Experience Description:

First accident: I do not remember the accident, a complete blank, what I do remember is being on my way to work one Saturday morning. Then the next thing I remember is standing in front of a person, in a beautiful landscape, very peaceful, trees, babbling brook, etc. The person in front of me was wearing a flowing robe with a golden rope belt. I never saw their face. I just remember that they told me I had to go back, but I felt so peaceful and happy I didn't want to go back. I think I tried to argue and say no, I don't want to go back, I felt so good there. But this person became a little more forceful and said again, 'You have to go back now'. The next thing I remember was hearing the Jaws of Life and someone screaming at me, 'How old are you? How old are you?' I was angry that I had to leave the place I just came from and I was in pain, so much pain. I remember telling them to stop screaming at me, and then went unconscious again. The next time I woke up I was in a hospital bed - a couple of days later.

Second accident: Again driving to work. Next thing I know I'm waking up in a hospital not knowing how I got there. I had been in a coma for several days caused by head trauma and brain swelling. I had lost my short term memory and had a sort of amnesia. I knew my name but I didn't remember much about myself. For instance, I didn't know what kind of food I liked, have any childhood memories, remember the names of people I worked with for years. I recognized their faces but didn't know their names. I also lost words from my vocabulary, simple words like it, if, the...

When I got home, I started to dream my entire day the night before. With no short term memory, I was still able to recognize that things were very weird and that I had already seen/done this. Luckily, this didn't last long, a week or two. I seemed to know things, just 'know' things. A little voice in the back of my head kept telling me to write it down, write it down. Because of the short term memory loss, I couldn't hang onto anything very long. I wish that I had listened to the little voice, but I didn't. I regret that.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 'May 6, 1995 and Feb 29, 1996'

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident Direct head injury '1st car accident - many many injuries .. broken bones ... internal injuries etc. 2nd car accident - head injury' Other I'm not sure if I was clinically dead. Definitely life threatening... car accident... possibly clinically dead for a brief time. A car accident.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

Did you feel separated from your body? Uncertain I lost awareness of my body

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Normal consciousness and alertness

Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening all at once Although it seemed very fast, I definitely knew I wasn't on the Earth anymore.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? More so than usual

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Yes, and the facts have been checked out

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? Neither

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes This person was a man, in a robe, but I never saw his face. The voice seemed familiar to me, but I couldn't place it.

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Unfamiliar, strange place A beautiful place outdoors... just beautiful

What emotions did you feel during the experience? First accident only - very peaceful and lost my fear of death completely upon my return. I also appreciate the beauty so much more. I have become exceptionally intolerant to any kind of violence or anger. I get very uptight even seeing it on TV. Don't want any part of it.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Incredible peace or pleasantness

Did you have a feeling of joy? Incredible joy

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? United, one with the world

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? Neither

Did scenes from the future come to you? Neither

Did you come to a border or point of no return? A barrier I was not permitted to cross; or 'sent back' to life involuntarily

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Liberal Just spiritual... seeking

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Uncertain Still seeking, still don't subscribe to organized religion. Do however believe more strongly that all people and animals and the earth (with everything on it) are connected.

What is your religion now? Liberal same

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Uncertain Still seeking, still don't subscribe to organized religion. Do however believe more strongly that all people and animals and the earth (with everything on it) are connected.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? Unidentifiable voice

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Neither

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes I knew it was special when I was there, but it wasn't until I was conscious and recovering that I had time to try and put my feelings about it in order.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes Divorced my husband - whom I should have divorced years before. I find that I don't like to be in crowds, I tend to hide away. It's too hard to be with a lot of people and have to feel what they feel. Did I mention that before? That didn't happen after the accident - just got a little more unbearable.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain Knowing that people would not believe what I was saying.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes Described above.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Too many to explain.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I'm not sure how long after the experience it was before I shared. The reaction(s) were always pretty much the same. The person would make a joke or become quiet and distant.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes I read a lot.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real I know it was definitely real - still felt very unsure/questioning myself.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real I know what happened. I know I am changed forever because of it.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No