A MUM “came back from the dead” after a terrifying e-scooter crash that knocked her “25 feet in the air” and left her brain “hanging out her head”.
Savanah White and her seven-year-old son Malakye were crossing an intersection in their hometown of Rockford, Illinois, US, when they were knocked off their e-scooter by a car.
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The horror crash smashed the 28-year-old mum’s face, breaking 26 facial bones and leaving part of her brain sticking out from her forehead.
Savanah says she was “clinically dead” after her heart stopped for more than a minute.
She was left with a broken pelvis and a collapsed lung, and suffered two strokes and an aneurysm, leaving her in hospital for three weeks.
At one point, a chaplain was called to deliver last rites and discuss funeral arrangements with her family – but the mum says she “came back from the dead”.
Doctors grafted skin from Savanah’s C-section scar to repair her forehead and put metal plates in her face after she fractured 26 facial bones.
Malakye, now eight, was admitted to hospital with a broken leg and required two head surgeries.
Incredibly, a year on, both mother and son have recovered and only a small “Harry Potter” scar remains on Savanah’s forehead.
But the mum says she has PTSD and the damage done to the bones in her face means she will be “unable to smell anything ever again”.
The mum-of-three said the ordeal in July 2024 has changed her outlook on life and she feels “blessed” to be alive.
Savanah said: “We were going back home to my apartment – but first we were stopping at a gas station across the street to get ice cream.
“But we never made it across the street.
“I was pulling out of the intersection and a red car was speeding straight through.
“I reached out and grabbed my son. We flew about 25 feet in the air, [then] hit the concrete.
“I lost consciousness because part of my brain had actually come out of my forehead.
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“I was clinically dead for a minute and 24 seconds.”
Savanah was in such a bad state when she arrived in hospital that at first she was not even well enough for doctors to operate.
Savanah said: “Everything was so bad and I was so mangled up, they didn’t know if I would make it to the surgeries or not.
“After a couple of days I was stable enough to have surgery – but I didn’t properly wake up for six days.
What is PTSD and what are the symptoms?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem you may develop after experiencing traumatic events.
Everyone’s experience of PTSD different, so you may experience some, none or all of these signs and symptoms.
Reliving
This can include:
- Vivid flashbacks (feeling like the trauma is happening right now)
- iIntrusive thoughts or images
- Nightmares
- Intense distress at real or symbolic reminders of the trauma
- Physical sensations such as pain, sweating, nausea or trembling.
Feeling on edge
This can include:
- Panicking when reminded of the trauma
- Being easily upset or angry
- Extreme alertness, also sometimes called ‘hypervigilance’
- Disturbed sleep or a lack of sleep
- Irritability or aggressive behaviour
- Finding it hard to concentrate – including on simple or everyday tasks
- Being jumpy or easily startled
- Other symptoms of anxiety.
Avoiding feelings or memories
This can include:
- Feeling like you have to keep busy
- Avoiding anything that reminds you of the trauma
- Being unable to remember details of what happened
- Feeling emotionally numb or cut off from your feelings
- Feeling physically numb or detached from your body
- Being unable to express affection
- Doing things that could be self-destructive or reckless
- Using alcohol or drugs to avoid memories.
Isolation, anger or shame
This can include:
- Feeling like you can’t trust anyone
- Feeling like nowhere is safe
- Feeling like nobody understands
- Blaming yourself for what happened
- Overwhelming feelings of anger, sadness, guilt or shame.
Source: Mind
“The chaplain even came in to talk to my family about funeral arrangements – if I wanted to be cremated or buried.”
But when Savanah did regain full consciousness, she was in denial about what had happened.
Savanah said: “I woke up on the hospital floor. The security guard said that I kept trying to escape the hospital.
“I didn’t think I got hit – I kept ripping my trach [tracheostomy tube] out and trying to leave to get back to my kids.
“They said ‘you’re in hospital, you got hit by a car’. I said, ‘No I’m not, no I didn’t’.
“They finally gave me a mirror and I looked at my face and I thought: ‘Oh my god – I did.'”
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The mum was released from hospital after three weeks. Now – a year later – Savannah’s says the accident has left a permanent imprint on her, beyond the scars on her face.
Savanah said: “It has changed my outlook on life. [While unconscious] I went through a rainbow tunnel and I saw colours and lights that don’t even exist here.
“I saw everything: the Earth, heaven, hell, all dimensions. I got to pick where I wanted to go.
“I chose to come back for my kids – I feel blessed I had that choice.
“But I don’t drive anymore. I’m too terrified.
“I’m scared I’d step on my brakes just for a squirrel and hurt everyone in the car.
“We don’t even cross the street anymore by ourselves. I have to have somebody come with me.
“I’m still walking and fully functional, but I have PTSD – I’m not ready to cross that yet.”
Rockford Police Department were contacted for comment.
What is a near-death experience?
A near-death experience (NDE) is a profound, personal experience reported by individuals who have been close to death or in a life-threatening situation.
These experiences often involve vivid, unusual, and realistic sensations and perceptions that can include out-of-body experiences, feelings of peace and well-being, seeing a bright light, and encountering deceased loved ones or other beings.
Key features of near-death experiences
Out-of-body experiences: Individuals may feel detached from their physical body, observing the scene from a different perspective.
Tunnel vision and bright light: Many report moving through a dark tunnel toward a bright light.
Feelings of peace and well-being: NDEs are often described as intensely positive, with feelings of serenity, love, and joy.
Life review: Some individuals report a rapid review of their past life events.
Encountering others: People may encounter deceased loved ones, religious figures, or other beings.
Possible explanations
While there isn’t a universally accepted scientific explanation for NDEs, some theories suggest they may be related to:
Physiological changes
Possible changes in brain activity during periods of oxygen deprivation or stress could contribute to the experiences.
Psychological responses
The mind might generate these experiences as a coping mechanism in the face of death.
Spiritual interpretations
Some individuals interpret NDEs as evidence of an afterlife or a connection to a higher power.
