Sara C NDE

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

It was my very first delivery at age 31 yrs. Pregnancy was uneventful because I had regular medical check up with my experienced obstetrician. Both my parents are doctors and therefore I was medically guided during the entire period of my pregnancy. I had false labor a week prior to my due date for a normal delivery/vaginal delivery. I was sent home and a week later the contractions were regular between 15 minutes apart. It was October 13th , 1973 at approximately 2 PM when I was brought to the delivery room. I was given enema and shaved by the attending nurse.   I had the contractions with intense pain and it escalated to almost 17 hours during the night. I could feel the baby wanting to come out but it couldn't.

Since my father was a doctor and I was already exhausted, he agreed to emergency cesarean section. The minute the doctor injected Demerol into my left veins, I blacked out entirely and no recollection of what had happened. At this moment, it was pitch black and I lost my sense of sight, hearing, speech and feelings. I had no idea how long it was until I saw a bright light. This light grew larger and larger into a tunnel . Inside this large tunnel, there were myriads of bright multicolored lights on its walls where I flew alongside the tunnel.  I also heard angelic songs which I never heard before.  I felt I was flying and I felt at peace with myself. I did not see any beings inside the tunnel at all but only myself.  I did not want to go back but then I remembered my baby I just delivered and with a deep breathe, I willed to return. As I was returning, I went downwards through a deep black well and I felt heaviness on my entire body and legs.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   No  It was an emergency cesarean delivery due to prolonged labor of 17 hours....

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  No     I can explain it in English as well as in Tagalog or Pilipino language.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    Towards the end of my journey in the tunnel of light when I thought about my baby and wanting to be back to see the baby and hug him or her.   I was fully aware that I was still conscious because I could still think.

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 just felt that it was real and my thoughts were so vivid during the NDE.   With my everyday consciousness and alertness, I did not exert too much effort as when I did during the NDE experience.  It was as if I collected all my strength (physical and mental) in order to return. As much as I did not really want to go back, the feeling of wanting to be alive is so strong during the NDE. Up until now, I can still recall that event after almost 38 years after my first delivery.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   During the NDE, all my senses (visual, auditory, emotions, feeling/touch,weight etc.) were so enhanced than my everyday experiences because I can still recount that NDE after  more than 3 decades without hesitation. With my day to day vision, I forget some but remember those that are vivid dreams and recollections or visions.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   Same as above....I could hear angelic songs, voices that I never heard before although I don't recognize those songs I heard. My thought was it came from angels because the music and the colors inside the tunnel blended together. I had no sense of smell during the NDE though.    I only felt so heavy when I wanted to return to where I came from . But during the NDE., I felt so light like a feather floating into space and time. I had no concept of time

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   No   I already explained the entire NDE experience. I could not see, hear nor feel anyone touching me while I was unconscious.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   During the NDE I had very very strong emotions of bliss, happiness, peace, contentment, joy and no guilt feelings when I was going through the tunnel of light but when I was returning back through the deep well, I felt anguish, pain, uncertainty, fear of not returning and extreme heaviness (I could not lift my arms or legs). It was heavy like lead.  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   Yes   Yes, it was vividly a tunnel, funnel shaped (small at the end and wide where I was floating along its side. I wanted to touch the tunnel but couldn't do so.   I know I was myself because I know I was the person floating inside the tunnel. All the time during the NDE I knew myself.

Did you see an unearthly light?   Yes   The tunnel was a blinding light like the sun but I did not see anyone in it except myself.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?   No

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)?   No  

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

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   No  

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

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning. I had no concept of time during the NDE.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   Uncertain
All I recalled was after going through the deep well, I opened my eyes and spoke in a slurred sentence. During the NDE, there seemed to be no physical boundary or limiting physical structure.

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   I came to a definite conscious decision to return.
When I decided in my mind to return, I exerted so much effort to do that, e.g. tried to take a deep breathe, wink my eyes, shake my arms, body and legs. I felt a very heavy weight apparently opposing this effort but I apparently succeeded because I became conscious the next day.

Did scenes from the future come to you?  No 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)?   Uncertain   During the NDE, I did not know that I could be dead nor there is a life beyond the grave at that time. After the NDE, that was when I determined that there is a life after death. I  am more accepting of death now more than ever.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   Uncertain   That thought did not come to my mind during the NDE but only after. I have read the bible in theory but after the NDE, I felt that God is indeed real although I did not meet Him during the NDE.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   Uncertain   I was not sure if I was one with the universe during the NDE.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   Uncertain   During the NDE,  it did not cross my mind but towards the end, going through the well in darkness

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   Uncertain   During the NDE,  it did not cross my mind but towards the end, going through the well in darkness

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   Uncertain   I did not know if I felt love during the NDE, it was more of happiness and peace. After the NDE though I became more compassionate and less  self centered. I became more generous, and more discerning of the feelings of others including my enemies.

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   No  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   No  

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience   All that had happened during the NDE are consistent with the beliefs that I had at the time of my experience.

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience?   I remember the experience as accurately as other life events that occurred around the time of the experience   The events that occurred prior to NDE were confirmed as true by my doctor and my father who were present during the NDE. I recounted my NDE to my relatives as accurately as the other events.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   As I said, I became progressively (slowly but surely) less self centered, more compassionate, more honest, more humble, less judgmental, more discerning, more intuitive and perceptive (if I think of a certain person, that person will appear before me, e.g. at work, at home etc.).  I am more cautious about life and less materialistic. I had become a more relaxed person...forgetting the past, living one day at a time and not worrying too much about tomorrow. I have become God loving and trusting more in Him. I  learnt to admire the simple things in life, e.g. flowers, animals, earth, environment etc.

My experience directly resulted in:   Large changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   Yes   My beliefs in God had become  strengthened. My values have  greatly changed. 

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?   Everything is significant.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   Uncertain  

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     Everything is significant.

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  I have always shared it with people I know and they  were all amazed. I do not know if they were influenced by my NDE in any way.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   Yes   Being an occupational therapist in the medical world, I have come across many patients who have recounted their NDEs

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was definitely real   During the NDE, all the events that occurred  were real to me ( as in dreams or day to day events).  The experience never left my mind because I can still recall the events, colors, songs, although not in great detail as it happened a few days or weeks after.  When I asked my parents now, they can only slightly recall what happened before the NDE but only myself can recall it vividly and no one else can. I can probably paint it now if I want to.   (I might).

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   The NDE is still the same as when it happened in October, 1974.  It is still the same NDE in 2012 because I can recall these events now and share these with you.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   I  feel that I have become a much better wife, mother and now grandmother to my 4 grandchildren, 2 children.  I also feel more loving, compassionate and understanding towards my other relatives and people I meet along the way whether at work, home, country or outside the country. I feel that all human beings are the same and equal.   I am less judgmental and more truthful to myself.

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   I feel I am a much better Christian. Walking the words of God than ever before because I am sure that there is a life after death

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   Uncertain   It never happened again but I don't mind it if happens again. I remember one astral projection experience I had when I was unmarried.  I actually saw my sleeping body on my bed in my room while I was floating  near the corner of the ceiling.  Then I came back to my body.   During this time, I lost all my senses. I thought I was just having  a nightmare. There was no tunnel of light during the astral projection experience that I once had.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?   I wished I could remember the songs that I heard during the NDE

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

Please offer any suggestions that you may have to improve this questionnaire.  Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience?  

What could a national organization with an interest in near death experience (NDE) do that would be of interest to you?        publish a book internationally that would be available to those who participated in this questionnaire. I did not want my name published though but somehow if you can post it via the internet, then I may be able to purchase it.

Please offer any suggestions that you may have to improve this questionnaire.  Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience?                    maybe, drawing or painting the NDE can be helpful to the participants. I like to draw and maybe I will do that now that I am retired.