I Was Declared Dead and Sent to a Mortuary Before Doctors Found My Pulse

By Christopher Ameh, Bauchi

Dorcas Okechukwu, a Human Physiology graduate from Madonna University and owner of a private school in Bauchi State, recounted how she was declared dead by two hospitals before doctors at a third facility found a pulse and began emergency treatment.

Speaking with Vanguard, Okechukwu said the ordeal was life‑changing, deepening her Christian faith and her appreciation for life.

She said the incident occurred on 15 April 2025 after she had taken her mother, Mrs. Ann Okechukwu, to the UK Embassy in Abuja.

She returned to her hotel and developed a severe headache, which she initially blamed on high blood pressure.

“I decided to take a bath and lie down, hoping the pain would subside. I also asked my sister to locate a nearby pharmacy where I could check my blood pressure. The next thing I remember is waking up in a hospital about two weeks later,” she said.

Okechukwu said she was later informed that she had convulsed and stopped breathing before being rushed to a hospital.

According to her, doctors at the first hospital examined her and informed her family that she had died. Unsatisfied with the diagnosis, her mother insisted she be taken to another hospital, where the same conclusion was reportedly reached.

She said her brother then contacted a doctor in the United Kingdom, who advised that she be taken to Cedar Crest Hospital in Abuja.

At Cedar Crest, the staff initially declined to admit her after assessing her condition and recommended that she be taken to a mortuary. However, a doctor decided to conduct another examination before the transfer and detected a pulse.

“The doctor immediately ordered that I be taken to the emergency ward,” she recalled.

She underwent extensive medical investigations, including a CT scan, MRI and several other diagnostic tests, which did not reveal significant abnormalities apart from a swollen brain believed to have resulted from the seizure.

Okechukwu said she regained consciousness after about two weeks in hospital and later learned she had suffered a partial stroke.

She also experienced temporary memory loss and had to relearn how to walk while undergoing rehabilitation and follow‑up care with neurologists.

During her recovery, Okechukwu said she had a spiritual experience after listening to a sermon by Apostle Joshua Selman, which she believes marked the beginning of her healing.

She also recounted a period of fear months later, which she described as an “attack by the spirit of death.” She sought spiritual counsel from her pastor, Pastor Ben John, who encouraged her to meditate on biblical teachings about long life and repeatedly declare Psalm 91.

Okechukwu said the fear subsided, and subsequent medical examinations, including tests on her heart, produced reassuring results.

Reflecting on her experience, she described surviving the ordeal as a miracle and expressed gratitude to God for what she considers a second chance at life.

“One may not know what it means to enjoy good health until faced with serious illness,” she said. “The mercies of God endure forever, and His love towards me is beyond words.”

Vanguard has not independently verified the medical circumstances surrounding Okechukwu’s account. The spiritual experiences she described reflect her personal beliefs and testimony.