Steve H NDE

Experience Description

I said, 'I can't die.'

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 1/12/1991

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Heart attack Other I also had a brain attack (a massive stroke). I looked down and knew I was dead, but denied it.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

The experience included: Out of body experience

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? Normal consciousness and alertness I had fifteen arrests over five to six hours, but was aware during most of the time.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I had fifteen arrests over five to six hours, but was aware during most of the time.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Did your vision differ in any way from normal? I looked down and saw myself, heard the doctors, and could not see my toes.

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? Yes I fell through a spiral tunnel.

The experience included: Presence of deceased persons

Did you see any beings in your experience? I actually saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No

The experience included: Light

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 Very bright but very soothing.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? No

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I wanted tell my wife goodbye and I loved her.

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? I felt united or one with the world

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

The experience included: Life review

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control Like a deck of cards being shuffled.

Did scenes from the future come to you? Scenes from the world's future

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate Methodist

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I know there is a God but feel it is not that as described in the Bible.

What is your religion now? Moderate 'it made me review the purpose of religion, which I have done and it makes religion less important'

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I know there is a God but feel it is not that as described in the Bible.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? I actually 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? Yes Love my wife more and life in general.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes I knew a purpose and a being but it wasn't the God I knew as a child.

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

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I described it with my wife and my doctor. The doctor had me record it on a tape as soon as possible. I saw the doctor at a party this year and he said he still had the tape and uses it in some talks.

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. I can't tell how I knew, but at the time I was certain for ten years. At that time, I had the stroke and it was a totally different experience. That was like the lights went out.

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

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 now believe that this is our life and it is the end when it is over, but live it in a moral life.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? I would like to know what happens next? I have had a heart attack, a stroke, and arrhythmia with the heart. The ejection fraction went from 40 to 35 to 28 to 18 over the last three years. (This year I'll be back to 35, good guess?)