Dennis G's NDE

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

            I was driving out west with my destination being Hollywood, California. My place of departure was Baltimore MD.  I met a guy going west in Kentucky. After seeing his license and determining his ability to drive safely we relieved each other on the trip out there. Somewhere in Arizona I became too tired to drive. The other driver had slept several hours and stated he could drive safely. I got in the passenger seat and put the seat back to relax and reminded him the need for safety that late at night. I took off my seat belt to stretch out ( a bad idea ).

After I had slept for some time I heard a loud voice cry out "Oh my GOD'. I felt a floating sensation then a terrible impact. I felt my body being tossed around violently. (My background in landing on the ground during my skydiving days trained me to totally relax in order to minimize body damage ).Then a strange thing happened. Time seemed to stand still and I saw a black hole with a bright light at the end of it. AS I passed through the black hole the noise was deafening and made a whooshing sound as I exited it. I found "myself" above my body with my friend trying to bring me back to life using any means possible. As I was "floating" above my body there was a feeling of serenity like I've never experienced before.

Evidently he was successful in getting me back because I felt like I was falling into a black hole. I looked up into his eye's with him saying "My God" I got you back"! At this time whatever injuries I suffered during the crash was evident by the pain I felt. I had a concussion and a badly sprained shoulder. My head was also cut after going through the windshield. The funny thing was before going back to the body there was no feeling of pain whatsoever. A State police car pulled up and I got up and walked to the patrol car with much difficulty. After going to a hospital in Needles, California it was established the cause of the accident was a car crossing the median strip and on a possible head on collision with us. To be honest with you (up to that time)  I really was uncertain of any life after death or anything pertaining to it.  My car had come off a large hill at approximately 80 miles an hour, rolled over several times and partially tore the engine out of the car. I walked away from it with minimal injuries. My sister picked me up at the hospital driving from Venice, California. WE drove to a location where my car was towed to pick up my valuables. The tow truck driver couldn't believe someone could have lived in that car. It seems it just wasn't my time.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes     at the time it wasn't as recognized as it is now.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes     Serious car accident

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    strangely, my clearest recollection of the accident was above the body because I could see quite a distance from my "vantage point ".

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:            strangely, my clearest recollection of the accident was above the body because I could see quite a distance from my "vantage point ".

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     The only thing I noticed is that I really didn't feel like I was in a body but seemed to be part of the wind. It's really hard to describe.

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?            It's like an obligation that was held over your head and was suddenly paid. An uncanny feeling of serenity.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          Yes     A very dark hole

Did you see a light?           Yes     The light was at the end of the "tunnel".

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Uncertain      Everything seemed to happen so fast that the sequence of events was very hard to ascertain

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     I seemed to be acutely aware of the presence of a deceased person in a funeral parlor. I seem to feel that the person lying in the coffin is nearby but in another state. I don't feel death but the existence of a soul.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Quite some time after the "event". At that time it wasn't discussed on television as it is now.  After seeing several discussions relating to paranormal events it was much easier to relate what happened to me. I didn't want to be labeled a nut.

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    There was no way I could have seen the damage of the car from a low vantage point. The damage was too extensive and widespread. I was able to see my friend try to "bring me back" like I was at a vantage point approximately 30 feet in the air.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            The feeling that death is only a part of life with death being just another journey into the unknown.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real    It has changed my viewpoint on death and ( when at a funeral parlor visiting a relative) wanting to talk to the deceased because I feel the presence of the person.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Uncertain     

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

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?        I have read many articles about life changing experiences and was also interested in a problem I experienced earlier in life. As a boy, I encountered a "gift" that came about without any warning. At the age of 14 I was talking to a friends Grandmother on a porch one afternoon. It was just a casual conversation while I waited for my friend to finish dinner. As we were talking her face seemed to light up even though it was broad daylight. To be honest with you it startled me. I looked around to see the source of the light but there was none. She passed away the next day. Several years later I was talking to my Uncle in his garden. His face seemed to light up and it sent a chill down my back. He died the next day. The next summer I was attending a Catechism class and my pastor up front of the classroom  was asking questions. The same chills swept up my spine. I thought it really wasn't possible because he was only 31 and the picture of health. Two days later he dropped dead on the church steps. I was dating a girl but never met her father. During the time of our dating she showed me a picture of her father. The same chill swept down my spine and about a month later he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  He died shortly after that.  After that I was in my bed and actually spoke out that I didn't want the responsibility of knowing the imminent death of a person. How do you look a person in the face and tell them your feeling is they are close to death ? After talking at loud, in my bedroom, about not wanting the responsibility anymore the feelings subsided. I was alone in my bedroom and there was no one around to hear me but somehow it never happened again. Who was listening to my plea ? Why did it stop and could it come back or something else if I requested it ?

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Yes