Diane N's NDE

I was being worked up for symptoms of light headedness.  This test had you strapped to a "stretcher".  The first part was lying flat with electrodes monitoring the heart.  Blood pressures were taken a minute apart for 3 minutes.  Then the stretcher was raised vertically and pressures were monitored every 5 minutes.  At the seven minute mark, I started feeling very strange and said I was going to pass out.  As blackness engulfed me, I heard the staff say "she's going out".  The next thing I remember is that I was in this wonderful meadow with brilliant light, warmth and such beautiful flowers.  I had such a sense of happiness and love.  I saw forms but not faces.  The next thing I remember was waking up and having a hard time breathing and feeling sick to my stomach.  I later found out that between the time it took for them to lower the stretcher flat, my heart has stopped twice.  Ever since then, I haven't been afraid of death.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No      

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes     I passed out and my heart stopped twice during a test.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    I would have to say when my heart stopped.

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

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:            I would have to say when my heart stopped.

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     Colors seemed more colorful and everything seemed brighter.

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.)?
            Uncertain      I don't recall hearing anything.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Loved, warm, safe, very peaceful.

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

Did you see a light?           Yes     It was more of light all around.

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?   No      

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     No      

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?     No      

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     I shared this with my Sunday School class about 10 years after the experience.  There really wasn't much comment as I recall.

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    At first I thought it was a dream.  When I found out that my heart had stopped twice, then I knew that it wasn't just a dream.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?    I just remember such an overpowering sense of peace and that death isn't the end, it is just the beginning.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real    I still feel the same as above.

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

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Yes            I have gotten more involved with my church and celebrate peoples death more for being with Jesus and God than feeling sad.

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 found it very moving and wonderful and joyful.

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