EXPERIENCE
DESCRIPTION:
I clearly remember watching the angiogram as it was taking place--a
person was holding my hand, there was a large square machine above me, and
several people at the foot of the bed on the right-hand side. I was still
comatose, and I was watching it from the left upper corner of the room. When I
described it to my father several years later, he went white--I had exactly
described the angiogram: the description of the machinery was accurate, the
people at the foot of the bed were doctors, and my father was the one holding my
hand.
The
angiogram was intended to pinpoint the abscess--I had been in a coma for 4
weeks, and an EEG the night before had shown a somewhat fuzzy outline of the
abscess. My parents had been told that without surgery, I would either die or
be left a vegetable--if the abscess opened, it would open quickly and overwhelm
my system. But overnight, the abscess literally disappeared--when the results
of the angiogram came back, the abscess was gone. Needless to say, I survived,
and I went on to graduate from law school.
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 was comatose and suffering from a brain abscess, and was undergoing an
angiogram prior to surgery.
At what
time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and
alertness?
At the time I was watching the procedure from the corner of the room.
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
At the time I was watching the procedure from the corner of the
room.
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.)?
Uncertain I don't recall any speech, only the images.
Did you
experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?
Yes
What
emotions did you feel during the experience?
I felt detached from the whole thing, perhaps even a little curious
as to what they were doing.
Did you
pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?
No
Did you
see a light?
No
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?
Yes I saw the angiogram performed on me at the time, which was witnessed by
my father, and who could verify the circumstances I described, even though I was
in a coma and could not have seen them normally.
Did you
see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or
dimensions?
Yes I was seeing the procedure from the upper corner of the room.
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 first told my father about it at age 15, 8 years after it occurred. I
assumed he had known about it.
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 was only 7, and did not see it as unusual.
Were
there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or
significant to you?
How do
you currently view the reality of your experience:
Experience was definitely real I saw it too clearly, even when I would not
have been able to, and when I would have had no idea what it was, for it not to
be real.
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?
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
What
could a national organization with an interest in near death experience (NDE) do
that would be of most interest to you:
Nothing
