Sue M NDE

Edited for clarity by Judy Shea 11/1/12 

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

We were on a family outing at a lake. My mother and father were with my younger sisters on a blanket at a slight distance from the beach area. I wanted to go swimming, so my grandmother volunteered. We went into the part of the lake where the water went deeper. My grandmother was standing in the water talking to another lady and not paying much attention to me. I wanted her attention, so I kept interrupting her by telling her I was going to pretend to drown and she had to pull me up. We continued this a few times and then I looked up at her and told her not to pull me up this time because I wanted to see how long I could hold my breath. I guess she listened. I swam under the water again, but this time it felt like my foot got caught on something and I could not get back to the surface. I remember panicking intensely, needing to take a breath. After struggling for a bit, I began to feel warm and very pleasantly calm. I felt as if I had given in and was not afraid anymore.  I saw a really fast flashback of things that had happened in my life and then there was an intensely bright flashing white light. I did not feel like I was in a "tunnel," but more that I was surrounded by the light and was moving forward within it.  And although I felt the presence of someone, I do not remember hearing or seeing anything.

Suddenly I was back on the beach with the lady looking over me and people surrounding me, all looking down at me. I heard my mom's voice in the background. Everything that happened after that is vague. I felt my mom's intense anger towards my grandmother when she picked me up. She carried me to our blanket and then I think we left the beach. I never went back to that lake again. And this incident was something that was not discussed in our home, ever. I was young, so my imagination took over and I told people that there had been an alien spaceship under the water and that the aliens had grabbed my foot and tried to take me with them. I never realized that other people had had similar experiences until I was a teenager and I went to a movie about a near death experience.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   Yes.  While I was in the lake swimming under the water, my foot got caught on something. It caused me to drown.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  No    

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    When I was trying to get to the surface and when I was surrounded by the light.

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

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I not only saw the light but I felt the warmth of it. Also, even though the past events went by really fast, I could recognize each one. 

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I did not hear anything expect for a loud humming.

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  

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   I panicked and was very scared before I lost consciousness. Then I was very calm and definitely not afraid. To this day I don't think of dying as scary at all.  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   Uncertain.   Not a tunnel, but I was surrounded by light.

Did you see an unearthly light?   Yes.   It was a bright white light but it did not hurt my eyes to look into it. The light looked like it was bursting forth from something.

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.)?   Uncertain.   I felt that someone was there but was not fearful at all.

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?   Yes.   But I can't give details now. It's been too long. I just remember it was stuff that had happened with my sisters or relatives, and school events.

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


Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Time lost all meaning.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   No

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   No

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.   When I regained consciousness, I just remember that I believed there was a God and a heaven.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   No.   Only after the experience.

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?   No  

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?   Uncertain.   I just remembering feeling at peace.

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 both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs I had at the time of my experience.   I was very young. I went to church every week and knew about heaven and God

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience?   I do not know how my remembrance of the experience compares to my remembrance of other life events at time.  

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   I became extremely empathetic and sympathetic towards people, even at my young age. I felt guilty enjoying certain things like, for example, Christmas presents when I knew there were children out there that did not receive any. I sensed others' sadness or troubles.

My experience directly resulted in:   Unknown

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   Yes.   I think that I am good because I know there is a God and one must be good in order to go to Heaven.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?   I don't fear dying. I just would not want it to be painful.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   Uncertain.   I have a strong, somewhat unusual, sense of empathy towards people. They do not have to be friends or relatives for me to feel their sadness or despair.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     I don't fear dying. I just would not want it to be painful.

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes.  They thought I was nuts and said it could all be explained by scientific facts.

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 happened, I definitely know I drowned.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real.  

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

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

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    

What could a national organization with an interest in near death experience (NDE) do that would be of interest to you?        Nothing. It happened so long ago that it is just part of my past and I don't really dwell on it.