Experience Description:

I'm a registered nurse with asthma. I went to the emergency room the day after Christmas with an asthma attack. I was given numerous breathing treatments with no relief. My doctor arrived and told the staff to intubate me. As soon as they started to put the tube down my throat I heard one of them saying, 'She's coding'. All of a sudden, I was laying down in what felt like a hammock filled with cotton. I don't know how else to describe it. I felt like someone or something had their arms around me. It was the most comfortable, warm and loving feeling I have ever felt. Above me was the 'white light' it was bright like the sun, but it didn't hurt my eyes and it was warm. It was a peaceful, and I didn't hurt anymore. I wasn't afraid it was the safest I have ever felt in my life. They coded me for twelve minutes before they could get me back.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: December 26, 2004

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Illness Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function) Very severe asthma attack.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes 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

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I'm not sure, I was dead.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Neither

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Neither

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

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. The brightness of the light, yet it didn't hurt my eyes.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Neither

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? No

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? Yes A bright white light, but warm and it didn't hurt my eyes.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Clearly mystical or unearthly realm

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Calmness, love, peace beyond comprehension.

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? Neither

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? Neither

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 conscious decision to 'return' to life

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Liberal

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Liberal

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? Definite being, or voice clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

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? No

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes Time is precious, less patience with what I call the bullshit of life. It's like I have a stopwatch inside of me and I hear it ticking.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes The feelings and the type of light.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? No

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? The loving and peaceful feeling.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I was in a coma for a three weeks afterward. I told my family as soon as I was able. My friends ask what dying is like and I tell them.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes I've been a critical nurse for a long time. I've heard a few different things from different people that we were able to bring back. I don't think it affected my experience.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real I accepted it to be real.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real It happened, I know it did. I don't question it.

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