Larry L's NDE
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Experience description:
I was yanked from my pick-up truck and choked by this person across the tool boxes behind the cab. I managed to pry his hands from my neck and shove him away and he ran towards me, striking me in the face. I grabbed him around the torso, pinning his arms to his sides, and had thoughts of taking him to the ground. I could not get leverage to throw him down, so I got a lower grasp on him around the legs and buttocks. When I picked him up, I started stumbling backwards and caught the heel of my boot on the edge of the sidewalk. I fell over backwards landing on the back of my head and he landed on top of me. I felt a terrible crunch in my neck and lost consciousness.
My experience started here. I felt I was alone in darkness, and very conscious of myself in this darkness. I saw a "dot" of light, no bigger than a match-head. The dot of light began to grow slowly, and when it reached about the size of a baseball, I started realizing that the light was not really getting bigger, I was actually moving towards it. The closer I got to it, the faster I seemed to be traveling. It was very much like riding a small vehicle, similar to a roller coaster car, open all around, no top, short sides, etc. I must say I was frightened about what was taking place, and at the time did not relate it to dying and going to Heaven.
When I got to the light it was like all of a sudden, there was nothing but the most intense bright white all around me. I instantly realized the most peaceful, pain free, contented, euphoric state that I can imagine. I never felt so good and at home in all my life experiences on Earth. I could sense there were three or four others in the light, but could not see them plainly, due to the intensity of the light that surrounded them and was around me. I did have the impression that they were standing on a wide set of steps going up. I felt that there was also someone of more importance a little higher up those steps who I could not see at all, and surely that was the source of the light.
After I was there for about a minute, just standing there thinking about how incredibly good I felt, a voice that seemed to be all around me asked, "Do you want to stay or do you want to go back?". I don't remember if these were the exact words, but that was the meaning implied. I don't really know for sure if those words were spoken aloud or if they just filled my head so much that they seemed to be spoken. I knew I had to make a decision, and it was not easy to decide. I have two daughters who were 8yrs and 12yrs old at the time, and even though I wanted to stay, I answered either to myself or aloud that I needed to go back for them. In an instant I was traveling through darkness, just the reverse of the way I went. There was a small light that got bigger as I got closer to it, and when I arrived, there I was lying on my back in the back yard looking at the blue sky.
I felt great and didn't think of anything except where I had just came from. After a minute or so, I decided to get up. I felt like I was moving my arms to roll over, but nothing moved. I soon realized that I could not wiggle my fingers, although they were being told to move. I laid in my yard for about 15 minutes before I could finally roll over and get up. The ability to move was slowly coming back to me, but I experienced no pain. I went into my house and started recalling being attacked and decided to see if I was going to have a black eye from being slugged.
As I washed my face off in the sink, I saw stars when I stood back up straight. I also noticed that my shirt was ripped about half way off and I had some very distinct imprints of the attackers tennis shoe in my forehead and face. He had also pounded on my stomach and chest and left them red and scraped. After a few minutes, a car pulled into my driveway rather hurriedly. The attacker's brother-in-law, also regarded as a good friend of mine, came running towards my house. I let him in and he looked me over and said, "We are going to the hospital".
On the way to the hospital, my friend said his drunken brother-in-law had gone to his house and confessed to killing me. At the hospital, I walked into ER and asked if I could get my back checked out. I told them I fell off a ladder. They x-rayed my spine and discovered the second vertebrae (T2)in my neck was broken in three pieces. It still did not hurt as I laid there on the x-ray table waiting for a special collar to be brought over. Four days later I had T2 and T3 fused together, using a section of rib bone from my back. I convalesced over the next six months in a SOMY head brace and every thing worked out well. I had bruised my spinal cord causing the temporary paralysis and I am a very lucky individual to be walking.
I have not forgotten what the "experience" was like after nearly 16 years. It has actually brought me a lot of comfort about dying and what waits for us after death. I have shared this with many family members and friends and have been fortunate to be with some loved ones in the last two years when they passed. I encouraged them all to look for that light and don't be afraid to go to it. I am comforted knowing that I will join them someday. I have COPD and am on oxygen therapy 24/7, but I am not in the least bit afraid of dying.
Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience: No
Was the experience difficult to express in words? No
At the time of the experience, was there an associated life threatening event? Yes
Describe: Broken neck (C2 Vertabrea) from falling while fighting off an attacker in my backyard.
What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience? I felt fully conscious and very alert.
Was the experience dream like in any way? Not really. It seemed as real to me as anything could be.
Did you experience a separation of consciousness from your body? No
What emotions did you feel during the experience? Euphoria!! Never felt better!! All was at peace!! There wasn't a single thing that was not perfect!!!
Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises? The sound of wind as I gained speed and approached the light.
Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure? Yes
Describe: Similar to a tunnel or a huge conduit.
Did you see a light? Yes
Describe: The light is the first thing I noticed in all of the darkness. And what a light it was!!
Did you meet or see any other beings? Yes
Describe: I saw other beings (angels?), but could not see them well enough to recognize or describe in detail. They were about the size of human beings but were so surrounded by the light that I couldn't see them clearly.
Did you experience a review of past events in your life? No
Describe: What I learned confirmed my religious beliefs about the hereafter, but now I am certain that Heaven exists and is waiting for us to arrive.
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
Describe: I only went as far as the entrance. The trip through the tunnel, then there I stood in the bright light.
Did you have any sense of altered space or time? Yes
Describe: Time did seem to stand still. But I only think I was there for a few minutes.
Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose? Yes
Describe: That God does exist, and I think God is the light that I saw and stood in.
Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes
Describe: If I had not decided to return, then I am sure I would have been walking up those stairs with the others (angels).
Did you become aware of future events? No
Were you involved in or aware of a decision to return to the body? Yes
Describe: Definitely. It was my decision to stay or return. I am not sure if this was asked aloud or if I just felt it very strongly. I made my decision and immediately returned.
Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience? No
Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience? Yes
Describe: Not really a change, but a confirmation. I felt I needed to share this with everyone.
Has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices etc.? Career choices? I share this with those who are interested. It has not really affected any of my relationships with family or friends. I continue to maintain the same religious beliefs that I have had all of my life.
Have you shared this experience with others? Yes
Describe: I have found that people who are on their deathbed are comforted by me relating my experience to them.
What emotions did you experience following your experience? Happiness. Security. Sense of knowing.
What was the best and worst part of your experience? Best - how perfect I felt mentally, physically, emotionally.
Worst - Being scared at first because I did not know what was happening or where I was going.
Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience? I used to have my doubts about NDE, but now I, too, know.
Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience? Yes
Describe: I am looking forward to going back. Death is not as bad as I thought it would be.
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 accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes
Explain: To the best of my ability.
Please offer any suggestions you have to improve the www.nderf.org questionnaire? No. Thank you for the opportunity to share my experience.