Experience Description:

It happened in October 2003, I felt ill but I didn't understand why (maybe because I had never been ill before). I lost consciousness just when I arrived at the Hospital, after few seconds I was talking to the doctors. Then, I lived in a strange way. It wasn't a singular episode but many short episodes. First I was in a boat (or something similar) in a dark and cold ocean and I felt down in the deep water, suddenly someone (like two big hands) took and placed me out of water. Many times.

Every time, I saw myself on a bed, surrounded by many people. I have to say that these visions were not clear; it was as if I saw behind a veil. Other moments I was on a roof, saw what was happening down below, and saw many people, one next to one, on a wire (like pigeons), they didn't talk and watched down. Other moments I thought to a particular place and immediately 'I was there' (I don't know how, nor fly, nor walk). I didn't have a real perception of my body as usually we have when we go out in the street and walk but I saw the places from a high point and I arrived there. All in a fast way. An important and dominant element was water: many times, I traveled between places like rivers. Only once I heard someone talking (perhaps in Latin) while a saw a manuscript. During those days I felt I was dying and my relatives said to me that one night, my body was 'near to dead'. Also, I have other confused memories and I don't know if anesthetic influenced my perception.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: October 2003

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes echo-virus cardiaco Other Arresto cardio-circolatorio a seguito edema polmonare acuto They saved me with defibrillation.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

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? Less consciousness and alertness than normal During those days I thought I was living my normal life, because apart from the episodes I explained (above) I went to work, went out, I was in family. I realized that something was strange when I saw it was all very fast.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I lived these situations during coma (twelve days).

Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Time seemed to go faster than usual The places were of water (many of them) and the time very speedy.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Neither

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I didn't see clarity; I should better say I perceived the situation without seeing it.

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? Uncertain I didn't meet anyone. After I woke up from coma, I felt that someone was in my room near me but I didn't see anyone. I remember I passed that night looking for someone in the room.

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

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Unfamiliar, strange place Insoliti. Le strade della mia città erano lastricati di enormi specchi, anche i gradini lo erano ed un immenso prato

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Fear and anguish. I don't remember anything about the intensive care room (where I lived) but till now if I pass behind the room of this department I feel panic.

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? Neither

Did scenes from the future come to you? Neither

Did you come to a border or point of no return? Neither

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate Sono Cattolica ma non praticante (credente)

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Moderate Idem. Resto credente, ma continuo ad essere non praticante.

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? 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? No

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes I consider this experience a brain scar. At first I had sense of guilt because I was alive, as if someone changed my life.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes It was as if I saw with my body perception, not with my eyes.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? No Not at all - I feel people's behavior (their sincerity).

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? I thought of a place and immediately I was there.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Only with a woman, she told me that often, in that experience, I was in a high viewpoint.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes Time ago I read about tunnel of light but I haven't see it.

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? I would be able to forget this period of my life.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? It isn't necessary.