CHAPTER 1

Understanding the Unknown

Just because no one else can see what you see, does not mean there's nothingthere.

Have you ever been awakened by an unexplained noise or felt like someone waswatching you even though there was no one in the room? You just might have had aghostly visitor.

Has your child ever called to you in the middle of the night, crying about amonster in the closet? Was he afraid to sleep in his room even after you assuredhim that you didn't see anything in the closet but his coat? When we don't seewhat they see or hear what they hear, children get frightened. And just becauseyou can't see what your child sees doesn't necessarily mean there's nothingthere. Children see and hear more because they're open psychically.

Carrsen's first word at six months was his grandmother's name. She'd died over ayear before. Penny, age four, had conversations at night with her lategrandmother. Steve, age three, had an imaginary playmate—his uncle who was dead.

At what age do children who talk to ghosts get labeled as having a mentalillness?

Children Who Talk to the Dead: Psychic or Psychotic?

"Go away. You're scaring me," whimpered eleven-year-old Ellen. Her voice wasbarely audible. She'd been curled up in a ball in the corner of her hospitalroom for hours. Tears trickled down her face; her eyes were watery and red. "Idon't want to see you anymore. You're dead. Leave me alone." No one could hearEllen because she was speaking inside her mind.

Down the hall, psychiatric nurses Sheila and Nancy were talking. "Ellen worriesme," said Sheila. "She says her dead grandfather is trying to take her with him.I don't see him, but Ellen is terrified. What do you think?"

"You worry too much," answered Nancy. "Ellen is a sick child with a very activeimagination."

"You're right, but just the same, I'm going to go check on her." Sheila realizedthat at 3:00 A.M., Ellen would probably be asleep, but she was still worriedabout the little girl.

She opened the door to Ellen's room quietly and peered into the darkness. Atfirst she couldn't see anything. After her eyes adjusted, she saw Ellen sittingon the floor in the corner, her eyes wide open in terror.

Sheila, a grandmother, automatically reached out and took Ellen into her armsand began to rock her. "Don't be afraid. I'm here. Nothing can hurt you now."

All night Sheila thought about what to do. In the morning she called me. "Canyou see me today?" said Sheila. "I read in Good Housekeeping that you're amedical intuitive who can talk to ghosts. Can you tell me how to help aterrified eleven-year-old girl in our psychiatric ward who says she sees herdead grandfather? The psychiatrist says the best place for this child is in ourlocked ward, but I disagree. I don't think she's hallucinating. She's a sweetkid and I'm afraid she's going to get worse if she doesn't get help soon."

We set up an emergency appointment for that day. As Sheila walked into myoffice, I noticed her wrinkled brow and tired eyes. "Tell me about your littlegirl. I'm going to close my eyes so I can listen intuitively."

As I listened to Sheila's voice, I tuned in and saw the little girl's face, herterror, and her deceased grandfather standing next to her. I wasn't imagining.The scene was real. After three years of being tested for my psychic abilitiesat a nearby university, I knew when my intuition was accurate. But I needed moreinformation to go further. "Does the child say why he's there?"

"No. She just starts crying whenever he comes near."

"There are two main reasons why ghosts contact the living: the first is that theliving need them," I explained. "The second is that the dead need the living todo something. My medical intuition tells me that this child and her mother aresuffering from mental and physical abuse."

"How do you know that?"

I explained, "I can see a man hitting the child's mother. He's drunk. I see thelittle girl hiding in her bedroom closet."

Sheila interrupted. "You're right. She used to hide there until her mother saidit was safe to come out. What can I do for her?"

"Before I can answer that, I have to find out when the first incident occurred.

"I see the child at six months waking up to loud voices. She doesn't like thesounds. She cries for comfort, but no one comes. That was the first time hergrandfather came to her. She wasn't old enough to realize he was dead and sheallowed his spirit energy to soothe her. She fell asleep. He kept coming untilshe told her mother about his visits. Her mother got afraid and told her tonever let him return. The child trusted her mother and stopped being comfortedby the grandfather, which was a big loss for her. The child needs to trust whatshe sees. At some level, her grandfather is real. Denying what she sees iscreating tremendous fear.

"You can help her by asking her questions," I continued. "What does he looklike? Is his face kind? What is he wearing? Tell the child to say 'I love you'to her grandfather. That will distract her enough to be able to hear what he hasto say. Hold her hand so she won't be afraid. Then tell her to ask him what hewants. Try to understand and don't be frightened. Respond with your love andcommon sense. Once she gets the message, she'll be able to sleep and she'll getbetter."

"I'm not sure I can remember it all. Can I call you if I need more help?"

"Of course."

A week later Sheila called. "I did what you recommended and the child respondedbeautifully. I feel she's got a built-in helper now and I've become a believerin ghosts. Bless you."

* * *

Often I get calls from medical aides, nurses, paramedics, and psychologists whohave hunches or feelings about a patient. They don't necessarily believe inpsychics or medical intuitives, but their desperation leads them to call me.

Children often see ghosts that adults cannot and they get scared when people inauthority do not see the ghosts or understand what to do to help them. Somedoctors call ghost visits hallucinations and prescribe Prozac or Ritalin to stopthe child's visions. They don't realize that tranquilizing the child makes iteasier for ghosts to be seen and heard. The child can't see or hear ghosts whentheir minds are busy thinking about sports, schoolwork, and friends.

I've Been There

I remember being awakened when I was fifteen by a gray cloud pouring through mycloset door toward me. The cloud became larger and thicker until I could see theforms of two robed men coming closer and closer. I pulled the blanket over myhead, but I couldn't breathe. I screamed, "Ma, Pa! Help! They're back again!"

"Not...