When a Heart Attack Left Me in a Coma, My Hallucinations Inspired a Novel – and a New Life
In February 2021, during the third Covid lockdown, I sat down with my wife Alexa and our kids for a quiet evening of sausages and chips. But little did we know that this ordinary scene would turn into a nightmare just hours later.
After making strange noises, Alexa realized it was my heart that had stopped beating, having experienced a cardiac arrest due to the worsening heart condition I'd been living with. The only reason I'm alive now is thanks to the prompt action of my wife and son, as well as a cardiologist who performed surgery within six months.
As fate would have it, Alexa's attempts to visit me in the hospital during this tumultuous period led to an unexpected discovery – my brain had developed hallucinations due to the lack of oxygen caused by my cardiac arrest. For weeks, we'd video call each other, and I'd make no sense of what was happening around me. It was only when a brain scan revealed that I'd suffered a significant brain injury that Alexa finally understood the extent of my situation.
During my time in neurological rehabilitation, extensive testing confirmed that my memory and cognitive functions were severely impaired – ranking among the lowest 2% of the population. Yet, something extraordinary happened: as I regained some of my sight, an unexpected phenomenon emerged – hallucinations.
At first, these visions felt like a refuge from the world outside. They reminded me of being looked after by young nurses with lilting Irish accents in a small hospital room during my recovery. Feeling content and untouched by the world, I found myself drifting through time, floating on sensations rather than thoughts.
With this newfound sense of tranquility came the urge to document it – to write about these experiences that had left me breathless but inspired. And thus, I began to craft a novel called This, My Second Life.
Through my writing, I sought to rebuild the world around me, crafting a sanctuary where I could return to this peaceful state whenever needed. Writing became an escape from the stress and uncertainty of my pre-illness life, allowing me to focus on one thing – experiencing life anew.
In reflecting on the novel's themes and characters, particularly Jago, the young boy with whom I'd worked on a picture book during my mother Helen Dunmore's lifetime, I realized that this experience had connected me to her work in ways I never thought possible. And though she won't know about it, knowing that our collaboration lives on through Jago brings me solace.
When the publishing deal for my novel arrived, I saw it as an opportunity to take a step forward into a new chapter of life – one where writing becomes not just a creative outlet but a means of coping with the challenges ahead.
In February 2021, during the third Covid lockdown, I sat down with my wife Alexa and our kids for a quiet evening of sausages and chips. But little did we know that this ordinary scene would turn into a nightmare just hours later.
After making strange noises, Alexa realized it was my heart that had stopped beating, having experienced a cardiac arrest due to the worsening heart condition I'd been living with. The only reason I'm alive now is thanks to the prompt action of my wife and son, as well as a cardiologist who performed surgery within six months.
As fate would have it, Alexa's attempts to visit me in the hospital during this tumultuous period led to an unexpected discovery – my brain had developed hallucinations due to the lack of oxygen caused by my cardiac arrest. For weeks, we'd video call each other, and I'd make no sense of what was happening around me. It was only when a brain scan revealed that I'd suffered a significant brain injury that Alexa finally understood the extent of my situation.
During my time in neurological rehabilitation, extensive testing confirmed that my memory and cognitive functions were severely impaired – ranking among the lowest 2% of the population. Yet, something extraordinary happened: as I regained some of my sight, an unexpected phenomenon emerged – hallucinations.
At first, these visions felt like a refuge from the world outside. They reminded me of being looked after by young nurses with lilting Irish accents in a small hospital room during my recovery. Feeling content and untouched by the world, I found myself drifting through time, floating on sensations rather than thoughts.
With this newfound sense of tranquility came the urge to document it – to write about these experiences that had left me breathless but inspired. And thus, I began to craft a novel called This, My Second Life.
Through my writing, I sought to rebuild the world around me, crafting a sanctuary where I could return to this peaceful state whenever needed. Writing became an escape from the stress and uncertainty of my pre-illness life, allowing me to focus on one thing – experiencing life anew.
In reflecting on the novel's themes and characters, particularly Jago, the young boy with whom I'd worked on a picture book during my mother Helen Dunmore's lifetime, I realized that this experience had connected me to her work in ways I never thought possible. And though she won't know about it, knowing that our collaboration lives on through Jago brings me solace.
When the publishing deal for my novel arrived, I saw it as an opportunity to take a step forward into a new chapter of life – one where writing becomes not just a creative outlet but a means of coping with the challenges ahead.
! Hallucinations after a heart attack? That's wild 
. I'm glad you're alive and even more impressed that your hallucinations became inspiration for a novel 
. Writing can be such a therapeutic outlet, especially during tough times like what you went through 
. It's amazing how it helped you cope with the stress and uncertainty. 
. That's so beautiful 
. And congrats on the publishing deal! You must be super proud 
. How did it feel to finally see your work in print? Was it surreal? 
), but about finding ways to heal and grow from it. And the fact that writing became an escape for you, but also helped you find solace and connection with someone who passed away? That's just beautiful 
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THE WAY THE GUY RECOVERED FROM HIS COMA AND FOUND INSPIRATION IN HIS HALLUCINATIONS IS TRULY AMAZING. IT'S LIKE HE FAND HIMSELF A NEW LIFE THROUGH WRITING AND IT MAKES ME WANT TO GRAB MY PEN AND START CRAFTING AWAY TOO!!! 
Can you believe that near-death experiences can spark creativity and inspire people to pursue their passions? 
, I was reading about the guy's heart attack and coma, and then he starts hallucinating from lack of oxygen 
, but what blows my mind is how those experiences inspired a novel and a new life 
. And now he's writing this book and it's like... I don't even know how to process it 
. I need to get reading on this novel ASAP 
.
! The fact that his hallucinations ended up inspiring a novel and giving him a sense of purpose is truly amazing 
It's like their brain was trying to tell them something or take them on a wild ride 
This person's story is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest moments, creativity can be a powerful tool for healing and growth 
, and it just goes to show that even in the darkest times, there's always hope & a way 2 turn things around 
. he seems like a really inspiring guy who found solace in writing thru all this 
. It's like your writing became a therapy session for yourself, helping you cope with the uncertainty after the coma 
what's up with ppl thinkin they can just sit back & watch u die while their wife is on the phone w/ them? I mean, Alexa saved ur life, no question, but it sounds like she was puttin through hell too. My heart goes out to her fam, tbh 
doesn't that kinda mean you're just avoiding the real issues? 
then more power to you, I guess? 
The author's experience with hallucinations and coma is indeed a scary reality that made him question his own life. But it's amazing how he found solace in writing, using it as an escape to rebuild his life. 
jago in particular sounds like a character straight outta helena dunmore's realm