Mary W NDE

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

I was to have an IVP to determine kidney function.  When the IV infusion of the medication began, I immediately became extremely nauseous, sweaty, and was experiencing terrific chest pain/pressure.  I told the nurse all of a sudden I was really getting very sick to my stomach and having difficulty breathing. She called for an MD who came to my side and asked if I was allergic to shellfish, etc.  I told him, no but my father and sister were.  He asked what I was feeling and I didn't have the breath to answer him any longer and the pressure on my chest was becoming more intense.  

I felt as if I was falling backwards then and all of a sudden found myself in a field with medium height grass and a small creek winding around separating the field from another field that was connected to a woods.  I found myself following a very tall man, I assume the being was male because of his height and body build.  We were moving towards the stream where there were three women with various colored blue veils kneeling down and who bowed their heads when we passed.  I wondered who they were, but was not afraid, just curious.  I thought of my grandmother but did not assume she was one of the women kneeling by the stream.    

Then without any sensation of walking etc. I found myself moving behind the tall being again towards a path through the woods. There were incredibly beautiful flowers, sort of in 3D but not really.  I cannot even begin to describe the colors, but they were absolutely gorgeous!  Communication was by thought, and non-verbal.  I was wondering what was going on when my entire life was presented to me, not as a slide show, but all at once such as on a big screen.  It's hard to describe this part because it was like my life was right in front of me all at once.  I got the feeling I hadn't utilized all the talents given me and that I needed to do much more with my abilities.  But also had the thought that I was still young and should utilize my talents.   

We came to the end of the woods and directly ahead there was a beautiful white light with golden rays and I had the impression there was a city or town encased in that light.  I was powerfully drawn to that light but stopped at the end of the path because I knew if I continued forward, I would not return to my life.  I explained that I had just had a baby and that my 19 month old son needed me.  I missed him incredibly much at that time and knew I had to be there for him.  I said I wanted to keep walking forward but I can't.  I have to go back to my son and my new baby.  The tall being turned towards me, I never saw any facial features or other identifying marks.  I felt I was being allowed to go back because it was for someone else other than myself.  I also had the distinct impression that I needed to utilize the talent given me and not to waste too much more time.  Up until then, I thought I was doing the best I could.   

Immediately after this I felt a lot of pain and soreness and heard several people calling my name.  I was surprised at how many people were in the room around me and had had burn marks on my chest from the defibrillator.  I wondered what had happened at that point but didn't want to say anything to anyone because I thought I would sound crazy.  I was at peace though and knew I would recover.   

I did go on to become a registered nurse.  I worked mostly ICU/Trauma for a many years, then became a Hospice Nurse.  I was injured on the job and can no longer do direct patient care, so I returned to school for my Masters in Nursing Education and now teach critical care and end of life care courses.  My end of life course is the most requested course and has the highest enrollment at our college.  It has been 6 years since I've been doing that.  I'm not afraid to die, just am concerned that I haven't done enough yet with my abilities.  There are so many people to help in so many ways.  I find myself in the most unusual circumstances at times that really help me to help others.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain      Providing an accurate description of things I saw and trying to describe others whom were not familiar to me yet I felt they knew who I was.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes            Anaphylactic reaction to medication during procedure for post-partum sepsis

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    After I lost consciousness and became aware of being in a green field.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    Normal consciousness and alertness

            After I lost consciousness and became aware of being in a green field.

Did your vision differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any aspect, such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?  Yes     Colors.  It is not possible to even begin to describe the colors, they were very intense, but so beautiful.  They looked like the usual colors but they weren't, they were just gorgeous.

Did your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?            No      

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Curiosity, wonder, regret, thankfulness, and pleasure.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          Uncertain      Initially I felt myself falling backwards into a downward enclosure or tunnel I guess would be the most accurate.

Did you see a light?           Yes     Brilliant white alone and then surrounded by golden rays

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes     I was following a very tall man who I assumed knew me.  I saw three women by the stream kneeling down who bowed their heads when we passed by.  One seemed to be smiling.  There was no communication with the women and I'm not sure who was communicating with me when I was given a choice to stay or go back.

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    Yes     This is difficult to put into words.  My life was presented to me all at once like it was on a screen or on a painting.  I think the only thing I became aware of that I wasn't aware of previously, was that I needed to do more with my life and utilize my talents.   

I've learned that death is nothing to fear.  I've learned that I need to do as much as possible for others at every opportunity.

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?            Yes     Field/meadow, stream of water, woods, incredible flowers, distant town or city that appeared elevated and encased in a white light with golden rays.

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? Yes     The end of the path in the woods.  If I stepped towards the city, I wouldn't be able to return.

Did you become aware of future events?       Yes
            This is a very interesting question because I have a very strong sense of future occurrences which happen and which are very accurate.  I don't say much in general about this because I don't know how it would be interpreted by most people.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     Uncertain      I was always a little predictive about things, but that ability became more enhanced after my experience.  I could predict events with absolute accuracy and still do.  I often have premonitions and thoughts about people or events that also occur with consistent accuracy.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Several years.  Mixed reactions.  One person has been influenced, not sure about others.  I've not told too many others about my experience because I was not sure of what it actually was until a year or so after it happened.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    No      

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    I had never experienced anything like that before and the life review was so accurate.  I saw things I had forgotten all about before then and have learned to be more tolerant and understanding as the result.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            The fact that I should utilize the gifts and talents given me to the best of my ability.  Love more, keener understanding of others and increased empathy for others.  Help others not to be afraid at all.  Fear is the worst a person can experience because there is nothing to fear at all.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real            Because when I think about the experience today I can still remember all the details as if it just happened.  Nothing about it has changed.  It's quite comforting to think about it especially when I'm troubled.  I know God is real and He wants me to help others with the gifts He's given me.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           No      

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Yes     A much more deeper faith and sense of God working in my life.

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

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        It's been years since this happened, but if my experience helps to dismiss some of the skepticism in the general population over near death experiences, that would be good.

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

Are there any other questions we could ask to help you communicate your experience?   This question below did not allow me to be accurate in my response.  I selected wonderful, but really feel as if it were more of a curious and wondering experience at the time.  Not fearful in any way, just extremely interesting and engaging.