Irene A's NDE

I left the medical school around four in the afternoon. I was detained on the sidewalk and heard the sound of a car horn behind me.  I turned in time to see an orange-colored car (a type of van) that was already on top of me.  It hit me on the left side of my body and I flew through the air and bounced with my head (according to what my witnesses later told me) on the upper edge of a wall three meters from the ground. I fell to the ground head first, hitting myself again on the ground. I felt no pain. I felt dazed, as if I had cotton in my head, and [felt] a soft tingling throughout my body.  I thought it curious that nothing hurt.  I didn’t understand what had happened.  In fact, the ideas were becoming mixed up in my head, but in some way I understood I’d suffered an accident.  Someone picked me up from the ground and carried me, depositing my body on a bench.  I intended to tell them the phone number of my uncle so they could call him; I don’t know if they understood me.  I felt that everything vanished around me, as if by “pulses”.  Finally everything around me grew dark. 

I ceased feeling my body and saw some figures at my side; one of them was an aunt who had died; I don’t know who the others were.  They were two or three other people. Then I felt that I was “suctioned” through a sort of tunnel and landed softly.  Everything around was dark.  I sensed that a figure approached, in front of me.  By some method, I received the impression that I was unworthy of being there and I “closed” that part of my sight, but I was made to raise my sight.  Then I saw the figure of a man who stood over a sort of stream.  The water seemed to be made of light of liquid neon.  I saw his feet, shod in some sort of sandals and [I saw] his attire.  All was dazzling in him, he seemed to be made of light.  I felt extremely good in his presence; full of an unconditional [and] absolute love.  I knew inside of me that he was Jesus Christ (and I didn’t believe in him) and I was surprised.  I said: “But you exist…!”  He said:  “Live,” and his voice sounded warm and sweet, but I didn’t want to return.

I didn’t remember anything that tied me to this life and I felt absolutely full in his presence.  Then I saw what looked like a blanket or something like that which was coming towards me.  What got my attention was that it was of a coarse cloth, rough; it didn’t seem soft, nor full of light or anything of that sort, but when it touched me, it was as if I’d been “wrapped from inside”.  It filled me with a sensation of protection, love and fullness that I can’t describe.  Then he repeated “Live,” but this time his voice, although it remained loving, sounded more authoritative.  I felt, at that moment that he “blew” something through my nose.  It was like a small white cloud, but with substance, palpable.  Then I felt that I was back inside my body and that I breathed. 

I remember that I sensed many “soft small creaks” in my lungs; it was as if, during the time I’d not been breathing, the pockets (alveoli) had dried up a bit and at that moment they distended again.  I always think of that when I see a newborn baby and it cries.  I feel that I understand the sensation that it has of breathing for the first time.  (Well, this is not related to my case, but it’s something that always comes to my mind.)  I opened my eyes and I was aware that I had my shirt open, as I felt fresh air on my chest, and around me there were many of my classmates, whispering among themselves.  All of a sudden, one of them met my eyes; I was looking at him and he said: “She’s alive; let’s take her to a hospital.”  They carried me and placed me in a car. 

On the way, I remember that I was saying: “Jesus exists.  I’ve seen him.” I don’t remember what they answered me.  I knew that nothing was going to happen to me; that I was going to live.  I had a huge hemotoma on the side of the head that had suffered the blow, so much so that I couldn’t move my head while I was stretched out. All the left side of my body was black, with a gigantic hemotoma. On the other hand, not one of my bones was broken.  I remember with clarity all that occurred from the moment of the blow, until I awoke on the bench although from that moment on I have several lapses. I had amnesia for two weeks and during the following two months suffered fainting and delirium. I had a severe cerebral concussion.  I had to submit to various computerized axial images (Cat Scans) for five years after the blow, to remain sure that there would be no after-effects of the blow.  There have been no physical after-effects, not one.  I “knew” this was going to be the case. But my life changed radically that day. 

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain.   

Even when the experience can be described in words, I have the impression that the totality of what I lived can’t be transmitted.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?

Yes. A car hit me and I sustained hard blows to my body and my head.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?  

When I detached from my body.  After the blow, although I was conscious, I noticed that it cost me to form my ideas; it was a bit as if I had cotton in my head but, after everything turned dark, it was as if my body no longer hindered me from thinking.  When I returned to my body I realized that it was hard for me to coordinate, anew, my ideas.

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:     I can’t explain it.  It was as if the thought and the communication (that, for sure, were not verbal) were more fluid.

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.   

I could see around me as if it were a little globe, the darkness was profound and the light was an intense white but did not hurt [my] vision.  I was surprised by the water--it looked like light--and [by] the type of white cloud, because it had “body”.

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.  The communication, even ‘though I heard it, was not verbal.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?    

First fear; I did not know what was happening to me.  Then embarrassment, then surprise, then love, protection, peace, something indescribable.  Later I did not want to return.  When I returned I felt a mixture of surprise, pain and [a feeling that] “it was good that I had returned”.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure? Yes.  

As I described, in the experience, I felt that I was suctioned through a tunnel, even ‘though it didn’t have walls.  It was like the sort of tunnel that generates itself by a very rapid movement.

Did you see a light?  Yes.   

It was a light that, as it got closer, converted into a person.  I knew when I was directly in front of him that he was Jesus Christ.  I didn’t believe in him. I felt embarrassed.

Did you meet or see any other beings?

Yes. Before being suctioned through the tunnel, {there] was a family member of mine. The other two maybe were, too, but I wasn’t focused on them; neither did I communicate with them in any manner.

Did you experience a review of past events in your life? Uncertain.  I can’t explain.  The truth is that I can’t say it didn’t happen; it could have, but I don’t remember with certainty. It’s like having the sensation that it could have happened.  I feel that my life changed radically after that.  I can’t pin it down [when it happened], either, but  eternal life eventually came to be my first priority.   I don’t take other people’s feelings lightly.  I’ve become very sensitive in the spiritual realm.  Another thing that happened is that from that day forward I started to seek to establish a relationship with Jesus. It took seven years more to find what I knew I started to look for.

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?      Yes.  Over there there was no sensation of space or time.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose? Yes.   

As I explained in another question, my vision of life changed radically; I can’t pinpoint why. I only know that I began to have a different consciousness of things from that day forward.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   No.  

Did you become aware of future events?   Uncertain.
I can’t be precise. Many times I have a sensation of what is to occur. But I don’t dare say.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?         Uncertain.          I don’t speak of this.

Have you shared this experience with others?   Yes.   

Very few times.  I think that it impacts one to find someone who has been “on the other side”. But almost no-one speaks of it. I don’t recall how much time passed between the occurrence and my talking 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 surprised, shaken.  I remember that I was in the car talking to myself with respect to this, telling myself what had happened; that’s how impressed I was.   It changed my life.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?     

I didn’t believe in Christ.  I was surprised to see him; at the beginning I think that I didn’t realize who he was, but later, inside of me, I knew that it was him.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience: 

Experience was probably real    

I am certain that I was in front of Christ; that I felt his love, that he commanded me to live and that he blew that something into me through [my] nose.  Also I remember with clarity the soft grinding of my lungs.  The rest has diminished a bit, although it remains. 

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

Yes, absolutely yes.  First, I remember that I was “out of control”, trying to assimilate the idea within the parameters of my life, then I started centering myself bit by bit.  From that day on, life has more importance in the eternal then in the present.

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

I was seeking that relationship with God that I felt, in that moment.  I had the definite certainty that I was without it, and that I should find it.  That special “encounter” with The Lord produced itself 7 years later.  The difference was that before, I didn’t take it seriously; for me, that whole theme of God and the eternal life, etc., was a way of exerting power over the people.  I thought that we were energy and that it transformed itself or something like that.  On the other hand, after this experience, the finding of God became the most important pat of my life.  I should also say that my form of relationship with God (I am an evangelist, born-again and never better said!) is very different from the rest of my family and environment of that time; [which were/was] orthodox. I’ve even been persecuted and criticized for my faith.  I am AFRAID to be apart from God.

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.  I was as precise as possible, I think.  But, as I mentioned before, I feel that even if I’ve described it with exactitude, I could not convey all the intensity of the experience.

Are there any other questions we could ask to help you communicate your experience?     

I believe it is well formulated even ‘though you left the template of question 14 in English (even ‘though the others were in Spanish).