Barbara W NDE

Integration experiences - submitted 7 months apart.

EXPERIENCE SUBMITTED November 2009

I was in the hospital at the time in intensive care.  I had a bleed from a cerebral aneurysm.  At some point I was traveling and following a very bright light.  This light was leading me and there was a presence that was communicating with me, telling me not to be afraid, that I no longer would have any worries or cares.  We were in a green field with beautiful flowers, a tree and a brook.  Then we were at a small white bridge that went over the brook and I was ready to cross it but the presence stopped me and said, "You can cross but you have three small children on this side."  I obviously chose not to cross it.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes     I knew it was very real but I thought at first others would think I was crazy, then after I read an excerpt from a book by E. Kubler Ross I thought if I told my doctors they would say there was a scientific reason.  I still think no one that hasn't had this experience would not believe it.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes     I had a cerebral aneurysm and was hospitalized.  I was not aware of much for quite a while but after I got home my family said the doctors said I had only a 10 per cent chance of living.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    At the end.

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

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:            At the end.

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     My field of vision went on and on and the brightness of the colors were intense.

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?     Yes

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Calmness yet I knew it was important

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          Uncertain     

Did you see a light?           Yes     The light was very bright but not blinding.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes     I didn't meet other humans just this presence that was with me.  I didn't know who the presence was.  The presence said, "Don't be afraid, you no longer will have any worries or cares."

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?            Yes     Not a distinctive location, just a beautiful field with colorful flowers, tree and brook and white bridge.

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

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Yes     I have no doubt about there being something else after death.  I also realized after that experience that I felt my loss of loved ones but knew they were in a much better place, so my grieving was very different

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes     I was at a white bridge that I would have crossed because I knew it would be beautiful on the other side.  The "presence" that was with me gave me that option but said I had three small children on this side.

Did you become aware of future events?       No           

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     Uncertain      I think I have a little bit of ESP

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     About ten years later my best friend lost her father and I told her.  At the time I didn't know if she believed me but years later she said she was in church and a gentleman shared a very similar experience and she called to tell me about it.  I think she was influenced.  I also have shared just a little of it with someone who lost a child.  I think it did bring them a little peace.  I'm very careful who I share it with because if they're grieving a loss of a loved one I don't want them to think they can take a shortcut be ending their own life.

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 knew it was real but I thought if I told anyone they would think I was crazy.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            The whole experience was very meaningful.  I had no fear of death afterwards.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real    No matter who tries to explain it away they will never make me believe it was other than definitely real.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Yes     I believe I'm more caring and sympathetic to others.

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

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

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Yes     I was able to describe it as best I could and the questions were relevant.    

 

EXPERIENCE SUBMITTED March 2009

I had surgery to relieve the pressure on my brain and was in intensive care.  I was in a coma. I didn't know until I got home that the doctors told my family I only had a 10% chance of living.  At one point I became aware of a light that was with me that I'll refer to as a presence.  The presence was communicating with me and assuring me I was safe and led me through a beautiful field with flowers and trees and a creek.  The presence was telling me I would no longer have any worries or troubles and was so calming.  We got to a white bridge and I was ready to go over when the presence said it was okay to go over but told me I had 3 small children on this side, so I remained on this side.  I didn't tell anyone about it for years because I knew they wouldn't understand and would think I was crazy.  When I was in a waiting room at my husband's doctor's office I picked up a magazine that had an article by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.  I read her descriptions of bedside experiences -They were  like "my experience" and was so relieved to find out that there were others that knew about this.  I know this experience changed my outlook on many things, especially regarding death.  When my grandmother that I was very close to, passed away I realized I felt sad because I'd miss her but happy to know where she would be.  Since then I've sat with an aunt, my mother, mother-in-law and father-in-law, my other grandmother while they passed away and was with my brother's family. As we were standing around his bed he was very peaceful and said, "Daddy" and "Don"

(another brother that had died previously).  My most recent loss was that of my son.  I miss him so very much but there is still a sort of calming feeling knowing he's okay where he is.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain      At the time I had never read or heard about near-death experiences so I thought people would think I was crazy or put their own interpretation on it.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes     Cerebral aneurysm that had burst

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    As to my actual physical being, I wasn't conscious or alert.

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

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:            As to my actual physical being, I wasn't conscious or alert.

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.)?  No      

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?     No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Peace.  Freedom.  Awe.

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

Did you see a light?           Yes     This is hard to describe.  It was bright but not blinding,

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes     A presence that communicated with me.  I didn't know the presence.  It just let me know I would no longer have to be afraid or worry.

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?            Uncertain      It was a beautiful field with flowers and trees and a creek and then a bridge.  Maybe not "distinctive" like a house.

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?     Yes     Not to fear death.  I've had illness since and sat with so many loved ones  as they died and it was because I knew they were going to be okay that I could sit with them.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes     There was a white bridge and I knew I could continue with no worries or cares and be at peace if I crossed it.

Did you become aware of future events?       No           

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     No      

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     It was many years later - maybe 6 or 7 years.  We were at a family camp and one of my children asked if I believed in heaven.  I said I didn't know if it was heaven for sure but I knew there was something after a person dies.  I didn't go into detail because of their age.  Also when a close friend lost her father 8-10 years later, I told her about my experience and I didn't know what she thought but just last year she called to tell me about a man in her church who told the congregation about his NDE and she had remembered what I said and