David L's NDE

Experience description:   

      I am not sure what to make of the events. I had a colonoscopy on Wednesday.  Felt ok afterwards.  Friday, about 10:30 am I was at a professional meeting and told a longtime friend I did not feel well and had to go. I drove home and found myself sitting on the couch...not remembering how I got there. I did not think I had "passed out" or anything.  I called the doctor's office and told them what was going on.  The doctor said to get to his office NOW.  I managed to drive up there and proceeded to pass out in his waiting room. I woke up in the ICU at the hospital.  This was about noon on the 12th of September, 2001.  According to my wife, I was "in and out of it" all afternoon. 

The reason I am writing you is that at one point I had a lot of pain and remember the "room around me" was bright white. I knew I was in pain, but was trying very hard to recite the Lord's Prayer.  I distinctly remember being irritated because someone "did something" that interrupted my prayer.  I started the prayer again.  During this time I saw my recently deceased mother's face and I think she spoke to me.  I cannot remember for sure.

Only after I "woke up" did I find that my heart rate was down to around 20 and my wife (who was in the room when it happened) says I looked dead.  After thanking her for her candor (and mentally reminding myself to change my will...) I continued passing out.  We found out that I had lost approximately 2 pints of blood in about 29 hours (from the colonoscopy on Wed.).   I have not been more specific as to HOW I lost the blood, but I am sure you can tie it all together.

My experience is certainly not earth-shattering, but I was curious as to what the "norm" is for a NDE.  I was not scared...I was not even conscious.  I think I am trying to sort things out at this time.  This was my first experience passing out and being in ICU.  It is not anything I would care to repeat.

If you could shed some light on this experience, I would appreciate it.  One more thing...everyone in my family has died of heart attacks and strokes, including an uncle at about the age of 50.  This may be why I am trying to figure it out.  IF I HAD A NDE...I WOULD PROBABLY TAKE IT MORE SERIOUSLY.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience:  No

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes

      What was it about the experience that makes it hard to communicate?  Very emotional for me.

At the time of the experience, was there an associated life threatening event?  Yes

      Describe:  I was in the ICU at Roseville Hospital (see above)

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?  The wife says I was "out of it" and the heart monitor was going crazy.  The top two lines were going up and down,

crossing over each other...says the ICU nurses ran her out of there about that time.  The wife says my lips turned blue,

my face lost its color and I looked like her mom when she died a few weeks earlier (of cancer).

Was the experience dream like in any way?  Sort of...difficult to express.

Did you experience a separation of consciousness from your body?  Uncertain

Describe your appearance or form apart from your body:  I don't think so.  But I am not certain.  I just remember being in a "room".......a large room that was BRIGHT WHITE.  No other people were there with me.   Somewhere in this time frame I saw my mom's face...and I cannot remember if she spoke to me or not.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?  The nurse said I was asking for my wife.  I think the wife says I had tears running down my face when she came back

in.  But I don't remember any pain.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?  AN ABSENCE OF NOISE.  No noise.  Just me trying to say "Our Father, who art in heaven..."

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?  No

Did you see a light?  Yes

      Describe:  VERY BRIGHT WHITE ROOM

Did you meet or see any other beings?  Uncertain

      Describe:  I saw my mom.

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?  No

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?  No

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?  Uncertain

      Describe:  I have never been in a room that was this bright.  It was not white from a light...yet...it was like the walls themselves were....what is the word...the walls were very bright white.  And the brightness seemed to come from the walls themselves.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  No

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?  No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?  Uncertain

Did you become aware of future events?  No

Were you involved in or aware of a decision to return to the body?  Uncertain

      Describe:  I don't think so...but not sure.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?  No

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?  No

Has the experience affected your relationships?  Daily life?  Religious practices etc.?  Career choices?  No real changes.

Have you shared this experience with others?  Yes

      Describe:  My wife.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Very emotional.  I still am.  I hate emotions.  They are a pain in the rear.  My wife has a degree in Psychology...she may understand me better than I do.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?  I am alive is the best.  Not getting to talk to my mom.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?  I hope I have not wasted your time.  An expert might pull more out of me concerning this experience, but this is about it from my perspective.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?  No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?  No

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?  Yes

      Explain:  I certainly hope so.

Please offer any suggestions you have to improve the www.nderf.org questionnaire?  It feels like you are asking the same question...in different ways, to check our consistency?  Veracity?