Experience Description:

I was at a friend's get together and everyone had been drinking at around 12:30 at night I was extremely hungry, everyone there was eating cookies. I have a sever allergy to nuts and can die within three minutes of eating one. I ate the cookie and right away, my mouth swelled shut. My friend's house is out in the country and about twenty-five minutes away from the hospital as well as ambulance transportation. Thirty seconds after my lips swelled shut my eyes and face swelled up completely, so much so I couldn't see anything. My body broke out in hives and slowly my throat began to swell shut. My friends called an ambulance immediately; I had no EpiPen on me I was going to die. I collapsed on the bathroom floor my friends by my side talking to me, trying to keep me awake. I could feel my throat close more and more every second. Every second that passed it became harder and harder to breath. I thought to myself this is it I am going to die here on this bathroom floor, I won't be able to say goodbye to my family. I told my friends to tell my parents and sisters that I loved them. I told my friends I loved them to, that was how sure I was that this would be the end. Eventually my throat closed over completely and I lost consciousness.

I saw all black; I remember going through my life, each important event that ever happened to me, I relived it, from my first birthday to the last birthday I had. I remember saying I am only seventeen in my head and trying to tell everyone that I was only seventeen and I was too young to die. I felt extremely frightened and scared. Eventually I heard a voice in the blackness it belonged to my deceased grandfather whom I was very close to. He told me not to be scared and that I was going to be fine, and that I was getting a second chance. Suddenly I woke up in the ambulance. The paramedics were shocked they thought for sure I would not wake up and that they had been too late to save me. No one could believe that I had survived. My friends were crying. I am so happy that God gave me a second chance at life or else I would not be here today. This experience has changed my life for the better.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: May 20, 2006

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Allergic reaction Life threatening event, but not clinical death Severe allergic reaction, couldn't breathe.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Frightening

Did you feel separated from your body? No 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? More consciousness and alertness than normal I was able to hear things that I would normally not take any consideration to. I could hear every little word and even the breaths that my friends were taking. It was pretty weird.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Right before I could no longer breath I was able to hear all my friends talking to me yet I could not say anything back to them, then I saw blackness. I could hear every little noise around me, from the dripping water to rain.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening all at once It was almost as if everything around me had paused except for the voice and scenes from my past.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more so

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. My vision was blurred and I couldn't see anyone.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Every sound was louder and more defined.

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

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Uncertain There was darkness all around me, but at the same time I could see everything that I did in life before I ate the nuts. I believe my grandfather's voice was the tunnel.

Did you see any beings in your experience? Neither

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Uncertain I only heard my grandfather's voice.

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? Neither

Did you see an unearthly light? Uncertain I saw a bright white light right before I woke up.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Unfamiliar, strange place

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I felt very sad because I wasn't going to be able to say goodbye to my family and tell them that I loved them. I also kept thinking about everything I was going to miss out on in life and not be able to do. It was the most terrifying experience of my life I could slowly feel myself dying; it seemed to be going on forever.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Neither

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? Past flashed before me, out of my control I saw every important event that had ever happened in my life, from my first birthday to my first kiss, to fights with my parents. I saw how selfish I was and how I would give anything to go back and change.

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 none

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I now believe in God.

What is your religion now? Moderate I now believe in God

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I now believe in God.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? Neither

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 I say things now that I wouldn't have said to people before. I am no longer afraid to get something off my chest because you never know how long you will be on this earth for. I tell everyone I love them every day.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

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? My grandfather being there with me and making me feel like I was going to make it, hearing his voice I knew everything was going to be okay.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I shared my experience the day after it happened. My friends believed me when I told them I saw my life and heard my grandfather, however my mother thought it was impossible, but I know it happened. My friends are more religious.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? No

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real My grandfather being there with me and making me feel like I was going to make it, hearing his voice I knew everything was going to be okay.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real Same as the top answer.

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