes wide. He looked straight at his mother and said,
in a clear, steady voice, Mommy, don't cry. I'm going
(14:08):
with Grandma now. She's waiting for me with Max. Max
had been the family's golden retriever who had died when
the boy was only two years old. The child never
had spoken about Max since the dog passed. His mother's
voice shook as she asked him what Grandma looked like.
(14:28):
He smiled big and described her yellow dress and the
way she always used to sing the same lullaby to him,
a song his mother hadn't sung since her own mother
died years before the boy was born. He reached out
his little hand like he was petting something in the
air and said, with excitement, Max is wagging his tail
(14:49):
so fast. Then he looked at his dad and said, Daddy,
it's okay. I'm not scared. I'll wait for you. A
few hours later, he passed peacefully with both parents holding him.
The parents say that moment took some of the heaviest
weight off their hearts because they knew their son wasn't
afraid and that he definitely wasn't alone. They still talk
(15:12):
about his smile when he mentioned Max wagging his tail.
Another little girl, just seven years old, had been in
a deep sleeplike state for days because of a very
rare illness. The nurses said her body was shutting down
and they didn't expect her to wake up again. Her
parents were exhausted and heartbroken, sitting beside her bed, holding
(15:36):
her hands. But then in the middle of the night,
she sat straight up. Her eyes were bright and clear.
She looked around the room and started naming people. She said,
Aunt Lisa is here. She's wearing the red scarf I
gave her for Christmas. Aunt Lisa had died two years earlier.
(15:56):
She smiled and said, she brought my cat, Whisker. Whiskers
is purring so loud. Whiskers had been her cat that
passed away when she was four. The girl reached out
like she was stroking the cat and laughed softly, kind
of laugh her parents hadn't heard in months. She told
her parents, they say it's time for me to go
(16:18):
with them. Please don't be sad. I'll be playing and
running and i won't be tired anymore. She hugged her
mom and dad tight, told them she loved them so much,
then lay back down and passed quietly. Her parents say
that night took some of the heaviest weight off their hearts,
because they too knew their daughter wasn't afraid and she
(16:42):
wasn't alone. In the same collection, there was a nine
year old boy who had been nonverbal for months due
to a progressive condition. He hadn't even made eye contact
or responded to voices in a very long time. His
family had almost stopped hoping that he would ever speak again,
and then one morning he opened his eyes, looked right
(17:03):
at his father and said, clearly, Dad, the light is
so pretty and Grandpa is standing in it. He wants
me to come play ball with him. The boy had
never met his grandfather, he died before the child was born.
Yet he described the grandfather's favorite baseball cap and the
way he used to throw the ball high into the air.
(17:26):
The father started crying. The boy smiled and said, don't cry, dad.
Grandpa says, you can come visit us later. I'll save
a spot for you on the team. He reached out
like he was catching a ball, then relaxed and passed
away peacefully. Later that day. That short conversation gave the
(17:46):
father something precious to hold on to, the knowledge that
his son was being welcomed by family and that the
love continued. Doctor Christopher Kerr has shared many stories from hospice.
One involved a four year old girl who had stopped
speaking weeks earlier. Her parents were at her bedside when
(18:07):
she suddenly sat up, looked toward the corner of the
room and said, with excitement, Mommy, look, it's Buddy. He's
wagging his tail. Buddy was the family beagle who had
died six months before. She laughed and said, he wants
me to go play fetch with him. He says, it's okay.
She reached out her hand like she was throwing Buddy
(18:30):
a ball, then turned to her mother and said, I
love you. Tell Daddy I love him too. She lay
back down and passed a short while later with a
peaceful smile on her face. Her mother says that moment
replaced some of her worst fears with a picture of
her daughter running and playing with her dog again. I
(18:51):
think it's so sweet that these dogs are wagging their
tails and are there to greet these kids. Don't you
wonder who's going to be there waiting for you, maybe
wagging their tails. Another hospice story comes from a teenage
girl who had been in a coma like state. Her
family was gathered around her when she suddenly opened her
eyes and looked past them. She said, softly, my horse
(19:16):
Star is here. She's all shiny and strong again. She
wants me to ride with her. The girl had loved horses,
and Star had been her favorite horse that had died
two years earlier. She smiled and said, don't be sad.
Star says, the grass is really green where we're going.
(19:37):
She told each family member she loved them by name,
then closed her eyes and passed. Peacefully. Her parents said
hearing her talk about star running strong again brought them
a deep sense of comfort they still lean on when
the waves of grief roll in again. Sometimes these children
see relatives they've never known. An eight year old boy
(20:01):
who had been unresponsive suddenly became clear and said, Uncle
Tommy is here. He's wearing a blue shirt and he's smiling.
No one had ever told the boy about Uncle Tommy.
He died in a car accident before the child was born.
The boy described Tommy's laugh and the way he used
to tell funny jokes. He said, Uncle Tommy says it's
(20:24):
time to go with him, and he has a swing
set ready for me. The family was stunned because this
little boy knew details about Uncle Tommy that were exact.
The boy passed a few hours later with a calm,
happy look on his face. His parents say that moment
gave them peace they never expected, knowing someone who loved
(20:46):
him was there waiting for him. In another case, a
six year old girl who had been very sick looked
up and said, my baby brother is here. He's all
grown up now and he's holding a teddy bear for me.
Her parents had lost a baby boy years before she
was born. They had never told her about him. She
smiled and said, he says he's been waiting to meet
(21:09):
me and that we're going to play together now. She
reached out like she was taking someone's hand, then passed
away peacefully. Her parents say that moment gave them peace,
knowing their two children were finally together. One ten year
old boy, who had been quiet for days, suddenly spoke
clearly and said, my dog Rocky is running in circles.
(21:32):
He's so happy he wants me to chase him. Rocky
had died when the boy was only four. He hadn't
talked about the dog since. The boy laughed and said,
Rocky says the grass tickles his paws. He told his
parents he loved them and not to worry, and then
slipped away peacefully. A short time later, I love that
(21:55):
these animals talk to the kids, don't you. Another little
girl five years old sat up and said, Grandpa is
here with his dog's Shadow. Shadow is barking, happy barks.
She described the dog's black fur and the red collar
he used to wear. Her grandpa had died when she
was a baby, and Shadow had been his dog. This
(22:17):
girl had never been told any of those details, but
she smiled big and said, they're waiting for me by
the big tree. It's time for me to go. She
passed shortly after with a look of pure joy on
her face. Her family says that joy stayed with them
and helped them through the hardest months. Here's one more
(22:38):
from the collection. A twelve year old boy who had
been nonverbal, looked at his mother and spoke, mom, my cat,
Mittens is here. She's purring loud like she used to
when I was little. Mittens had died three years earlier.
The boy reached out like he was stroking the cat
(23:00):
and said, she says, it doesn't hurt anymore. I'm going
with her now. He told his family he loved them,
then he passed away peacefully. These moments, my friend, aren't rare.
In hospice, nurses see children suddenly get clear enough to
say goodbye, to describe pets that are healthy and playful again,
(23:22):
or to greet grandparents that they'd never met before. The
children often look excited, not scared. They smile, they laugh,
they reach out to something or someone the rest of
us can't see, and they leave their families with words
that become treasures, I'm okay, don't worry, I'll wait for you.
(23:43):
By the way, did you know that many hospice nurses
who have cared for hundreds of children say the same
thing over and over that when a child has one
of these moments of terminal lucidity, the whole room feels different,
the air feels lighter. The parents often say it's like
their child gave them one last big hug before leaving.
(24:08):
One nurse shared with me that she has seen this
happen so many times that she now tells every family
if your child suddenly wakes up and talks, listen with
all of your heart. It's their soul's way of saying,
I love you one more time and I'm okay. Another
nurse told me about a little boy who, in his
(24:29):
final clear moment, looked at his mom and said, Mommy,
the angels have my favorite blanket ready. His mom had
made him that special blue blanket when he was a baby.
She still sleeps with that blanket every night. These stories
remind us that love never leaves us. Our children may
step through the veil, but the love they leave behind
(24:51):
stays right here, warming our hearts when we need it
the most. Coming up, will hear even more of these
powerful stories, including what the children say about the beautiful
places they see, how they describe lights and colors that
don't exist here on earth, and how these clear moments
often overlap with deathbed visions of pets running to greet
(25:13):
them with wagging tails and big, joyful barks. We'll also
talk about what this all means for those who are
hurting right now, and I'll share a simple way to
hold on to these moments when the grief feels just
too heavy. So more stories coming up that you don't
want to miss. We'll be right back. You're listening to
(25:34):
Shades of the Afterlife on the iHeartRadio and Coast to
Coast am Hairinormal podcast Network. Back to Shades of the Afterlife,
(26:01):
I'm Sandra Champlain. Let's keep going with more beautiful stories
of terminal lucidity in children. This next little boy in
the twenty twenty six collection was only four years old
and he had been unresponsive for many days. His parents
were sitting beside him, holding his hand and talking to
him softly, even though he couldn't answer. The room felt
(26:24):
heavy with sadness. Then, in the quiet of the afternoon,
he suddenly opened his eyes and looked right at his mother.
His voice was clear and strong when he said, Mommy,
the light is so bright and pretty. There are flowers everywhere,
and they don't ever die. This boy smiled the biggest
(26:45):
smile his parents had seen in months. Then he said,
my dog Buster is here. He's running in the flowers
and he wants me to come play with him. Buster
had died when this boy was only two. The child
hadn't spoken the dog's name since. He reached out his
little hand like he was throwing out a ball and
(27:05):
laughed out loud. He told his mom and dad, don't
be sad. Buster says, the grass will feel so soft
on my feet, and I can run as fast as
I want to. He gave each of them a hug
and said I love you very clearly, then lay back
down and passed peacefully a short time later. His parents
(27:26):
say that that laugh, in those words about Buster running
in the flowers became their greatest comfort. That moment turned
some of their hardest days into something softer because they
knew their little boy was running in the soft grass
and playing with his dog again, free from pain. Another girl,
eight years old had been very sick with a rare
(27:48):
condition that left her quiet and far away for weeks.
Her family was gathered around her bedside when she suddenly
sat up with bright eyes. She looked toward the window
and she said, look, Daddy, my pony Daisy is here.
She's all shiny and strong again. Daisy had been this
little girl's favorite pony that passed away the year before.
(28:12):
The girl hadn't talked about Daisy in a long time.
She described how Daisy's mane was blowing in the wind
and how her special pony was waiting for her to
ride her. She turned to her father and said, Daddy,
Daisy says, the trails are beautiful where we're going, and
there are no more hurting days. She hugged her parents
(28:32):
tight and told them she loved them very much. Then
she lay back down and passed peacefully with a little
smile on her face. Her dad still says that moment
gave him a picture he holds onto every single day,
his daughter riding her pony on beautiful trails in heaven,
free from pain. In that same collection, a ten year
(28:53):
old boy who had stopped speaking months earlier, suddenly became clear.
He looked at his mother and said, said, mom, Tiger
is here. He's purring really loud and rubbing against my leg. Tiger,
the cat had died when the boy was six. The
boy reached down like he was petting the cat and
laughed softly. He told his mom, Tiger says he's not
(29:17):
sick anymore, and then I can come play with him.
He looked at his father and said, Dad, it's okay.
Tiger will show me the way. He gave both parents
a big hug, said he loved them, and passed peacefully.
A short while later, one nurse shared a story about
an eleven year old boy who had been quiet and
unresponsive for days. His parents were holding his hands when
(29:40):
he suddenly opened his eyes and smiled. He looked past
them and said, clearly, my little brother is here. He's
all grown up now, and he's holding a teddy bear
for me. His parents had lost a baby boy years
before this child was born. They had never told him
about his brother. The boy smi mile bigger and said,
(30:01):
he says he's been waiting to meet me, and now
we're going to play together. He reached out his hand
like he was taking someone's hand, hugged his mom and
dad told them, he loved them, and passed away. Another
touching case involved a six year old girl who had
been very sick. She sat up with bright eyes and said,
Grandma is here with her dog Lucky. Lucky is jumping
(30:24):
up and down and barking happy barks. The girl had
never met her grandmother, yes, she too died before the
child was born. Yet she described the grandmother's favorite sweater
and how Lucky used to chase balls in the yard.
The girl laughed and said, Grandma says she has cookies
ready for me, and Lucky wants me to play fetch
(30:46):
with him. She told her parents she loved them and
not to worry because she would be okay. Then she too,
passed peacefully, with that same look of pure joy on
her face. Her parents say that they the image of
Lucky jumping up and down still brings them comfort on
the tough days. Hospice doctor Christopher Kerr has so many
(31:08):
stories he's researched somewhere like seventeen hundred of these visitors
who come just before someone passes. One involves a twelve
year old boy who had been very ill. He suddenly
sat up and said, my fish Goldie is here. She's
swimming in a bright tank with lots of colors. Yes,
(31:29):
even fish can greet us in our final moments. Goldie
had been his pet goldfish that died when he was seven.
The parents didn't even know he remembered her. He smiled
and said, Goldie says, the water feels warm, and she's
not in that little bowl anymore. He told his family
he loved them and that he was ready to go,
(31:50):
and he too, passed a short time later with that
peaceful expression. Sometimes the children see relatives and pets together.
One nine year old girl, who had been quiet for weeks,
suddenly became clear. She looked toward the corner of the
room and said, aunt Mary is here with Snowball. Snowball
(32:12):
is all white and fluffy again. Aunt Mary had died
when this girl was three. The girl described aunt Mary's
very curly hair and how Snowball used to sleep on
her bed. She smiled and said, aunt Mary says it's
time to go with her, and Snowball wants to sleep
on my new bed. She hugged her parents and told
(32:32):
them she loved them, and then she passed. These stories,
these true stories, really give parents something to hang on to,
to remember that their child is very much alive. We
all won't witness these with our loved ones, but I'm
hoping these stories can help you know that no one
dies alone, and whether you're seven or seventy, it could
(32:55):
be a grandparent or a pet wagging its tail happy
to see you. In another case, a seven year old
boy looked at his dad and said, my hamster, Sammy
is here. He's running in the wheel really fast. Sammy
the hamster had died three years before. The boy laughed
and said, Sammy says, his wheel never stops and he's
(33:17):
not tired anymore. He told his dad that he loved
him and not to worry. Then he passed peacefully. Dad
still smiles thinking of Sammy the hamster right there with
his son in heaven. So all these stories tell us
a couple of things. One, yes, pets can talk in
the afterlife, but also something very important. Children are not
(33:40):
confused or scared in the final moments, and neither will
we be. They are clear, they are happy. They see
their pets or family members again, or family members they've
never met. People are waiting for them with open arms.
They reach out to the pet to throw them a
ball or a stick. Or they hug someone and we
(34:00):
can't see, and they leave their words with parents that
become treasures. I'm okay, don't worry, I'll wait for you.
The light is so pretty. Many parents say these clear
moments changed how they remember their child's last days. Instead
of only pain, they have a picture of their son
(34:20):
or daughter smiling, laughing and being welcomed with love. Of course,
the grief is still there, but the stories give them
something warm to hold on to when the nights feel
so long. Here's a quote that touches my heart when
I think about these children. It's from a mother who
lost her son and later found comfort in his lucid moment.
(34:41):
In the end, it wasn't the machines or the medicine
that mattered most. It was the few clear minutes when
my child looked at me with love and said he
was okay. That one moment wrapped around my broken heart
and reminded me that love never really gives us. These
words remind me that even in our deepest grief, our
(35:04):
children and all of our loved ones find a way
to reach back and say I'm still here and I
still love you. Although our episode today is focused on
children back In episode one hundred and seventy two, we
looked at terminal lucidity in adults. Doctor Alexander Bettiani wrote
(35:24):
a book called Threshold that's all about this subject. He
uses a powerful analogy to explain the impossibility of what
we see in these moments. He compares a brain damaged
by advanced dementia or illness in a child's case to
a hard boiled egg. From a medical standpoint. Once those
(35:48):
neurons are destroyed, they are essentially cooked biologically. It's impossible
for them to uncook themselves or suddenly grow back in
a matter of hours, for people or children to have
a clear complex communication. Yet that's exactly what happens. They
are spontaneous, temporary restorations of a person's intellectual and spiritual brilliance.
(36:15):
They defy everything we understand about neurology and point to
the idea that the self, the soul is actually independent
of the physical hardware of the brain. Doctor Battiani's database
of three hundred modern cases show just how closely these
moments are tied to the end of life. He found
(36:36):
that a full third of patients pass away within less
than two hours of their lucid episode. Another third pass
within one day, twenty percent pass within two to three days,
and less than ten percent survive for a week. Whether
we're talking about adults or children, the evidence shows that
(36:56):
terminal lucidity is the final glow of the person. It's
as if the soul briefly steps back into the driver's
seat to say one last I love you before their
journey begins with their loved one or their pets. Coming up.
In our final segment, we'll hear even more of these
(37:17):
powerful stories. We'll also talk about what this means for
parents who are hurting right now, and even if you're
not a parent, will share a way to hold on
to these moments when that grief feels too hard to handle,
And I'll give you a gentle practice you can try
tonight to feel closer to your loved one who has passed.
We'll be right back. You're listening to Shades of the
(37:40):
Afterlife on the iHeartRadio and Coast to Coast AM Paranormal
Podcast Network. Welcome back to Shades of the Afterlife. I'm
(38:08):
Sandra Champlain. We've walked through so many stories the terminal
lucidity with children. We've heard little ones suddenly sit up
with bright eyes, speak clearly after weeks or months of silence,
describe pets that are healthy and playful again, even talking
to them and great grandparents they never met on earth.
(38:29):
We've seen them smile, laugh, reach out to invisible hands,
pet invisible fur, and leave their parents with words that
become treasures. I'm okay, don't worry. I love you, I'll
wait for you. These moments are not random. They are
the soul breaking through the body when it is at
its weakest. They show us that consciousness is so much
(38:51):
bigger than the brain. Even when a child's body is
shutting down, the soul can still shine with clarity, love,
and joy. Children are not confused or afraid. They are aware,
saying goodbye, giving comfort, surrounded by the ones who love them,
both in this world and the next. One mother shared
that her daughter, after days of silence, suddenly looked at
(39:15):
her with shining eyes and spoke of a peaceful place
filled with light. Another father told of his son who
described being welcomed by family he had never known, with
a sense of complete safety, love, and joy. Many parents
say these clear moments changed how they remember their child's
(39:37):
last days. They have a picture of their son or
daughter smiling, laughing, and being welcomed with love. Their grief
is still there, but the stories give them something warm
to hold onto when the nights feel so long and cold.
Some parents say it replaced their nightmares of the child's
suffering with a gentle memory of their child looking happy
(39:58):
and at peace. These moments don't take away the hurt,
but they do add a layer of comfort that stays
with families for years. Remember the words of a mother
in the end, it wasn't the machines or the medicine
that mattered most. It was the few clear minutes when
my child looked at me with love and said he
was okay. Even if you're not a parent who has
(40:21):
lost a child, you can use the same gentle truth
to get closer to any loved one in spirit. We
think of spirit being so far beyond the clouds, but
it's not. I envision a world vibrating with energy all
around us, instead of them coming to our world. We're
really part of theirs, and at some point we'll be
(40:42):
reunited with them. I want to give you a simple
tool of connection that you can try tonight or any
night when you miss them, before you fall asleep, get
comfortable in your bed, take a few slow, deep breaths,
picture of favorite happy memory with your loved one one,
maybe a smile, a hug, or a time you laughed
(41:04):
really hard together. Then softly say their name and your mind,
or out loud and invite them to visit. Say something
like I love you and I'm open to feeling your
presence with me. Keep your heart open without forcing anything.
We all have that skeptical brain that says we'll just
be making it up, but rest assured, our soul works
(41:26):
through our imagination. Many people wake up with a feeling
of peace, perhaps a vivid dream where their loved one
appears happy and healthy, or a sense that they were
gently hugged or reassured from the other side. These connections
are real. We only need to open our heart and
listen with love. I know it's rare for many of
(41:48):
us to dream of our loved ones, and sometimes they're
all disorganized and crazy, But when you wake up and
you feel love from the dream, that's a real visitation.
If there's negative emotions or nightmares or fears, that's our
subconscious mind working through our grief. If you are someone
(42:08):
who typically doesn't remember your dreams, I invite you to
go back to episodes one fifty six and one eighty four.
I offer a lucid dreaming technique and we talk to
a doctor with her dream gate technique. Now that I've
turned sixty, I find that my bladder wakes me up
(42:28):
in the wee hours before it's time for me to
get up. But it's the perfect time to do one
of these practices. Talk to our loved one, have a
happy memory, invite them to join us in our dreams,
then fall back asleep. For me, that's when I have
the clearest memory of my dreams. Anyway, try it a
few nights and see what happens. Have a journal by
(42:52):
your bedside, keep notes. I know, dream visitations and even
that dream gate technique when we're half asleep half awake,
have brought so much comfort to many listeners over the years.
You might notice a warm presence in the room when
you wake up. Some people notice signs like a favorite
song playing, or a feather or something else appears out
(43:13):
of nowhere. The important thing is to stay open and
trust that love never leaves us. Even having a picture
of your loved one in all the rooms and keep
talking to them really helps. If you're someone right now
carrying that heavy grief, please please please believe this. That
person is safe, whole, happy, healthy, and they're still connected
(43:35):
to us. We are divine souls having a human experience,
and we can definitely communicate the way our souls do.
When we move into the afterlife. The love we share
with our loved ones does not end. It continues, and
they surround us every day, and there are biggest cheerleaders.
On the hard days, when the house feels too quiet
or the memories hurt too much, remember some of the
(43:58):
stories we've heard today. Remember the smiles, the clear voices,
the little hands reaching out, the dogs jumping up and
down with the wagging tails. No one is lost. They
are loved. They're waiting with open arms and a joyful
heart for the one day you'll be together again. You
are doing the best you can. I know that, and
(44:18):
that love you pour out is felt on the other side.
Please be gentle with yourself. I know it's not easy,
but your loved one would want you to find moments
of peace and joy again. So far, we've covered terminal
lucidity and deathbed visitations, but I want to leave you
with some more stories of children who have made it
to the other side and have come back, and the
(44:40):
beautiful things they say about their experience. One little boy,
only six years old, had a serious accident and his
heart stopped for several minutes. When doctors brought him back,
he told his parents he had been in a beautiful
place with a bright, warm light and soft green fields
that felt like the mo most perfect playground. He said
(45:02):
he met loving beings who welcomed him with open arms
and made him feel completely safe and happy. There was
no pain, no fear, just pure love all around him.
He described seeing colors brighter than anything he had ever
seen on earth, and a feeling that everyone there knew
him and cared for him deeply. The boy looked at
(45:23):
his mom with calm, big eyes and said, it's so
peaceful there. They told me it's okay to come back
for now because you and Daddy still need me, but
they'll be waiting for me when it's my time. They said,
I don't have to worry because everything is taken care
of with love. His parents said those words took away
(45:44):
some of their deepest fears and gave them a quiet
hope that they still carried today. The boy never seemed
afraid of death. After that, he spoke about the experience
with joy, as if he had visited a wonderful home
he knew he would return to one day. Another little girl,
nine years old, had a near death experience during a
serious illness. When she woke up, she told her family
(46:08):
she had been in the place with the most beautiful
colors she had ever seen, colors that don't exist here
on earth. She felt surrounded by a love so strong
it made her feel completely whole and at peace. She
described being greeted by kind beings of light who showed
her around and let her know she was safe. She
(46:30):
said she saw other children playing happily and felt a
deep sense that there was no one there who was
sick or sad. The girl smiled and said, everyone there
is happy, and they told me I could come back
for now because my family still needs me, but when
it's time, they'll be there to bring me home with
so much love. Her parents said hearing her talk about
(46:53):
the peace and the beautiful light helped ease their worry
and reminded them that their daughter would be cared for
with so much gentleness when her time came. The girl
often drew pictures of the colors she remembered, and those
drawings became a source of comfort for the whole family.
One young child came back from a serious surgery complication.
(47:15):
He described floating in a warm, golden light where he
felt held and loved. He said he met a kind
being who showed him that love is the most important
thing and that his family would be okay. The child
told his parents, I saw a place where everything feels
right and no one is alone. His family said that
(47:38):
simple message helped them face tough days with more hope
and less fear. A four year old boy who had
a near death experience during heart surgery, told his parents
he went to a place where the light was so
bright and loving. It felt like a giant hug. He
said there were flowers that glowed, and he felt completely
(48:00):
happy and safe. He met kind people who told him
he could go back to his family for now, but
they would be there when it was his time to
go back. He said, I didn't hurt anymore, and everyone
smiled at me like they knew me. A seven year
old girl who nearly died from a severe infection came
back and told her family she had been in a
(48:22):
wonderful place with soft music and colors that sparkled like rainbows.
She felt wrapped in love and saw people who looked
very happy and healthy. She said. A kind lady with
a gentle voice told her, you can go back to
your mommy and daddy because they need you, but we
will be waiting with open arms when it's your time.
(48:42):
The girl smiled and said it felt like home and
no one was sad there. Her family said those words
brought them a deep sense of peace. These children's stories
remind us that the love we share with our kids
and with all our loved ones never ends us as
the veil and comes back to comfort us. If this
(49:03):
episode brought you some comfort today, can I ask a favor?
Would you share shades of the afterlife with someone? Somehow?
Even a post on social media about it works. You
never know who's hurting, and please, I invite you to
come visit me at wee Dootdie dot com. You can
listen to past episodes, get a free download of my
(49:25):
book We Don't Die, Join one of our free Sunday
gathering inspirational services on Zoom which have a medium demonstration included.
I want to leave you with one last thought. The
dash between the dates on a tombstone is short, but
the love that fills that dash never ever dies. It
(49:45):
lives on in our stories and our memories and the
quiet moments when you feel a familiar presence beside you.
The souls of our loved ones are still shining, and
that light is reaching for you right now. Remember, your
loved one is cheering you on as you navigate this
difficult path called a human life. They are only a
(50:06):
thought away, and you are loved so much more than
you could ever imagine. I'm Sandra Champlain. Thank you so
much for listening to Shades of the Afterlife on the
iHeartRadio and Coast to Coast am Paranormal podcast Network.
Speaker 1 (50:29):
Thanks for listening to the iHeartRadio and Coast to Ghost
Day and Paranormal podcast Network. Make sure and check out
all our shows on the iHeartRadio app or by going
to iHeartRadio dot com
And you're here. Thanks for choosing the iHeartRadio and Coast
to Ghost, d A and Paranormal Podcast Network. Your quest for
podcasts of the paranormal, supernatural, and the unexplained ends here.
They invite you to enjoy all our shows we have
on this network, and right now, let's start with Shase
of the Afterlife with Santra Champlain.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Welcome to our podcast. Please be aware the thoughts and
opinions expressed by the host are their thoughts and opinions
only and do not reflect those of iHeartMedia, iHeartRadio, Coast
to Coast am employees of Premiere Networks, or their sponsors
and associates. We would like to encourage you to do
(00:42):
your own research and discover the subject matter for yourself. Hi,
I'm Sandra Champlain. For over twenty five years, I've been
on a journey to prove the existence of life after depth.
On each episode, we'll discuss the reasons we now know
(01:05):
that our loved ones have survived physical debt and so
will we. Welcome to Shades of the Afterlife. Recently we
talked about our pets and the beautiful way they bridge
the gap between our two worlds, sending us signs and
letting us know they're still right here with us. Today,
we're stepping into even deeper waters. We're going to talk
(01:27):
about something that touches the very core of the human heart.
Saying goodbye to a child too soon, However, the incredible
words that many leave us knowing that they're greeted by
loved ones. This is a powerful episode, and I have many,
many breathtaking stories for you centered on a theme called
(01:50):
terminal lucidity. Today we're going to look at the miracle
of clarity, those moments when a child who has been unresponsive,
notbal or lost in the fog of a devastating illness
suddenly wakes up. They become bright, clear and vibrant, often
just minutes or hours before they pass. I've gathered so
(02:14):
many incredible true stories for you today, from a groundbreaking
study of real families to first hand accounts from hospice
nurses and doctors who witnessed the impossible. You will hear
about children describing waterfalls of light, greeting siblings they never
met on earth, and being reunited with beloved pets who
(02:37):
have come to escort them home. If you are carrying
the heavyweight of grief, today, Please know that these stories
are not just memories. They are proof that no one
dies alone. They prove that children's souls and the souls
of all of our loved ones are fully aware, vibrantly alive,
(02:57):
and greeted with overwhelm love in their final moments. Get
ready for some serious goosebumps, because I had them creating
this episode for you today. But the message is clear,
words of I love you, joyful smiles, and a window
into the reunion that never ends. So this brand new
(03:18):
study I was referring to came out in February of
twenty twenty six. Natasha tassel Metamua and her team at
Massy University in New Zealand looked closely at eleven real
children from nineteen months old up to sixteen years old.
These kids had been very sick. Many couldn't talk or
(03:41):
respond for weeks. Their bodies were tired and worn out.
But right near the end, something amazing and beautiful happened.
They suddenly became clear and peaceful. While the report itself
focuses on the clinical data and the scientific why, it
validates the exact day experiences we hear from families every
(04:03):
day to help us understand what this looks like in
the real world. I've gathered several breathtaking accounts, some similar
to those in the Massy study, and others from hospice
archives that show us the human side of this miracle.
Let's start out with a story about a sweet little
three year old girl. She had a serious problem with
(04:24):
her liver and lungs from an immune disorder. For weeks,
she had stopped talking, eating, or even looking at her
mommy and daddy. She just lay there so quiet and
far away. Then on the very day her doctors changed
her care to focus only on comfort, not getting well.
(04:45):
She woke up that night her eyes got bright and sparkly.
This little girl asked for her favorite Lion King movie
and her special stuffed animal toys. She wanted to color
a little picture with her crayons. She talked, walked in
full clear sentences, something she hadn't done in such a
long time. She looked right at her parents with so
(05:08):
much love and told them I love you. She said
not to worry because she would be okay. The nurse
standing there and her whole family felt like they were
watching a miracle unfold. She gently went back to sleep
and passed peacefully a few days later, safe in her parents' arms.
That one beautiful night when she came back to life
(05:30):
was a treasure that her family still holds onto. They
knew their little girl was aware, she had felt their love,
and she was at peace as she got ready to
go home. Another child in that same study had been
quiet and far away for weeks, then all of a sudden,
he became alert and present. He used simple words and
hand signs to tell his mom and dad that he
(05:52):
was ready to go home and that he would be okay.
He looked at them with such warmth and said I
love you in a way that filled the whole room
with tears. They were happy and sad, tears that felt
like a hug from his little heart. The nurses and
family said he seemed more like his sweet old self
in those few precious minutes than he had been for months.
(06:15):
Those gentle words became the soft goodbye as his parents
felt sad, of course, but not as much fear in
their hearts. In a children's cancer clinic, doctors saw this
happen with several kids. One little boy had been getting
weaker and quieter every single day than he suddenly sat
up with bright shining eyes and said, hi, Andy. Andy
(06:38):
was his big brother who had died earlier. He wasn't scared.
He looked calm and happy, like he was talking to
someone the rest of the room couldn't see. He smiled
as he reached out toward the empty space family, knowing
he was reaching out to his big brother. Other children
in that same clinic suddenly sat up, turned their heads,
(06:59):
recognized their family, and had real clear conversations with family
members and invisible family members. Right at the very end,
one precious little girl looked past her mommy with eyes
wide open in pure wonder and said, in the sweetest
little voice, it's so beautiful here, there are waterfalls of light.
(07:22):
Then she turned straight to her mother with complete clarity
and said, you don't have to worry about me anymore.
I'm going to be with the angels. A few moments later,
she passed away peacefully. Her mom has said many times
that that single minute became her greatest treasure. It took
away the scary nightmare of her daughter's suffering and left
(07:44):
her with a warm picture of joy and safety with
the angels that still brings her comfort on her hardest days.
She says she can close her eyes and still see
her daughter's happy face when she said those words. Palliative
care doctor Christopher her, author of Death Is But a Dream,
has sat with thousands of dying people in hospice, and
(08:07):
he sees these moments with children too. He says kids
often see their pets first. One mother told her hospice
nurse that her young son, who had been so quiet
for days, suddenly reached out his little hand. He was
petting a dog, a dog that had died years earlier.
(08:27):
He smiled the biggest, brightest smile she had seen in months,
and he whispered the dog's name with so much happiness.
That image of her boy happily reunited with his old
furry friend stayed with her and made the sharp edges
of her grief softer for years afterwards. He wasn't frightened
at all. He was joyful, like his best buddy had
(08:50):
come running to walk him safely home. There's another story
about a little boy who had never spoken a single
word in his whole life, and was very sick and
quiet near the end. Then just before he passed, he
looked into the corner of the room. His face lit
up with the biggest, sweetest smile, and he said his
very first word out loud, Hello. His mom knew right
(09:13):
away he wasn't talking to an empty corner. He was
greeting someone who had come to bring him home, maybe
a grandparent, a pet, or a loving angel. Sometimes these
children see relatives they never met on Earth. One young
child who was very ill started talking about a nice
lady who came to visit him. He described her pretty dress,
(09:36):
her warm smile, and how she sang soft songs to him.
His parents were stunned because the description matched his great grandmother,
who had died long before he was even born. He
had never seen a photo or heard family stories about her,
or knew the songs that she sang. Yet he knew
her name and little details only the grown ups remembered.
(10:00):
It felt like she had come especially to comfort him
and help him feel safe as he got ready to
cross over. The parents said it brought them a deep
sense of peace, knowing someone who loved him in the
family was there waiting. In some near death experiences, in
glimpses that children have brought back, they talk about seeing
(10:20):
pets or family waiting with joy. One little boy who
almost died saw his old dog running to meet him,
healthy and wagging his tail like he was when he
was a puppy. He named the dog and described the
dog jumping up and licking his face, just like old times.
Another child described playing with a grandma she had never
(10:42):
known on earth, but the details matched perfectly, the way
she laughed, what she looked like, and also knew the
exact songs Grandma would sing. These moments show that even
young kids can have clear, real connections that go beyond
what their tired bodies show allow. It's good news that
love always finds a way through. These are true stories
(11:06):
coming from real families, real nurses, and real doctors who
were right there holding hands at the children's bedside. They
show us again and again that a child's soul can
stay bright and filled with love even when the body
is so very tired. The brain may be shutting down,
but the soul is still doing its gentle work saying goodbye,
(11:28):
giving comfort, and stepping toward home surrounded by love. My friend,
if you have lost a child or someone close, they
may have had one of these experiences in their final moment,
even if you did not witness it. We are never
ever alone in our last moments, our loved one's souls
(11:49):
were aware, they felt your love, and they are still
connected to you through a bond that can never ever break.
In our busy world, we're taught to fight death with
everything we have, and I've been told that over ninety
percent of our health care dollars is spent in the
last months of someone's life. We think of death as
(12:10):
something terrible and wrong, and granted, it's very difficult and
unpleasant to see a loved one pass, but sitting quietly
with these children teaches us something different is going on.
Their bodies know how to go softly, and in those
final hours, the soul can break through with light smiles
and so much love. I've got tons of stories for
(12:33):
you on this episode, and when we come back, we'll
hear some of these from hospice rooms. We'll talk about
how these clear moments often include seeing those beloved pets
or family members who have already crossed over, and we'll
look at what it all means for our own hearts.
When the grief feels too heavy to carry alone, We'll
(12:53):
be right back. You're listening to Shades of the Afterlife
on the iHeartRadio and Coast to coast, a Hairinormal Podcast Network.
(13:23):
Welcome back to Shades of the Afterlife. I'm samda Champlain.
Let's keep going with these beautiful stories of terminal lucidity
in children. From one case in that twenty twenty six collection,
a five year old boy with advanced brain cancer had
been unresponsive for nearly two weeks. His eyes stayed closed
most of the time. He barely moved. His parents sat
(13:46):
by his bed day and night, holding his small hand
and whispering over and over just how much they loved him.
The room felt heavy with sadness. Then, on what turned
out to be his last afternoon, he suddenly open and
his eyes wide. He looked straight at his mother and said,
in a clear, steady voice, Mommy, don't cry. I'm going
(14:08):
with Grandma now. She's waiting for me with Max. Max
had been the family's golden retriever who had died when
the boy was only two years old. The child never
had spoken about Max since the dog passed. His mother's
voice shook as she asked him what Grandma looked like.
(14:28):
He smiled big and described her yellow dress and the
way she always used to sing the same lullaby to him,
a song his mother hadn't sung since her own mother
died years before the boy was born. He reached out
his little hand like he was petting something in the
air and said, with excitement, Max is wagging his tail
(14:49):
so fast. Then he looked at his dad and said, Daddy,
it's okay. I'm not scared. I'll wait for you. A
few hours later, he passed peacefully with both parents holding him.
The parents say that moment took some of the heaviest
weight off their hearts because they knew their son wasn't
afraid and that he definitely wasn't alone. They still talk
(15:12):
about his smile when he mentioned Max wagging his tail.
Another little girl, just seven years old, had been in
a deep sleeplike state for days because of a very
rare illness. The nurses said her body was shutting down
and they didn't expect her to wake up again. Her
parents were exhausted and heartbroken, sitting beside her bed, holding
(15:36):
her hands. But then in the middle of the night,
she sat straight up. Her eyes were bright and clear.
She looked around the room and started naming people. She said,
Aunt Lisa is here. She's wearing the red scarf I
gave her for Christmas. Aunt Lisa had died two years earlier.
(15:56):
She smiled and said, she brought my cat, Whisker. Whiskers
is purring so loud. Whiskers had been her cat that
passed away when she was four. The girl reached out
like she was stroking the cat and laughed softly, kind
of laugh her parents hadn't heard in months. She told
her parents, they say it's time for me to go
(16:18):
with them. Please don't be sad. I'll be playing and
running and i won't be tired anymore. She hugged her
mom and dad tight, told them she loved them so much,
then lay back down and passed quietly. Her parents say
that night took some of the heaviest weight off their hearts,
because they too knew their daughter wasn't afraid and she
(16:42):
wasn't alone. In the same collection, there was a nine
year old boy who had been nonverbal for months due
to a progressive condition. He hadn't even made eye contact
or responded to voices in a very long time. His
family had almost stopped hoping that he would ever speak again,
and then one morning he opened his eyes, looked right
(17:03):
at his father and said, clearly, Dad, the light is
so pretty and Grandpa is standing in it. He wants
me to come play ball with him. The boy had
never met his grandfather, he died before the child was born.
Yet he described the grandfather's favorite baseball cap and the
way he used to throw the ball high into the air.
(17:26):
The father started crying. The boy smiled and said, don't cry, dad.
Grandpa says, you can come visit us later. I'll save
a spot for you on the team. He reached out
like he was catching a ball, then relaxed and passed
away peacefully. Later that day. That short conversation gave the
(17:46):
father something precious to hold on to, the knowledge that
his son was being welcomed by family and that the
love continued. Doctor Christopher Kerr has shared many stories from hospice.
One involved a four year old girl who had stopped
speaking weeks earlier. Her parents were at her bedside when
(18:07):
she suddenly sat up, looked toward the corner of the
room and said, with excitement, Mommy, look, it's Buddy. He's
wagging his tail. Buddy was the family beagle who had
died six months before. She laughed and said, he wants
me to go play fetch with him. He says, it's okay.
She reached out her hand like she was throwing Buddy
(18:30):
a ball, then turned to her mother and said, I
love you. Tell Daddy I love him too. She lay
back down and passed a short while later with a
peaceful smile on her face. Her mother says that moment
replaced some of her worst fears with a picture of
her daughter running and playing with her dog again. I
(18:51):
think it's so sweet that these dogs are wagging their
tails and are there to greet these kids. Don't you
wonder who's going to be there waiting for you, maybe
wagging their tails. Another hospice story comes from a teenage
girl who had been in a coma like state. Her
family was gathered around her when she suddenly opened her
eyes and looked past them. She said, softly, my horse
(19:16):
Star is here. She's all shiny and strong again. She
wants me to ride with her. The girl had loved horses,
and Star had been her favorite horse that had died
two years earlier. She smiled and said, don't be sad.
Star says, the grass is really green where we're going.
(19:37):
She told each family member she loved them by name,
then closed her eyes and passed. Peacefully. Her parents said
hearing her talk about star running strong again brought them
a deep sense of comfort they still lean on when
the waves of grief roll in again. Sometimes these children
see relatives they've never known. An eight year old boy
(20:01):
who had been unresponsive suddenly became clear and said, Uncle
Tommy is here. He's wearing a blue shirt and he's smiling.
No one had ever told the boy about Uncle Tommy.
He died in a car accident before the child was born.
The boy described Tommy's laugh and the way he used
to tell funny jokes. He said, Uncle Tommy says it's
(20:24):
time to go with him, and he has a swing
set ready for me. The family was stunned because this
little boy knew details about Uncle Tommy that were exact.
The boy passed a few hours later with a calm,
happy look on his face. His parents say that moment
gave them peace they never expected, knowing someone who loved
(20:46):
him was there waiting for him. In another case, a
six year old girl who had been very sick looked
up and said, my baby brother is here. He's all
grown up now and he's holding a teddy bear for me.
Her parents had lost a baby boy years before she
was born. They had never told her about him. She
smiled and said, he says he's been waiting to meet
(21:09):
me and that we're going to play together now. She
reached out like she was taking someone's hand, then passed
away peacefully. Her parents say that moment gave them peace,
knowing their two children were finally together. One ten year
old boy, who had been quiet for days, suddenly spoke
clearly and said, my dog Rocky is running in circles.
(21:32):
He's so happy he wants me to chase him. Rocky
had died when the boy was only four. He hadn't
talked about the dog since. The boy laughed and said,
Rocky says the grass tickles his paws. He told his
parents he loved them and not to worry, and then
slipped away peacefully. A short time later, I love that
(21:55):
these animals talk to the kids, don't you. Another little
girl five years old sat up and said, Grandpa is
here with his dog's Shadow. Shadow is barking, happy barks.
She described the dog's black fur and the red collar
he used to wear. Her grandpa had died when she
was a baby, and Shadow had been his dog. This
(22:17):
girl had never been told any of those details, but
she smiled big and said, they're waiting for me by
the big tree. It's time for me to go. She
passed shortly after with a look of pure joy on
her face. Her family says that joy stayed with them
and helped them through the hardest months. Here's one more
(22:38):
from the collection. A twelve year old boy who had
been nonverbal, looked at his mother and spoke, mom, my cat,
Mittens is here. She's purring loud like she used to
when I was little. Mittens had died three years earlier.
The boy reached out like he was stroking the cat
(23:00):
and said, she says, it doesn't hurt anymore. I'm going
with her now. He told his family he loved them,
then he passed away peacefully. These moments, my friend, aren't rare.
In hospice, nurses see children suddenly get clear enough to
say goodbye, to describe pets that are healthy and playful again,
(23:22):
or to greet grandparents that they'd never met before. The
children often look excited, not scared. They smile, they laugh,
they reach out to something or someone the rest of
us can't see, and they leave their families with words
that become treasures, I'm okay, don't worry, I'll wait for you.
(23:43):
By the way, did you know that many hospice nurses
who have cared for hundreds of children say the same
thing over and over that when a child has one
of these moments of terminal lucidity, the whole room feels different,
the air feels lighter. The parents often say it's like
their child gave them one last big hug before leaving.
(24:08):
One nurse shared with me that she has seen this
happen so many times that she now tells every family
if your child suddenly wakes up and talks, listen with
all of your heart. It's their soul's way of saying,
I love you one more time and I'm okay. Another
nurse told me about a little boy who, in his
(24:29):
final clear moment, looked at his mom and said, Mommy,
the angels have my favorite blanket ready. His mom had
made him that special blue blanket when he was a baby.
She still sleeps with that blanket every night. These stories
remind us that love never leaves us. Our children may
step through the veil, but the love they leave behind
(24:51):
stays right here, warming our hearts when we need it
the most. Coming up, will hear even more of these
powerful stories, including what the children say about the beautiful
places they see, how they describe lights and colors that
don't exist here on earth, and how these clear moments
often overlap with deathbed visions of pets running to greet
(25:13):
them with wagging tails and big, joyful barks. We'll also
talk about what this all means for those who are
hurting right now, and I'll share a simple way to
hold on to these moments when the grief feels just
too heavy. So more stories coming up that you don't
want to miss. We'll be right back. You're listening to
(25:34):
Shades of the Afterlife on the iHeartRadio and Coast to
Coast am Hairinormal podcast Network. Back to Shades of the Afterlife,
(26:01):
I'm Sandra Champlain. Let's keep going with more beautiful stories
of terminal lucidity in children. This next little boy in
the twenty twenty six collection was only four years old
and he had been unresponsive for many days. His parents
were sitting beside him, holding his hand and talking to
him softly, even though he couldn't answer. The room felt
(26:24):
heavy with sadness. Then, in the quiet of the afternoon,
he suddenly opened his eyes and looked right at his mother.
His voice was clear and strong when he said, Mommy,
the light is so bright and pretty. There are flowers everywhere,
and they don't ever die. This boy smiled the biggest
(26:45):
smile his parents had seen in months. Then he said,
my dog Buster is here. He's running in the flowers
and he wants me to come play with him. Buster
had died when this boy was only two. The child
hadn't spoken the dog's name since. He reached out his
little hand like he was throwing out a ball and
(27:05):
laughed out loud. He told his mom and dad, don't
be sad. Buster says, the grass will feel so soft
on my feet, and I can run as fast as
I want to. He gave each of them a hug
and said I love you very clearly, then lay back
down and passed peacefully a short time later. His parents
(27:26):
say that that laugh, in those words about Buster running
in the flowers became their greatest comfort. That moment turned
some of their hardest days into something softer because they
knew their little boy was running in the soft grass
and playing with his dog again, free from pain. Another girl,
eight years old had been very sick with a rare
(27:48):
condition that left her quiet and far away for weeks.
Her family was gathered around her bedside when she suddenly
sat up with bright eyes. She looked toward the window
and she said, look, Daddy, my pony Daisy is here.
She's all shiny and strong again. Daisy had been this
little girl's favorite pony that passed away the year before.
(28:12):
The girl hadn't talked about Daisy in a long time.
She described how Daisy's mane was blowing in the wind
and how her special pony was waiting for her to
ride her. She turned to her father and said, Daddy,
Daisy says, the trails are beautiful where we're going, and
there are no more hurting days. She hugged her parents
(28:32):
tight and told them she loved them very much. Then
she lay back down and passed peacefully with a little
smile on her face. Her dad still says that moment
gave him a picture he holds onto every single day,
his daughter riding her pony on beautiful trails in heaven,
free from pain. In that same collection, a ten year
(28:53):
old boy who had stopped speaking months earlier, suddenly became clear.
He looked at his mother and said, said, mom, Tiger
is here. He's purring really loud and rubbing against my leg. Tiger,
the cat had died when the boy was six. The
boy reached down like he was petting the cat and
laughed softly. He told his mom, Tiger says he's not
(29:17):
sick anymore, and then I can come play with him.
He looked at his father and said, Dad, it's okay.
Tiger will show me the way. He gave both parents
a big hug, said he loved them, and passed peacefully.
A short while later, one nurse shared a story about
an eleven year old boy who had been quiet and
unresponsive for days. His parents were holding his hands when
(29:40):
he suddenly opened his eyes and smiled. He looked past
them and said, clearly, my little brother is here. He's
all grown up now, and he's holding a teddy bear
for me. His parents had lost a baby boy years
before this child was born. They had never told him
about his brother. The boy smi mile bigger and said,
(30:01):
he says he's been waiting to meet me, and now
we're going to play together. He reached out his hand
like he was taking someone's hand, hugged his mom and
dad told them, he loved them, and passed away. Another
touching case involved a six year old girl who had
been very sick. She sat up with bright eyes and said,
Grandma is here with her dog Lucky. Lucky is jumping
(30:24):
up and down and barking happy barks. The girl had
never met her grandmother, yes, she too died before the
child was born. Yet she described the grandmother's favorite sweater
and how Lucky used to chase balls in the yard.
The girl laughed and said, Grandma says she has cookies
ready for me, and Lucky wants me to play fetch
(30:46):
with him. She told her parents she loved them and
not to worry because she would be okay. Then she too,
passed peacefully, with that same look of pure joy on
her face. Her parents say that they the image of
Lucky jumping up and down still brings them comfort on
the tough days. Hospice doctor Christopher Kerr has so many
(31:08):
stories he's researched somewhere like seventeen hundred of these visitors
who come just before someone passes. One involves a twelve
year old boy who had been very ill. He suddenly
sat up and said, my fish Goldie is here. She's
swimming in a bright tank with lots of colors. Yes,
(31:29):
even fish can greet us in our final moments. Goldie
had been his pet goldfish that died when he was seven.
The parents didn't even know he remembered her. He smiled
and said, Goldie says, the water feels warm, and she's
not in that little bowl anymore. He told his family
he loved them and that he was ready to go,
(31:50):
and he too, passed a short time later with that
peaceful expression. Sometimes the children see relatives and pets together.
One nine year old girl, who had been quiet for weeks,
suddenly became clear. She looked toward the corner of the
room and said, aunt Mary is here with Snowball. Snowball
(32:12):
is all white and fluffy again. Aunt Mary had died
when this girl was three. The girl described aunt Mary's
very curly hair and how Snowball used to sleep on
her bed. She smiled and said, aunt Mary says it's
time to go with her, and Snowball wants to sleep
on my new bed. She hugged her parents and told
(32:32):
them she loved them, and then she passed. These stories,
these true stories, really give parents something to hang on to,
to remember that their child is very much alive. We
all won't witness these with our loved ones, but I'm
hoping these stories can help you know that no one
dies alone, and whether you're seven or seventy, it could
(32:55):
be a grandparent or a pet wagging its tail happy
to see you. In another case, a seven year old
boy looked at his dad and said, my hamster, Sammy
is here. He's running in the wheel really fast. Sammy
the hamster had died three years before. The boy laughed
and said, Sammy says, his wheel never stops and he's
(33:17):
not tired anymore. He told his dad that he loved
him and not to worry. Then he passed peacefully. Dad
still smiles thinking of Sammy the hamster right there with
his son in heaven. So all these stories tell us
a couple of things. One, yes, pets can talk in
the afterlife, but also something very important. Children are not
(33:40):
confused or scared in the final moments, and neither will
we be. They are clear, they are happy. They see
their pets or family members again, or family members they've
never met. People are waiting for them with open arms.
They reach out to the pet to throw them a
ball or a stick. Or they hug someone and we
(34:00):
can't see, and they leave their words with parents that
become treasures. I'm okay, don't worry, I'll wait for you.
The light is so pretty. Many parents say these clear
moments changed how they remember their child's last days. Instead
of only pain, they have a picture of their son
(34:20):
or daughter smiling, laughing and being welcomed with love. Of course,
the grief is still there, but the stories give them
something warm to hold on to when the nights feel
so long. Here's a quote that touches my heart when
I think about these children. It's from a mother who
lost her son and later found comfort in his lucid moment.
(34:41):
In the end, it wasn't the machines or the medicine
that mattered most. It was the few clear minutes when
my child looked at me with love and said he
was okay. That one moment wrapped around my broken heart
and reminded me that love never really gives us. These
words remind me that even in our deepest grief, our
(35:04):
children and all of our loved ones find a way
to reach back and say I'm still here and I
still love you. Although our episode today is focused on
children back In episode one hundred and seventy two, we
looked at terminal lucidity in adults. Doctor Alexander Bettiani wrote
(35:24):
a book called Threshold that's all about this subject. He
uses a powerful analogy to explain the impossibility of what
we see in these moments. He compares a brain damaged
by advanced dementia or illness in a child's case to
a hard boiled egg. From a medical standpoint. Once those
(35:48):
neurons are destroyed, they are essentially cooked biologically. It's impossible
for them to uncook themselves or suddenly grow back in
a matter of hours, for people or children to have
a clear complex communication. Yet that's exactly what happens. They
are spontaneous, temporary restorations of a person's intellectual and spiritual brilliance.
(36:15):
They defy everything we understand about neurology and point to
the idea that the self, the soul is actually independent
of the physical hardware of the brain. Doctor Battiani's database
of three hundred modern cases show just how closely these
moments are tied to the end of life. He found
(36:36):
that a full third of patients pass away within less
than two hours of their lucid episode. Another third pass
within one day, twenty percent pass within two to three days,
and less than ten percent survive for a week. Whether
we're talking about adults or children, the evidence shows that
(36:56):
terminal lucidity is the final glow of the person. It's
as if the soul briefly steps back into the driver's
seat to say one last I love you before their
journey begins with their loved one or their pets. Coming up.
In our final segment, we'll hear even more of these
(37:17):
powerful stories. We'll also talk about what this means for
parents who are hurting right now, and even if you're
not a parent, will share a way to hold on
to these moments when that grief feels too hard to handle,
And I'll give you a gentle practice you can try
tonight to feel closer to your loved one who has passed.
We'll be right back. You're listening to Shades of the
(37:40):
Afterlife on the iHeartRadio and Coast to Coast AM Paranormal
Podcast Network. Welcome back to Shades of the Afterlife. I'm
(38:08):
Sandra Champlain. We've walked through so many stories the terminal
lucidity with children. We've heard little ones suddenly sit up
with bright eyes, speak clearly after weeks or months of silence,
describe pets that are healthy and playful again, even talking
to them and great grandparents they never met on earth.
(38:29):
We've seen them smile, laugh, reach out to invisible hands,
pet invisible fur, and leave their parents with words that
become treasures. I'm okay, don't worry. I love you, I'll
wait for you. These moments are not random. They are
the soul breaking through the body when it is at
its weakest. They show us that consciousness is so much
(38:51):
bigger than the brain. Even when a child's body is
shutting down, the soul can still shine with clarity, love,
and joy. Children are not confused or afraid. They are aware,
saying goodbye, giving comfort, surrounded by the ones who love them,
both in this world and the next. One mother shared
that her daughter, after days of silence, suddenly looked at
(39:15):
her with shining eyes and spoke of a peaceful place
filled with light. Another father told of his son who
described being welcomed by family he had never known, with
a sense of complete safety, love, and joy. Many parents
say these clear moments changed how they remember their child's
(39:37):
last days. They have a picture of their son or
daughter smiling, laughing, and being welcomed with love. Their grief
is still there, but the stories give them something warm
to hold onto when the nights feel so long and cold.
Some parents say it replaced their nightmares of the child's
suffering with a gentle memory of their child looking happy
(39:58):
and at peace. These moments don't take away the hurt,
but they do add a layer of comfort that stays
with families for years. Remember the words of a mother
in the end, it wasn't the machines or the medicine
that mattered most. It was the few clear minutes when
my child looked at me with love and said he
was okay. Even if you're not a parent who has
(40:21):
lost a child, you can use the same gentle truth
to get closer to any loved one in spirit. We
think of spirit being so far beyond the clouds, but
it's not. I envision a world vibrating with energy all
around us, instead of them coming to our world. We're
really part of theirs, and at some point we'll be
(40:42):
reunited with them. I want to give you a simple
tool of connection that you can try tonight or any
night when you miss them, before you fall asleep, get
comfortable in your bed, take a few slow, deep breaths,
picture of favorite happy memory with your loved one one,
maybe a smile, a hug, or a time you laughed
(41:04):
really hard together. Then softly say their name and your mind,
or out loud and invite them to visit. Say something
like I love you and I'm open to feeling your
presence with me. Keep your heart open without forcing anything.
We all have that skeptical brain that says we'll just
be making it up, but rest assured, our soul works
(41:26):
through our imagination. Many people wake up with a feeling
of peace, perhaps a vivid dream where their loved one
appears happy and healthy, or a sense that they were
gently hugged or reassured from the other side. These connections
are real. We only need to open our heart and
listen with love. I know it's rare for many of
(41:48):
us to dream of our loved ones, and sometimes they're
all disorganized and crazy, But when you wake up and
you feel love from the dream, that's a real visitation.
If there's negative emotions or nightmares or fears, that's our
subconscious mind working through our grief. If you are someone
(42:08):
who typically doesn't remember your dreams, I invite you to
go back to episodes one fifty six and one eighty four.
I offer a lucid dreaming technique and we talk to
a doctor with her dream gate technique. Now that I've
turned sixty, I find that my bladder wakes me up
(42:28):
in the wee hours before it's time for me to
get up. But it's the perfect time to do one
of these practices. Talk to our loved one, have a
happy memory, invite them to join us in our dreams,
then fall back asleep. For me, that's when I have
the clearest memory of my dreams. Anyway, try it a
few nights and see what happens. Have a journal by
(42:52):
your bedside, keep notes. I know, dream visitations and even
that dream gate technique when we're half asleep half awake,
have brought so much comfort to many listeners over the years.
You might notice a warm presence in the room when
you wake up. Some people notice signs like a favorite
song playing, or a feather or something else appears out
(43:13):
of nowhere. The important thing is to stay open and
trust that love never leaves us. Even having a picture
of your loved one in all the rooms and keep
talking to them really helps. If you're someone right now
carrying that heavy grief, please please please believe this. That
person is safe, whole, happy, healthy, and they're still connected
(43:35):
to us. We are divine souls having a human experience,
and we can definitely communicate the way our souls do.
When we move into the afterlife. The love we share
with our loved ones does not end. It continues, and
they surround us every day, and there are biggest cheerleaders.
On the hard days, when the house feels too quiet
or the memories hurt too much, remember some of the
(43:58):
stories we've heard today. Remember the smiles, the clear voices,
the little hands reaching out, the dogs jumping up and
down with the wagging tails. No one is lost. They
are loved. They're waiting with open arms and a joyful
heart for the one day you'll be together again. You
are doing the best you can. I know that, and
(44:18):
that love you pour out is felt on the other side.
Please be gentle with yourself. I know it's not easy,
but your loved one would want you to find moments
of peace and joy again. So far, we've covered terminal
lucidity and deathbed visitations, but I want to leave you
with some more stories of children who have made it
to the other side and have come back, and the
(44:40):
beautiful things they say about their experience. One little boy,
only six years old, had a serious accident and his
heart stopped for several minutes. When doctors brought him back,
he told his parents he had been in a beautiful
place with a bright, warm light and soft green fields
that felt like the mo most perfect playground. He said
(45:02):
he met loving beings who welcomed him with open arms
and made him feel completely safe and happy. There was
no pain, no fear, just pure love all around him.
He described seeing colors brighter than anything he had ever
seen on earth, and a feeling that everyone there knew
him and cared for him deeply. The boy looked at
(45:23):
his mom with calm, big eyes and said, it's so
peaceful there. They told me it's okay to come back
for now because you and Daddy still need me, but
they'll be waiting for me when it's my time. They said,
I don't have to worry because everything is taken care
of with love. His parents said those words took away
(45:44):
some of their deepest fears and gave them a quiet
hope that they still carried today. The boy never seemed
afraid of death. After that, he spoke about the experience
with joy, as if he had visited a wonderful home
he knew he would return to one day. Another little girl,
nine years old, had a near death experience during a
serious illness. When she woke up, she told her family
(46:08):
she had been in the place with the most beautiful
colors she had ever seen, colors that don't exist here
on earth. She felt surrounded by a love so strong
it made her feel completely whole and at peace. She
described being greeted by kind beings of light who showed
her around and let her know she was safe. She
(46:30):
said she saw other children playing happily and felt a
deep sense that there was no one there who was
sick or sad. The girl smiled and said, everyone there
is happy, and they told me I could come back
for now because my family still needs me, but when
it's time, they'll be there to bring me home with
so much love. Her parents said hearing her talk about
(46:53):
the peace and the beautiful light helped ease their worry
and reminded them that their daughter would be cared for
with so much gentleness when her time came. The girl
often drew pictures of the colors she remembered, and those
drawings became a source of comfort for the whole family.
One young child came back from a serious surgery complication.
(47:15):
He described floating in a warm, golden light where he
felt held and loved. He said he met a kind
being who showed him that love is the most important
thing and that his family would be okay. The child
told his parents, I saw a place where everything feels
right and no one is alone. His family said that
(47:38):
simple message helped them face tough days with more hope
and less fear. A four year old boy who had
a near death experience during heart surgery, told his parents
he went to a place where the light was so
bright and loving. It felt like a giant hug. He
said there were flowers that glowed, and he felt completely
(48:00):
happy and safe. He met kind people who told him
he could go back to his family for now, but
they would be there when it was his time to
go back. He said, I didn't hurt anymore, and everyone
smiled at me like they knew me. A seven year
old girl who nearly died from a severe infection came
back and told her family she had been in a
(48:22):
wonderful place with soft music and colors that sparkled like rainbows.
She felt wrapped in love and saw people who looked
very happy and healthy. She said. A kind lady with
a gentle voice told her, you can go back to
your mommy and daddy because they need you, but we
will be waiting with open arms when it's your time.
(48:42):
The girl smiled and said it felt like home and
no one was sad there. Her family said those words
brought them a deep sense of peace. These children's stories
remind us that the love we share with our kids
and with all our loved ones never ends us as
the veil and comes back to comfort us. If this
(49:03):
episode brought you some comfort today, can I ask a favor?
Would you share shades of the afterlife with someone? Somehow?
Even a post on social media about it works. You
never know who's hurting, and please, I invite you to
come visit me at wee Dootdie dot com. You can
listen to past episodes, get a free download of my
(49:25):
book We Don't Die, Join one of our free Sunday
gathering inspirational services on Zoom which have a medium demonstration included.
I want to leave you with one last thought. The
dash between the dates on a tombstone is short, but
the love that fills that dash never ever dies. It
(49:45):
lives on in our stories and our memories and the
quiet moments when you feel a familiar presence beside you.
The souls of our loved ones are still shining, and
that light is reaching for you right now. Remember, your
loved one is cheering you on as you navigate this
difficult path called a human life. They are only a
(50:06):
thought away, and you are loved so much more than
you could ever imagine. I'm Sandra Champlain. Thank you so
much for listening to Shades of the Afterlife on the
iHeartRadio and Coast to Coast am Paranormal podcast Network.
Speaker 1 (50:29):
Thanks for listening to the iHeartRadio and Coast to Ghost
Day and Paranormal podcast Network. Make sure and check out
all our shows on the iHeartRadio app or by going
to iHeartRadio dot com
The Best of Coast to Coast AM News
Host
George Noory
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The MeatEater Podcast
Building on the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, host Steven Rinella brings an in-depth and relevant look at all outdoor topics including hunting, fishing, nature, conservation, and wild foods. Filled with humor, irreverence, and things that will surprise the hell out of you, each episode welcomes a diverse group of guests who add their own expertise to the vast world of the outdoors. Part of The MeatEater Podcast Network.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.