Greetings again, Kirolak,

You do a great service by sharing your non-physical experiences! People can learn they are not alone by reading here. Also if we can help get this worked out, others can see that process happening too --and share the fun in helping!

You can leave the physical through' the mind's eye' and that seems to be what you are doing. You do not need to drag along any of the 'subtle bodies.' Many of them like to leave through the top of your head--perhaps too close to the area that was hurt by the stroke.  So letting these experiences come as 'dreams' and gradually seems very smart! Soon you will notice you have more lucidity -- will power/intent -- and that will overcome the depression that poisoned this boat experience.

IMO, You started in a contemporary Noah's Ark scenario which was a set-up for you to help--neat! But your emotions started pulling you down down until you were at a very low level and unable to continue.

Now you have received all the signs that your spirit is involved in this despite any brain damge. Brain and spirit are independent of each other    so no problem! You are helped by Helpers, you are operating beeyond physical limits -- Hurray!! You are ready!

You can ask to go back to the first boat and symbollically finish your job there. Use your mind's eye/imagination to lead the critters to a beautiful place where they can live in peace. Emanate PUL to show your good will but you don't have to heal each beastie individually--they are on the right boat to find perfection!

PUL to you from a fellow animal lover,
Bets

If you can send energy through the palms of your hands, you can up it to heart-felt PUL from the heart area/chakra, the same as generates the feelings that come from your hands. Getting it further into your torso gives your whole self its benefit too. That will help push away your doubts and revitalize you. You are a channel for PUL, not a machine that sends it out a small area, IMO. Opening your heart to PUL will make it easier to receive the channel.
Think of the feeling of PUL to be related to holding and hearing a cat pur. A warm relaxed cat. 
Kirolak, you are doing fine!

Kirolak, in addition to Bets' reply, when you set your intent for your sleep/nonphysical activities, you might include to work with a team of experienced, loving spirits, who would help you to be shielded from too heavy emotional energy, help you to use and refill your energy pool, and make you better understand what is happening during these activities.

Regarding your experiences with healing, that your patients sobbed or wept during/after the sessions is something what is not too uncommon. It can be a reaction to a sudden "clearing" of their personal history, the solution of a blockade and similar. Those people often cannot really put in words what has happened due to the suddenness and the non-word-approach of this kind of healing. I think this state is a window of opportunity, it can be used to gain deeper insight in oneself, and as an effect of this, becoming healthier.

Spooky