EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:
I
was floating above the operating table, watching/listening to the staff, 2
physicians were arguing about how to extract the baby who had become stuck in
the birth canal. I felt calm and rested and removed from panic below. I
watched them rush the baby (Apgar = 0) out of the operating room and I followed
above the baby the short way to special care nursery where she started to cry. I
knew she would live and floated a bit before I felt drawn backwards and down to
my body again.
Then followed a difficult time - I tried to breathe and my body did not respond,
I tried to call for help but could make no sound. Later it was explained to me
that the paralytic component of the general anesthetic was still in effect (I
was intubated) but I had regained consciousness and could hear those around me.
At
the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?
Yes
emergency caesarian child birth for undiagnosed breech after 18 hours of labor -
The doctor severed major vein - I almost bled to death
Was
the experience difficult to express in words?
Yes my vision seemed to be 360 degrees (not front, back or side but all) -
and I went thru the wall (not out the door) with no feeling of passage or
movement
At
what time during the experience were you at your highest level of
consciousness and alertness?
in my floating travel out the operating room and down the hallway - all was
sharp and clear
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 completely present - no past, no
future.
Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that
you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.
vision and hearing acute and focused but no sense of smell
Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that
you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.
hearing was acute, felt like I could hear what each person was saying even tho
they were speaking at the time same and 2 were shouting
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?
Yes The experience un-nerved me - more so since my own physician told me that
it could not have happened and my brain was playing tricks on me. A few days
later a resident sat with me and listened. He had been in the operating room
and said that the events I described were accurate - he said he could not
explain how I 'witnessed' events. Apparently the doctors did argue about how to
free the baby from the birth canal and were angry that there was no blood for
transfusion because a blood match had not been done. He was very kind. When I
returned home the later events (not being able to breathe/talk) preyed on my
mind. My Dr sent me to a psychiatrist for postpartum depression. The
psychiatrist got my medical records and told me that there had been problems
with the anesthetic and the later, distressing return to my body was real.
What emotions did you feel during the experience?
during the out of body part I was calm, detached, compassionate, puzzled and
felt very loved
Did
you pass into or through a tunnel?
No
Did
you see an unearthly light?
No
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?
No
Did
you suddenly seem to understand everything?
Everything about myself or others
not understand in terms of having reasons for everything - but understand in
terms of experiencing everything as part of a whole
Did
you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?
No
Did
you come to a border or point of no return?
I
came to a definite conscious decision to "return" to life
I was pulled back, I don't think it was my conscious decision
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”)?
No
During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness
that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?
No
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 sense of integration, of a 'whole', saw the parts assembled into one
During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness
regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?
No
During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness
regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?
No
During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness
regarding love?
Yes felt loved and an essential part of the whole
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 not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of
your experience I did graduate degree in biology before social work and am a
practical, pragmatic person. I did have problems later believing my own
experience had been real. Thank goodness for that kindly resident.
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 more accurately than other life events that occurred
around the time of the experience I can still summon up the lightness, the
floating sensation, being able to will motion without moving a muscle and the
feeling of watching myself while outside myself
Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your
experience:
having an experience that, at the time, I thought was impossible opened my mind
and heart to many things
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?
Uncertain my certainty about believing only things backed up by hard
scientific facts was eroded
Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful
or significant to you?
Having that one person in the hospital who accepted the possibility that my
experience was real .... was very important to me. Since then I have
consciously listened carefully to others who share experiences that are out of
the ordinary.
Do
you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience
that you did not have before the experience?
No
Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful
or significant to you?
Having that one person in the hospital who accepted the possibility that my
experience was real .... was very important to me. Since then I have
consciously listened carefully to others who share experiences that are out of
the ordinary.
Have you ever shared this experience with others?
Yes
As I related above, all hospital staff (and my husband) did their best to
convince me I had been hallucinating ... except that one resident and later the
psychiatrist. Since I left that hospital, I have only shared this experience 5
or 6 times over the years, with close friends.
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 knew it was real even as I knew it was
impossible. It was so clear, focused and vibrant.
What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:
Experience was definitely real I feel fortunate to have seen a little bit of a
greater reality outside myself
Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?
Uncertain
I
think that experience provided a base for my later development of meditation,
chanting and spiritual practices.
Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result
of your experience?
Uncertain
yes,
I think that helped me loosen my tight hold on pure reason and take a broader
view of life
At
any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the
experience?
No
Did
the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and
comprehensively describe your experience?
Yes as well as I can put those feelings into words
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?
Today, at a meditation workshop, a young woman tentatively mentioned her recent
NDE and I went to talk to her at the break. I was pleased to hear that hospital
staff had treated her respectfully - and pointed her to lots of printed resource
material. She told me about this website. Thank you for raising awareness - so
much has changed in the past 30+ years.
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?
no - but I do appreciate the opportunity to talk about it to those with open
minds.
