Lynne S NDE

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

I had a spinal anesthetic during a long and difficult labor. I was lying on the stretcher after delivery, when I began to feel a tight band around my chest. A nurse checked my b/p, and said it was 70/30. She opened up the IV line. I felt so good that I wanted to reach up and close the line, but couldn't move. I wasn't worried at all, and before I knew it I was out of my body floating face down. I saw my body on the stretcher, but was completely unconcerned. A doctor ran up and yelled, What the hell happened? She was fine a few minutes ago! Get the cart (crash cart)! Other doctors and nurses came running. I just didn't really care what was happening down there. I had participated in many codes, and it was pretty boring to watch my own. 

I felt wonderful, no pain, no worries. I noted that the tops of the walls faded into blackness and I could see the stars above. I noticed a large window below me, and somehow received the thought  that I could go home for a minute if I wished. My marriage was not very good at the time, and I decided not to visit my home before leaving.  

Suddenly, I was lying with my head and shoulders slightly elevated, in some kind of ethereal tunnel, moving slowly toward a light. There were two beings in front of the light. I knew that soon I would begin to move very fast toward the light. I was ready to go. The beings seemed rather flustered, and they had thoughts like, "It isn't time for her", "how did this happen", etc. Finally, one of them settled down and began to communicate with me. They gently told me that it wasn't time, that I had many more years to live. I knew that the ultimate choice was up to me. I decided to go on. Then, they said, "but, you will have to do this all over again". "You will live a long life and you have lots of work to do". That gave me pause, and as I was trying to decide, they said, "Who will take care of the baby?" I looked to my left and saw my son lying in a crib in the nursery. He was battered and bruised from the long labor. He was sleeping, and I noticed that his head was misshapen.  My resolve to go forward began to waver. I found myself fighting, sort of like swimming backwards, to get back in my body.  

All of a sudden I was back in my body. It felt cold, damp and painful. For a moment, I was sorry that I had returned. I was angry at the nurses and doctors for bringing me back. However, I knew that I had done the right thing.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes     Feelings of total peace, absence of worries, absence of any kind of physical pain, desire to go home.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes     I had a spinal anesthetic during a long and difficult labor. I was lying on the stretcher after delivery, when I began to feel a tight band around my chest. I wasn't worried at all, and before I knew it I was out of my body.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    The entire time that I was out of my body.

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

            The entire time that I was out of my body.

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 cannot explain this. It was though I could see through things, around things, for miles, etc.

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 think I experienced telepathy

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Joy, peace, no pain or discomfort whatsoever, no worries of any kind. I felt as though this was the way I was supposed to feel all along

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          Yes     Semi transparent, colorless, walls undulating slightly

Did you see a light?           Yes     looked like a very bright, warm, welcoming, yellow light, an opening to another place.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes     Two beings who appeared to be humanoid.

There were two beings in front of the light. I knew that soon I would begin to move very fast toward the light. I was ready to go. The beings seemed rather flustered, and they had thoughts like, "It isn't time for her", "how did this happen", etc. Finally, one of them settled down and began to communicate with me. They gently told me that it wasn't time, that I had many more years to live. I knew that the ultimate choice was up to me. I decided to go on. Then, they said, "but, you will have to do this all over again". "You will live a long life and you have lots of work to do". That gave me pause, and as I was trying to decide, they said, "Who will take care of the baby?" I looked to my left and saw my son lying in a crib in the nursery. He was battered and bruised from the long labor. He was sleeping, and I noticed that his head was misshapen.  My resolve to go forward began to waver. I found myself fighting, sort of like swimming backwards, to get back in my body.

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    No       Yes, that my That my life would be long, and I had a lot of work to do ahead of me. Also, that I would have to start at the beginning later if I decided to come ahead now.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No       I plan to request my medical records if they are still available.

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?            Yes     I knew that I was in another level or dimension of existence

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     I can't describe this, but space and time were definitely different that our experience on earth.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Yes     I had a purpose and a lot of work to do. I wasn't told what the purpose was.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes     I knew that my life on earth would end if I crossed into the light.

Did you become aware of future events?       Yes
            I was told I had a lot of work to do, and I have worked hard as a nurse, nurse educator and nurse practitioner in the years since. I also felt that I had a lot of work to do on myself, and I am still in that process.

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 did not share it for several years. I was afraid that people would think I was crazy. I still had a yearning to return to my real home. In 1977 I was working on a cardiac step down unit and patients began to tell me about their NDEs. I learned of Dr. Moody's book, and I realized that I had had a valid experience. After that, I began to share with others. Most people are very interested, some are skeptical. It doesn't matter to me, I know it happened.

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 felt it was real. I wanted to re-experience it, and still do. I longed for home, but knew I had made the right decision. I kept it my secret for 7 years. I thought others would scoff.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            The knowledge that I would have to live sometype of life again if I came home prematurely. Knowing that there is a plan, that I had a lot of work to do and it would be meaningful work.

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?           Uncertain            This is just too complicated to answer at this time.

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Yes     I am more spiritual and less relegious. I have been a seeker during my life.

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 worked in many areas of nursing, but never with the dying exclusively or hospice. Although I have an interest in this area, I was afraid that being around the dying would cause my longing to return home to become too strong, even though I would never commit suicide. I know that I need to live in the present and continue my work here on earth.

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

Are there any other questions we could ask to help you communicate your experience?   Can think of none at this time.