Experience Description:

My family lived in Fresno, California at the time and I was sent to Lancaster California to live with my aunt and uncle. During my stay there, I became ill. My parents drove to Lancaster to see about me and immediately rushed me to the hospital. While on our way to the hospital, the coughing was so severe that I continually lost and regained consciousness from not being able to take in a breath. When we arrived in the hospital parking lot, I remember the hospital staff there waiting for me with a gurney. When they placed me on the gurney and rushed me inside of the hospital, I lost consciousness and that is when I had the near death experience. What was strange is that I saw myself in a dark tunnel. It was as if I was a spectator or on looker, because I saw the back of my entire self/body standing in the tunnel facing the light. Then, I was no longer watching myself, but being myself and walking toward the light. Once I got very close to the end of the tunnel, I was a little hesitant to go further because I didn't know what was happening or what to expect, but I was not afraid.

When I got to the very edge of the tunnel, I bent over sticking my head just outside of it to see what was there. I looked up and I saw the bluest sky. I looked to the right and saw the most beautiful green grass on rolling hills. Then I looked down at the grass just outside of the tunnel and stuck one foot on top of it and it was soft and cool to the touch. Then I looked to the left. There was someone sitting on a throne and he called me out. I came out of the tunnel and walked toward the being and I was not afraid. When I looked toward him this is what I saw. He sat upon a throne that was made of something that I've never seen before. It was solid and translucent at the same time. He wore a white garment that covered him from his neck down to his feet. His face was bright and radiating like the sun with rays extending outward. There was no face, but pure light. I could look straight into the bright light of his face and it didn't hurt my eyes.

To the left and to the right of Him stood several beings like men standing at attention. The one on the throne said to me, to my conscious/mind, that I had to go back that it was not time for me to come. Then he showed me an image or vision of myself as an adult which at that time I understood it to mean that I will have a full life. Once I understood, in an instant I was back in my body. I never spoke to anyone about this and I only thought of it as a teenager and adult on occasion. As a child I constantly thought about my and the world's existence. It sometimes frightened me that I was a living, breathing creature. I longed to know how we got here so I constantly asked questions to any adult who would answer. Also, most of my life I was able to see spirits. To dream about people's death. Also, I've had strange encounters with people while walking down the street that gave me messages about something that would take place in my life that came true, advice and just watching over me. Not until about five years ago, when I saw a Dr. Moody's documentary on television, did I understand what happened, the NDE. I ran out and got his book, then others. I also called my older sister and asked her about my illness during that time and she said that they almost lost me and I had to be resuscitated.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 1955-1956

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) Severe case of whooping cough.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I clearly left my body and existed outside it

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 Because everything around me was intense in every way. The light, colors, my mind, my understanding. Everything seemed brand new and alive. The beings thoughts to mine were instantaneous and without question.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? The entire time.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Time seemed to go faster than usual Once outside of the tunnel, everything seemed to go quickly. Especially when I went back into my body.

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. Strikingly vivid colors only outside of the tunnel. On the other side, the only thing that had transparency was man-made or being-made objects such as the throne. Everything else was solid. The beings seemed more spiritual. There was no sun in the sky.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I don't recall hearing anything at all.

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

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Yes The tunnel was dark but the light at the end sort of radiated through a little. I saw the walls of the dark tunnel.

Did you see any beings in your experience? Saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes A being of authority sat on a translucent but solid throne. There were several male beings on both sides of the throne standing at attention.

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 The light was at the end of the tunnel that grew in size as I got closer to the end.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Neither I saw a world that was similar to ours except it was perfect in all aspects. not a cloud in the sky, no sun, but pure brightness. fresh clean air, intensly green cool grass. It seemed brand new. Life paradise.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I felt like a child and I just knew to go to the end of the tunnel. I felt peace, calm, absolutely no fear.

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? Happiness

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 I was only three or four so there were no past events, nor did I have any dead relatives. I now know that there is a difference between body and spirit. The body is heavy and very emotionally and mentally unbalanced all the time. I understand that our spirit and flesh are always at war with each other. The body is burdensome. In the flesh, I feel separated from God, like an orphan in a strange place. In the spirit I am at home with him.

Did scenes from the future come to you? From personal future I would dream about people I knew dying and they did.

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? Conservative/fundamentalist None

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No As a child no. As an adult looking back, yes. There are too many religions and too many religious views that cause people to be confused and misled. We mistakenly look to man for our answers to life. God is a spirit, so we must come to God in spirit. For now, we are separated from God although He sustains us every day. We must Love and seek God with all our hearts until we are with him again.

What is your religion now? Conservative/fundamentalist

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No As a child no. As an adult looking back, yes. There are too many religions and too many religious views that cause people to be confused and misled. We mistakenly look to man for our answers to life. God is a spirit, so we must come to God in spirit. For now, we are separated from God although He sustains us every day. We must Love and seek God with all our hearts until we are with him again.

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? Saw them

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? Uncertain I was a small child. I had no understanding of relationships.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes The beings that were present and the one Being that communicated with me. Their appearance and the substance of the structure or seat that the being in authority sat upon. It was also difficult to explain how the being spoke to me telepathically and the vision and what it meant.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Uncertain I knew if someone was going to die through dreams. I often saw heard and saw spirits.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? That I was in the presence of God, when I had no religious or Biblical knowledge. That God is not a particular race and that he loved me just as I am. That there is no evil, pain, sickness, worry, sadness. Only goodness, happiness, contentment, peace and love exists there.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes About five years ago.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? No No knowledge. I was three or four years old.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real I did not think of it at all until I was older.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real It was real to me because I could feel and smell the freshness of the air and grass. And felt the warmth of the light. I was aware, communicated and had a sense of being. I didn't feel alone once I was in the presence of the others. They acknowledged me and I them. I even felt the walls of the tunnel with my hands and feet. I felt like I was home. I don't feel like I belong here sometimes.

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

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? God is merciful all the way to the end of carnal life. He made death painless and there is nothing to fear. We need to trust in God.