John B's NDE (2285)

Experience description: 

I was undergoing the first of many angioplasty procedures to open a clogged artery.  The doctors were having a hard time because my arteries were so small and the wire they were using was a bit too big for the vessel. Just as they got the wire through the blockage the wire caused total restriction of blood flow through that artery, throwing me into a heart attack.  I immediately felt flushed, nauseous and broke out in sweat all over.  I indicated my distress and heard the nurse saying something about my blood pressure.  The doctor ordered a liquid dilate that was poured into my mouth.  My distress continued and I felt myself losing consciousness. I heard a nurse saying "he's going" or something to that effect.

Suddenly, all pain stopped and I became as comfortable as I've ever been before in my life.  I was still conscious and was aware of a warm, gentle feeling about my body and the room was bathed in a warm, orangey glow.  I felt myself rising off the slender table and looking down at the surgeons sitting beside my body, near my hip area, with both arms folded under their arms.  They were intently watching the displays in front of them where my vital signs were being posted electronically.  The nurses were frozen in place also watching the monitors.  I felt myself rise to a corner of the room and then I stopped moving and I watched the scene below me.  I felt more loved than anything I can describe and this incredible feeling of well being and at peace and warm.  I recall vividly this moment where I examined the feelings I was experiencing and consciously thinking how wonderful I felt and how I felt wrapped in this blanket of love.  The room remained bathed in this warm orange glow and after a short moment or two I reluctantly thought to myself, "well, I had better get back down there." 

The next thing I knew I was on the slab again and the feeling of being loved was gone and I could feel the uncomfortable table under me. The room was now dark again with only the green glow of the monitors lighting things. My cardiologist said to me, "ok, John, we've taken the wire out and we're done here."  Later, in the recovery room I told him of my experience and all he said was, "yes, we gave you a pretty powerful drug there."  But, when I told him what I saw while up near the ceiling in the corner of the room, he was astounded.  I had described things that I could never see from my position on the table. Still, he would not accept that I had anything other than a reaction to the drugs he gave me. 

While I did not view this as a religious event and it did not reinforce my religious beliefs, it did make me totally unafraid of dying and if what I felt is how it feels to die then it's a wonderful experience.  I am a journalist and I wish I had the words to describe to you the feeling of love that I felt during that time.  And, how comfortable, warm, worry free and secure I felt.  More than anything else, however, it was the feeling of being loved - not by some one, but by everything in the universe.  Totally loved, and that feeling gave me comfort and peace.  The warm orange light also seemed to give me comfort, warmth and peace.

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    

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    All during the experience.  My awareness level was total.  I saw things clearly and I recall details clearly.

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:            Hard to explain.  I just felt I was aware of all that was occurring around me and the details I saw from above remain very clear in my memory today, though my event occurred almost 20 years ago.

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 wear glasses for near-sightedness and had them on for the procedure but when I was up there I don't think I had my glasses on, or at least I was not aware of them.

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      There was very little sound in the room, only the hum of the machines at the time.  No one was speaking, they were all just watching the monitors.  I don't recall noticing my hearing having improved any.  I should mention that I have severe nerve damage in my ears from firing weapons as a Marine.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            As I have written, I felt love.  Not so much love from me to another but love coming to me from a force or a being, totally wrapping me in love.

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

Did you see a light?           Yes     Nothing bright as I have read about, just a warm, gentle, orange glow.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No      

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    No      

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Uncertain      I was not concerned about time, except that I felt I needed to get back "down there," while I definitely wanted to stay "up there."

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

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes     I think so.  I floated up from the table until I was close to the ceiling but I don't recall meeting the ceiling, no physical contact with it as a barrier.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Almost immediately.  I told my cardiologist within hours of the event, and my wife the same.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    Yes     I read a lot.  I had read about people who claimed to have had them.

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    I was and am totally convinced that what I felt and saw was real.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?    I'm saying the same thing again, I know, but I wish everyone could feel that sense of well-being and being loved, of being totally comfortable and without care or worries, and while I've always been a laid-back kind of guy, I'm even more tolerant and laid-back now.  I'd like to live with those feelings I felt when "up there."

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real   

Have your relationships 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      

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?          no, but I'd be delighted to talk to anyone who has also experienced something such as this.  I don't know that I accept yet that some people see a light and go into a different world where people greet them, as I certainly did not experience that.  Perhaps what I went through was merely a preview of things to come and my condition was not serious enough to warrant a trip to the other places, I don't know.  I am fascinated by the thought that most everyone else who has experienced this says the same thing I am saying about being loved.

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