Experience Description:

I was playing with my son and sat on a wasp. I started to have an instant reaction and did not know at the time that I had an allergy. My son pointed out the hives immediately appearing on my legs. I knew I needed help and immediately phoned my neighbor. Fortunately, she was home. We lived in the country, so rushed to the nearest doctor.

On the way I was starting to lose consciousness. I knew I was in the car, but I had no sense of time or reality. I had peripheral vision and could see the trees and sky on the sides of the road speeding by. In front of me was a long tunnel of bright, yet soft, very white light. Apparently I was talking, but I don't remember. I was saying that I didn't want to go to the party.

By the time we got to the doctor I had regained a more conscious awareness. The doctor shot me full of adrenalin and told me my blood pressure had been 'down in your boots.' I was very lucky to be alive.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: Summer 1988

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 Anaphylactic shock.

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? More consciousness and alertness than normal I was not conscious of most of what was occurring around me, but I felt a great clarity of vision. Visually things seemed bright and clear, although I couldn't see anything directly in front of me except a tunnel of light. It was a consciousness on a completely different plane, suspended from the immediate reality of the every day world.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I think it was in the middle of the experience that I remember vividly the peripheral vision and the tunnel. My thoughts seemed clear, but I don't really know what I was thinking.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Neither

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening all at once Time seem suspended, although I was aware of being in a moving vehicle. The outside world was moving at regular speed, while there was no sense of time during the experience.

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. Peripheral vision only, tunnel of light in center vision. Bright light, intense but not glaring or blinding. Colors were sharp, true, and somewhat bright. No depth perception. Peripheral vision only, tunnel of light in centre vision Bright light, intense but not glaring or blinding. Colours were sharp, true, and somewhat bright. No depth perception.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Lost all sense of hearing. It was very quiet and serene.

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

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No I saw it and was on the verge of entering the tunnel, but I did not pass into it.

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

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Neither

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Curiosity, some uncertainty, unalarmed. I felt quiet.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness

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? Liberal None

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Uncertain My religious beliefs have not changed. I have a greater sense of spirituality though.

What is your religion now? Liberal None

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Uncertain My religious beliefs have not changed. I have a greater sense of spirituality though.

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? Yes I felt a sense of calmness. After the experience, I thoroughly believe in the white light and have no fear of death. Thinking of the tunnel and the light is peaceful.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

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? Yes I have no idea if this is related, but I did experience another dimension, which was also brought about by a physical response to illness. It involved an altered sense of reality, visual manifestations, a pathway, a tunnel, conscious decisions, and profoundly affected my life.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? The whole calmness of it all. I was more curious than afraid. I felt I understood something a little better, but I did not know what. I am not afraid of death now.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I don't remember when I shared it and people mostly say "oh yeah? That's cool", type of response.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes I had heard about it, seen some things on TV shows etc. This did not affect my experience.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real I was very confident in my memory of the experience. It is still very clear to me. I can remember the sensations easily.

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? Uncertain I did have another experience that involved a pathway and a tunnel, however it was a different kind of tunnel than the first.