Katie A's NDE

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

            I was in the kitchen eating nuts, when one cashew went down my windpipe. I turned blue and passed out. My family saw this and tried to revive me, but was unable to do so. I was dead for 5 minutes. My Mother called 911, but it was winter and the ambulance was unable to come for 30 minutes. My grandfather was a fireman, so he knew what to do, but nothing worked on me – when I had a bowel movement, and my grandfather said that there was nothing else he could do and pronounced me “dead.”   

When I died, I rose above my body and saw my grandfather working on my body. My body was of no interest to me; instead I moved out of the room towards a presence I felt in the living room area. I went towards this presence, which was within a brilliant, sun-light bright, light space - not a tunnel, but an area. The presence was unbelievable peace, love, acceptance, calm, and joy. The presence enveloped me and my joy was indescribable - as I write this I am brought back to this emotion and it delights me still. The feeling is spectacular. I did not experience this presence as God (I was too young to understand the concept) but I did experience this presence as that which made me. I knew, with out a doubt that I was a made creature, a being that owed its existence to this presence.  

I do not remember reentering my body.  

When I woke up the next day, I knew two things for sure: 1.) that there is life after death and 2.) that I was a created being. I did not know this as a rational knowledge, but rather I expressed this by pestering my Mother with question after question: Who made me? What was eternity?  And what was God? She was unable to answer my questions, but was wise enough to let me talk to others who could.   

This experience moved me so deeply that I have dedicated my life to looking for answers to my questions through the study both philosophy and religion. I am currently working on doctorate in Theology.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes     The emotional part of the experience is unlike anything I have known on earth.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          No      

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    When I was with the presence.

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:            When I was with the presence.

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     The light did not hurt my eyes.

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.)?
            Yes     The voices were muffled.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            See above

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

Did you see a light?           Yes    

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes     I encountered the presence that created me. See above.

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 could tell my Mother where my body was when my grandfather was "working" on my body. Other than that, I did not stay around to observe what was going on.

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?   Uncertain      I was too young to really understand the passage of time.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Uncertain            Is it special knowlwdge to know that there is life after death? Or that we are created?

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     Yes, but rarely. I told my Mother, who believed me. But no one else believed 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 was a child - I processed the experience by asking questions about dieing and eternity and the nature of God to just about anyone who would listen. Because my Mother was the only one who responded to these questions, I ended up by just asking her my many questions.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?    I want to know and experience this presence again.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real            Even now, when I recall the experience it is more real than anything I have ever experienced in my life. I not only recall the memory, but also the emotion. This still motivates me to ask questions...

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Uncertain      I was a child when I experienced this, so I am not sure. However, I am still very trusting and accepting of people, like a child. I think that I kept that innocent, child-like acceptance of all people and things.

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Uncertain      My parents were religious - but as a child I was too young to be. Now, I am very religious, for I know that I did not make myself. I love and honor the being that made me, and I thank him/her for this precious gift through my religion.

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 have had some religious experiences that were CLOSE to this experience, but not really....

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Yes     To the best of my memory.

Are there any other questions we could ask to help you communicate your experience?   Would it not be interesting to link these experiences to religion?