I reached the outskirts of Heaven as I lay dying from a widow-maker heart attack.
i would have asked God to strike me sooner if only I had known the profit of dying from a widow-maker heart attack. The doctors gave me little chance of survival and yet a gift from God kept me alive. But I was to learn much, much more: patience; love; forgiveness; insight.
i saw the outline of Heaven not far off in the distance. No light in the tunnel. No Angels singing or playing harps. Just an exquisite aura of harmony and peace.
My death and resurrection awoke in me all the knowledge I had denied myself over the years. I saw myself for what I truly was. I saw those who loved me for the very first time. I felt the pain and troubles of others. I felt the hand of God touching me with His love. I know things far beyond what I should know, even the deep secrets of my wife and family. My Guardian Angel, Malchias, inspires me with knowledge. I can see good and evil in the eyes of others.
Most of us know we have a Guardian Angel, but how many of us can converse with him? He has givenme a wsidom and knowledge far beyond that which I ever had. I see the dead and their spirits. I feel the sensitivities of other people. I exude love and receive love inreturn. If I had known what I would learn about God and my own life, I would have wished and prayed for this heart attack fifty years ago. By granting me the gift of life, God has touched me in a very special way and in that special way, I see the world and life with insight and appreciation. For truly God is Great! And He truly has marked me with His love.
Professional Reviews
When life hangs in the balance between life and death
Liberty author Russell Vassallo, in his retirement from a career in law, has successfully authored a variety of books from stories of his family's Mafia ties to heart-warming animal tales. After a recent health scare, he and wife Virginia, also an author, have teamed up to write about the experience each had during some precarious moments when life and death hung in the balance for Russell.
The Other Side of Heaven alternates by chapter between the points of view of Russell and Virginia. Russell's writing demonstrated well the passing between conscious thought and semi-conscious thought as he drifted in and out of awareness. As his grasp on his immediate surroundings lessened, he found his spiritual awareness heightened, leaving him unsure if he wanted to fight to stay on Earth a while longer, or to follow the presence, filled with peace and void of pain, that beckoned him. Over the course of several days when doctors didn't know if he would survive through the night, Russell groggily reviewed much of his life, assessing mistakes and counting blessings, ultimately realizing how deep Virginia's love runs for him, something he had doubted for years.
In Virginia's chapters, readers will experience her frantic worry, her handling of tasks simply to keep her mind busy, her anguish as she prepares for life without the man she deeply loves. However, one will also see a strong woman who, though her heart is breaking, takes charge of the situation almost immediately, making sure animals are fed, arrangements are made just to Russell's liking, and family members are kept informed. Her attention to detail in her writing puts the reader right there beside her like a close confidant.
It would seem such a scare has caused a real change in this couple's lives. Perhaps Russell gained a new appreciation for the woman who promised to stay by his side for better or worse. Virginia, it seems learned to accept help, and lean on friends when the road gets rocky. In the wisdom of a man who has endured much, Russel advises, "To change is difficult. To remain changed is even more so." For change, they are both grateful.
A Life and Death Heart-warming Story of Love Threatened by Misunderstanding, Insecurity and Resentment
in their book, "The Other Side of Heaven - An After Death Experience, Russ and Virginia Vassallo provide inspiration and encouragement to readers experiencing suffering and pain that comes with the uncertainty and devastation of losing a loved one and the imminence of death.
Russ's account is reflective and autobiographical; not necessarily chronological, sometimes humorous, often profound, with a lot of insight, and stimulating unanswered questions. Virginia's story ties together some loose ends in an orderly sequence of events and adds a positive perspective on some issues needing resolution or closure while finding purpose to the uncertainties of the relational misunderstanding introduced by Russ's narrative.
As the hours turn to days and the days to weeks, in the hospital, Russ' thoughts turn inward. On more than one occasion his heart stopped, while clinically dead Russ envisions a glimpse of heaven. He tells of conversations with his guardian angel, Malchias, and with Jesus. He describes heaven as a place of mist, just out of sight, where all the loved one of God reside, a place of peace and harmony.
In a brutally honest openness, Russ relates the indelible imprint of parental neglect and the needless negative input and verbal abuse led to disappointment, insecurity, and a low self-esteem that led to misunderstanding, resentment, and mistrust in his expectations of Virginia's love. He relates the impact of his culture and relives the anguish resulting from resentment and thoughts of vengeance.
Stories of growing up in Newark, of relatives linked to the mafia, of his days as a successful lawyer and bring back wonderful memories of the past which are linked together with recurring themes of fierce determination for justice, his inability to see his own value, questions as to why he was spared from death and entering heaven, and of finding purpose and solace in the rituals of the church.
"The Other Side of Heaven: An After-Death Experience" is a beautiful story of finding love, redemption, and peace; an inspirational journey, filled with encouragement for the reader "homesick" for healing memories of the past.
