Experience description: 

      A day before my NDE, I went to see my doctor, because I was having problems sitting. When he examined my rectum he found a very large abscess in my rectum, I was immediately sent to a surgeon who scheduled for me to have an operation the following day. That night, as I was laying in bed, I felt my spirit leave my body and I could see myself lying on the bed, it scared me, and I woke up my husband but he did not wake up.

The next day I was in my bathroom giving myself enemas in preparation for my rectal surgery and I noticed blood in the toilet. As I got up..I became very tachycardic and very fearful, for I felt like my body was dying. I got very short of breath and I knew I was gonna die. I started to pray because I didn't want my children to find me dead in the bathroom, and I felt this sensation come over me, as though, if I just let go, I could die, I felt very much at peace. I decided I would not give in and I thought if I laid in the bathtub, I could relax..and not get so excited. So I went into the bathtub and as I was lying there, I felt my spirit once again leave my body and I could see myself sitting in the tub..This really freaked me out and I climbed out of the tub, because I didn't want my children to find me dead in the tub. I crawled to the phone and called my neighbor and asked her to please come over and help me get dressed. She came over and I was weak but I felt ok, so I walked downstairs with her help. My father in law came over to take me to have my surgery. When I was in the Outpatient Surgery Center ,they attempted to start an IV, but was having difficulty doing it. Then they put a B/P cuff on my arm and it would not register. I laughed and told the nurse it must be some misfunction. When the Anesthesiologist came in, I had this need to tell him to not let me die. I remember he looked at me like I was crazy. I was taken in to the OR and as they put the monitor on me, I saw the heart rhythm V-Tach, and I looked at the B/P monitor and my B/P was 40 and dropping. The Anesthesiologist was very upset and started to run around the room, then all of a sudden, my spirit left my body, and it felt like I was sucked out of it like a vacuum. My spirit soared out of the Hospital and into the universe. I mean it felt like "Star Trek", my spirit was traveling very fast and I saw the earth below me and I seemed to be amidst the stars. Then all of a sudden..I heard a "thump" and I landed in this very cloudy place, and the people I saw were all these dead people, who I had once cared for as a nurse. They welcomed me and were all smiling. They parted and coming towards me was my father who had died 6 months prior. And I remember how happy I was because I loved my dad so much and he had died. My father smiled at me and held my hand and lead me to a tunnel. The tunnel seemed to move slowly back and forth, and when I got in front of the tunnel. This bright light shone up me and I felt no pain, and this incredible love that radiated inside of me. I walked into the tunnel and standing in the middle of the tunnel was a figure dressed in white with long hair, and his back was to me. I felt incredible love coming from this person and I just knew inside if he turned and looked at me I would be dead. Beyond this man was an incredible place. The colors were interactive and alive. It seemed like a paradise, except..the colors were alive and the rocks and sky and grass and water all seemed to be so very beautiful and they seem to all interact with each other. I saw my life flash before me like a rapid motion picture movie, and I saw all good things and all bad things that I had done in my entire life. Suddenly, I heard three voices..and they said.."You can stay or you can leave". And I thought to myself, I can stay or I can leave? And I said, "I am not good enough to be here", and the voices said, "Oh...but you are"..and their voices were so tender... And the thought of staying seemed so pleasing to me. And I wanted to stay with my dad, but I suddenly felt this tugging at my shoulders. It seemed to be pulling at me, and I knew instantly that it was the prayers of my family, my children... and I instantly, said, "I gotta go", In that moment I shot out of that tunnel instantly, and soared through the universe and I heard a "thump" and I was back in my body. And leaning over me was my Doctor and he said, "Anne why didn't you tell me you were so sick, you had a cardiac arrest, we resuscitated you and performed your surgery without Anesthesia and you are probably going to die, for you are in Septic Shock. And I said, "Oh no Doctor, I was in heaven and I got to come back, I won't die". I was very sick for 6 months and had a total of 5 surgeries and I got septic many times, but I survived.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  No

At the time of the experience, was there an associated life threatening event?  Yes

      Describe:  Yes, I had a cardiac arrest on the Operating Table and was told after my NDE that I would die. For I was in Septic Shock, but I didn't die... I lived

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?  I felt I was very alert

Was the experience dream like in any way?  No, to me it was real

Did you experience a separation of consciousness from your body?  Yes

Describe your appearance or form apart from your body:  I felt my spirit was separate from my body, for it was my spirit that left my body.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?  I was at first afraid, but then elated and comforted.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?  I just heard the "thumps" of my spirit leaving and entering my body. I heard the three voices in the tunnel and all else seemed through mental telepathy.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?  Yes

      Describe:  I got into the middle of the tunnel only then when I chose to come back to earth, I left immediately

Did you see a light?  Yes

      Describe:  I saw a light in front of the tunnel, it was much like a giant spotlight, that took all pain away, and gave pure love.

Did you meet or see any other beings?  Yes

      Describe:  I saw all these dead patients I had cared for in my life as a nurse, and I saw my dad who had died, and I saw the being in the middle of the tunnel who I perceived as Jesus.

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?  Yes

      Describe:  I saw my entire life flash before me, all good and all bad experiences instantly. I learned that we must love above all things in this life. And our actions are accountable by our minute to minute actions and responses to one another and that our lives are so very interdependent upon one another and one life is very important in the cycle of life. I learned that Suicide is the unpardonable sin against humanity for life is so very reverent and should not be taken for granted. Suffering is needed for higher attainment, and that above all things we are here on earth to love and be loved. I learned that a simple smile, a kind word or acknowledgement can change the course of the life of a person. I was given a gift of insight, visions, and spiritual awareness of what the universe is made of.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?  No

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?  Yes

      Describe:  I saw paradise on the other side of the tunnel, the most beautiful place I have yet to see.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  Yes

      Describe:  I felt I was in another dimension. I felt I was in heaven.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?  Yes

      Describe:  Yes, I felt I found the secret of the universe, which is to love beyond reach and measure.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?  Yes

      Describe:  Yes I saw myself leaving this earth and entering another place, I had never been before.

Did you become aware of future events?  Yes

      Describe:  I was made aware that I would survive this ordeal.

Were you involved in or aware of a decision to return to the body?  Yes

      Describe:  Yes, I was given a choice to stay or leave, and I felt the pulling of my family to come back to my body so I chose to leave.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?  Yes

      Describe:  Yes, I can read the thoughts of others sometimes, I can see inside others, good and bad, I have found that the electrical conductivity of my body has changed, if I am very upset I have been locked inside my car, copy machines have gone haywire, I cannot wear watches for long periods of time for they stop and I have had visions that have come true, I can communicate sometimes with people who have died and I have discernment. I at first would get very agitated being around crowds for their energy would agitate and upset me.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?  Yes

      Describe:  My entire perception about life has changed for the positive.

Has the experience affected your relationships?  Daily life?  Religious practices etc.?  Career choices?  It can hinder or help depending on the insight I get from those I am around. I have a deeper commitment to God, and I still practice as a nurse.

Have you shared this experience with others?  Yes

      Describe:  After my experience, many people came into my room to hear about this experience, many said they were profoundly changed. Some are skeptical. Some people have a deeper commitment to loving others.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Many emotions, doubt, belief, hope, knowledge knowing that there is life after death, no fear of death, compassion for those that are terminal. Agitation, when I am around a lot of energy. But acceptance of my gifts.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?  Best part that I know life exists after death, worst part is I am different now, and sometimes I feel rather alone, like I do not fit in...

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?  It really happened and I am forever changed.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?  Yes

      Describe:  Yes, I have an acute awareness of others hurting, in pain, needing comfort... and I have the ability to touch their hearts.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?  No

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?  Yes