Dave N Experience

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

The following event is disclosed after consultation with professionals in the study of Near Death Experiences “NDE”.  Their dedication and professionalism is extremely beneficial to those that seek the truth and understanding needed by individuals whom have been blessed with life after an experience with near or clinical death.  I toiled for a long period trying to talk to people of my experience only with disbelief and skepticism.  I encourage all, if they know of anyone that experienced such an event, to mention that support and study groups exist for survivors.  

On Friday, March 17th, 2006, I underwent a cardiac catheterization to determine an irregular stress test.  I also was diagnosed with arterial fibration, but results from the test were needed first to determine treatment. 

Unfortunately, the cardiac catherization reveal a blockage on the left side of the heart and that open heart surgery was the only choice.  There were two arteries that could be swapped for the two blockages.  While my wife was scared, the doctors felt this was a routine operation; however, the blockage was so bad (widows heart), we were informed that I would be required to stay in the hospital and that the operation would be scheduled for Monday morning, March, 20, 2006. 

The night before the operation we were greeted with friends and colleagues from work.  Everyone was reassuring all would be well and that this was a routine operation.  We were even in a specialty hospital, Kansas Heart Hospital, Wichita, Kansas.  I had a care free attitude towards the operation at first.  That was until, that evening, Sunday, March 19, 2006.  Everyone had left the night and my family had planned to be back in the morning.  The hospital staff did there routine duties and placed an IV in preparation for the operation along the testing and needed preparations.   

I did not sleep well, so I roamed the hospital with my IV tree.  I happened to be in a small hallway with an exit door and didn’t realize what was about to happen.  The big two exit doors opened, outside was an ambulance service vehicle and driver walking in.  This hospital didn’t have emergency services; I turned around standing in place and was shocked to see a rolling hospital bed being rolled down the hallway towards the exit with a body bag, with a deceased patient.  Reality sunk in, I had no one to talk to, and then turned my care free attitude turned into fear.  Needless to say, the hospital staff gave me a sedative to sleep. 

The morning came around; it was Monday, March 20, 2006, 7:00 am, time for surgery. 

The staff had me ready to go and I recall being wheeled away with my wife by my side.  I was wheeled into the operating room and “lights out”. 

I was told the operation that the operation went well after I came to my senses in the afternoon.  The doctors bypassed two arteries on the left side and performed a maze procedure for the arterial fibration condition since it was an open heart procedure.   

After the operation during the day of March 20, 2006, my clinical data indicated my body vitals were normal and that arterial fibration was still present by the erratic heartbeats.  The plan was to recovery from surgery and to evaluate future treatment at a later date.

I’ll mention this now; let there be no doubt, what I’m about to explain occurred March 22, 2006, was a NDE and can be clearly differentiated from a normal (hallucination(s)) occurrence(s) due to medication from such critical illness and treatment.  I know the difference and feeling from my experiences.  I have many hospital stories of how I was treated, attended too (or not), medicated, even while in a coma.  I did lose sense of time after I was in a coma. 

The first day of my operation had come to an end and visitors were leaving for the day.  Being in ICU, the hospital time limited visitor visits, pending the patient’s condition.  It was during the first evening after the operation that I encountered difficulties.  During the night, I suffered respiratory failure.  The next day I recovered and was taken off the machine early.   

For the next two days it was hit and miss with my progress, things weren’t going so well.  There was question to my whether I was suffering from internal bleeding or if I had a disease which was causing my breathing problems.  The doctors we puzzled and concerned.  Needless to say, the doctors continued treatments and testing to try and determine what was going wrong. 

It was now Wednesday, March 22, 2006, the day continued with diminished vitals.  I suffered from respiratory failure again, I recall the event like I was drowning, heavy in the chest, shallow breathes, my lungs felt flat, I was gasping for air, becoming lifeless.  I was calling for help (within my mind) (I wanted the magic sound of the ventilator).  The ventilator provides differing tunes while in operation.  I remember the staff storming in and scrambling all around, it was dark, the room lights went on bright, the room was cold and the room curtains were pulled around the bed, four IV poles where on my bed with bags, many doctors and nurses watching over me.  Ah, the sound of the tones of the machine running, I’m breathing again!  The doctors and staff got me settled and conformable with extra blankets.  The two nurses watched from the observation window endlessly, not turning away for hours.   

I continued on the ventilator and my vitals and conditions worsened, something was wrong, the doctors were puzzled, they were arguing amongst themselves, my wife was in a tizzy, praying her heart out.  I encountered renal failure, my body was shutting down.  It was a struggle for my family to see me failing.  My chances of survival were getting less and less.  The doctors were struggling, not knowing what was wrong.  Late day, they told my wife to call in immediate family as I may not make the night.  

During this period of despair is when I encountered the strangest event I can ever recall.  It was to be the darkest hours of my life.  It was far from anything that I experienced during any other hospital event, stay, dream, and hallucination.  I’m not sure how this came about, but I knew I was in trouble.   

I was in spirit outside of my body.  I was outside of the hospital immediate care room hallway.  A colleague of mine was headed down to see me.  He stopped just outside of the immediate care doors to speak with someone.  I was looking at him from above.  I glance around and saw the pictures on the wall; the one of the farm house setting is one that I had noted on my previous walk through the halls of the hospital when I was healthy.  The look on his face was one of a grim reminder, he was shaking his head in a “no” motion.  I knew I would not make it.  I then was in a dark meeting room with doctors sitting around with one standing facilitating over the others with charts and information on my case.  I tried to cry out “poison”, but to no avail.  I was scared and I felt death.  My brief encountered continued on, I felt that I was subterranean, my for some reason I noted seeing a statue of “The Thinker”, and then it was dark, hot, extremely hot, the surroundings were rocky, dusty, like a canyon underground and I was being led downward with the heat intensifying.  I blacked out form there I awakened into a blinding light, the light of the sun, like I said, it was so bright it was blinding, I turned and looked down to see mountains, filled with trees, a valley with a beautiful river flowing, as I turned, I saw the river flow into the ocean, untouched by humans.  No bridges, people, utilities, just raw beauty.  I felt alive. 

My night ended in the hospital, I survived the darkest hours.  In my mind, I had my walk with God.  My wife’s prayers were answered and I was given life again.  Needless to say, medical tests went on, medications changed and a procedure to ensure no internal bleeding was taking place.  The doctors were still puzzled and perplexed, but were pleased to see that I came around.   

The doctors had placed me in a coma and I was on the ventilator about 20 days and in the hospital 30 days or so (24 in ICU).   

I know what it is like to breathe again, there is nothing like the first breath of life again, even though in a hospital, the air smelt so good, delicious, cold, refreshing, so vibrant, I’m alive. 

I recall my awakening after getting off the machine and I asked my wife, well how did it go, referring to the operation?  She looked at me with pause and stated, honey, you’ve been here 20 days.  I looked at her, my mind raced with what I experienced, plus all the days that blended in during that time,  I spoke to her, you know, this had to be from above.  She said she had been praying every day for this miracle.   

From that day forward, I have dedicated my life to Christ.  My life has changed as I.  I find my life giving, caring, and extreme compassion.  I feel that I have been touched by Him and been literally blessed with life.  I’ve been given a gift, one that only those who have been touched in away would know what I’m talking about.  His spirit is so alive in me, I feel Him.  I sense and can look at someone and see the despair, happiness, and can see if they sorrow.  While this is great gift, it is a price I have paid for my past.  I’m here to proclaim His grace for all mankind.  The irony of it all, He is there all the time, just waiting for you to accept Him.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain      There were so many little things - I just highlighted the major event

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes     My body was failing for an unlnown reason - surgery related?

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    I'm not sure what you are asking

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

            I'm not sure what you are asking

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.)?            Yes     more silence

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

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

Did you see a light?           Yes     see text

saw such a bright light, then coming too with peace with the sun and the landscape

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes    

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    Yes    

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          Uncertain     

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?            Yes    see text

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Uncertain      no sure what this is about

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Yes     this needs more than just a few words, see my test in the closing part, I have been blessed with a sixth sense

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No      

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?     Yes     See text - closing paragraph

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Tried, but no one beleives me so I turned to your group

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 beleived it from the day I awoke to this day and always will.  I was saved by God.  No doubt whatsoever.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?    I know I walked with God.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real   

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Yes     Stronger - better person, a changed man for sin as I sin no more, although we all fall down and short.

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Yes     Absolutley

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

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        not sure at this time

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Yes     I tried to keep it brief but detailed the main points

Are there any other questions we could ask to help you communicate your experience?   People need to get themessage out.  I held my too long due to people saying I was crazy.