Experience description: 

It's not clear that I had an out of body experience.  I just have this feeling that I saw myself being wheeled down the hospital corridor.  When I came to I felt that I had been some place that was comforting and safe.

I had been comatose for 2 days.  Just trying to figure out where I was and what happened.  Unable to talk due to tubes down my throat from a collapsed lung, I was only able to communicate thru writing.  I remember having an incredible craving for a Butterfinger candy bar which was the first thing I ate when they removed the tubes.  I was in intensive care for 11 days.  From what the nurses told me, they had to strap my arms down so I couldn't attack the technicians who were working with me.  The pain was unbearable.  Morphine didn't help much with the pain from the crushed ribs. 

It wasn't until I was transferred to my own hospital room that I became more aware of what had happened.  Apparently, I was brought in DOA to the emergency room the day of the accident.  The emergency room team at the hospital couldn't get a pulse on me.  I believe that if it hadn't been for the head surgeon who was on staff when I arrived via the paramedics, that I would not be here today.  He was truly my angel. They had worked on me for quite a while trying to get a pulse with no success and were ready to quit.  The head surgeon insisted they keep working.  He wasn't ready to give up being as I was only 28 years old at the time.

I was hospitalized about 2 months.  From 7/20/79 to 9/17/79.  My injuries were quite extensive.  I had a collapsed lung, crushed ribs, crushed pelvis, crushed spleen which resulted in a splenectomy, contused liver, compound fracture of the left tibia and fibula. Broken nose, and some facial scarring.  The doctors thought I would have brain damage due to the swelling and concussion.  They gave me a 10% chance of survival.  I was in traction the whole hospital stay. I can't count the number of surgeries I had during my hospital stay.  Let alone the surgeries after I came home.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?           I was totally unconscious.  Don't remember a thing.  Never knew what happened until I was shown pictures of my car. I couldn't believe all that happened and I wasn't even there.  I am grateful I don't remember.  I was a bit apprehensive when I was finally able to drive again and drove past the place where I had the accident.  I was frightened that being there would trigger the event, but thankfully, that didn't happen and I drove that route every day again when I returned to work.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   The only thing that was dream like was the feeling of seeing myself on the gurney being wheeled down the hospital corridor.  And, of course, when I came to the feelings I had that I had been somewhere that gave me a comforting feeling.

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

I was up above my body watching it being wheeled down the hospital corridor.  I was looking down at the back of my head.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           No

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

Did you see a light?           No

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No

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?           No

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Uncertain

Not until I became semi-conscious & felt I had been somewhere.  I guess I could call it a zone which felt safe, comforting, secure.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Uncertain, All I know is I became unafraid of death.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No

Did you become aware of future events?       No

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?       No

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         Yes, I believe I am much more psychic now.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes

I am not afraid of death.  I only fear any suffering prior to.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       I value myself more.  I was in a destructive & abusive relationship at the time of my accident.  I have moved on from there and will not tolerate any abuse.  I am also much more compassionate & empathetic with people.  I became a masseuse and healer.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes

I got out of my abusive marriage.  I became more empathetic and compassionate for other people.  I have developed healing abilities.  I found a loving, sensitive, caring husband.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  I had various emotions.  From trying to heal, learning how to walk again.  I remember the maids in the hospital coming up to my room and making the sign of the cross.  They said I was a miracle. I also remember one of the hospital staff telling me that I was in such critical condition, that I should feel lucky to be here as they were going to put a tag on my toe.  I guess that was a definite reality check.  My stomach sunk when he told me that.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best part of my experience was understanding death on a different level. And regaining the ability to walk again. And feeling just an overall inner strength that I did not have before.

The worst part was the pain and suffering my body went through.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        I have a lot more respect for the medical profession.  I am also aware of what it's like to be in a completely vulnerable and dependent state of being.  I must say I kept asking myself why I survived.  I do believe that it was just not my time to go yet!  I still had things to do here on the physical plane.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         Uncertain

I had a hysterectomy in 1996 which caused me to hemorrhage keeping me hospitalized much longer than anticipated.  I suffered quite a bit with that experience.

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Uncertain, I believe so, but I am sure there were some things I left out as it happened so long ago.

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    I just can't think of any at the moment.