Experience description:
12/27/04, approx.
12:15 AM, was brought to hospital by ambulance having severe chest pain,
vomiting, numbness of right arm, etc. Wheeled into emergency room and Dr. knew
right away what was going on, hooked up to all the monitors and Dr. was speaking
to Wife in hallway when, from my point of view, room began to spin and collapse
into funnel shape. I mentioned this to Dr. and wife and then the lights went out
in my head that is. From here this is my Missus account as to what went on as I
was gone. I began to fall off gurney as I was sitting up at the time. Dr. ran in
and caught me before hitting the ground, threw me back on bed, laying me flat
and began CPR, all the while yelling "Code Red". My Wife was looking at the
monitors and she tells me everything was flat line for quite some time as it
took a bit for the hospital staff to even respond to the Code as we were in a
room kind of out of the way and around a few corners so the Dr. voice didn't
carry out to the nurse station very well. I'll also say we were in the middle of
a good sized snowstorm at the time so wind noise was a factor as well.
Once
emergency room staff got into the room, they zapped me a couple times before I
came back and got things going as they should.
From my
point of view, once the room started to spin, it was collapsing in a funnel
shape and spinning faster and faster as it collasped, kind of like sucking
everything into itself. Then I was in a field of dandelions in full bloom with
the Grand Tetons in the background. I remember walking through the field looking
up at the Teton range thinking to myself, "What a strange view this is" as I've
been to the Tetons a number of times and there isn't any field that even looks
close to that for many a mile...I had also noticed all the pain in my body had
gone and my vision and become very sharp and clear, but also I couldn't see much
out of the sides of my eyes, some type of tunnel vision going on....
Then I
guess they were zapping me and I remember my wonderful vision in front of me
being destroyed and the vision was being stretched out of shape and focus, like
stretching a rubber band around your finger to shoot. that kept getting more out
of focus and then I remember opening my eyes with a whole crew of people
hovering over me and a nurse calling my name. I went to try and sit up but they
all pushed me back down and told me to be cool, lay still.
I then saw
my Wife and asked what had happened, they let her come over and she told me and
I said no way, to which she had the Dr. come over and he told me the exact same,
to which a few of the nurses said the same. At that point, I had to believe them
and one thing I'll remember forever is the Dr. asking me if I saw the white
light, to which I said no but conveyed to him this story and he tells my wife
and I that I was there, meaning the other side.
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 heart attack, dead for a few minutes while hospital staff responded.
At what
time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and
alertness?
While I was looking at the Tetons, everything was extremely sharp and colors
were very vivid..
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 mentioned above although one part that was weird was somewhat of a tunnel
vision thing as couldn't see much off to the sides.
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 See above
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?
Uncertain
What
emotions did you feel during the experience?
Complete harmony with everything, not a care in the world and all the
pain from the heart attack was gone
Did you
pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?
Uncertain
Did you
see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or
dimensions?
Yes See above
Have
you shared this experience with others?
Yes I shared all this with the attending Dr., my wife and a few nurses
minutes after coming back as we waited for transport to differ hospital. Dr. and
nurses all said the same, lucky to have been there when this happened and also
said they knew I had been to the other side and quizzed me about how it was for
me.
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 look at what happened, know that I was dead
for a few minutes and remember what I saw at the time, felt what I did at the
time and know it was real.....
Were
there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or
significant to you?
Not really any
one part, just realize how fragile life really is, or I should say, it
re-confirmed this to me as I learned that along time ago in a little place
called Viet Nam.
How do
you currently view the reality of your experience:
Experience was definitely real same answer as above...
Have your
relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?
Yes
Appreciate life
more, know how quickly it can end, appreciate my Wife and family more, and of
course, the simple pleasures in life..
Have
your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your
experience?
Yes
I'll say that I
was raised in a fairly religious family, myself-alter boy, choir boy, church
every Sunday with church school as well. On top of that, Eagle scout as well. I
stopped the church thing in my teen yrs. as found girls and drugs. I really lost
my belief in Viet Nam as God wouldn't let those things happen to good people.
Now and for yrs. I believe something makes to world go round but to label it as
God, don't really buy into that one. And since this event, more convinced then
ever that the God thing and religion doesn't work.......
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 guess
I'd add that, like being in combat, you can't really grasp the feeling unless
you've been there and done it. Same as riding a motorcycle or hot air
balloon ride, not much common ground with people that haven't done them....
Did the
questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and
comprehensively describe your experience?
Yes
