Marla W's NDE

Experience description: 

      I don't remember the impact or what happened to the vehicles.  I felt like I was falling asleep, but when I opened my eyes, I found myself in this place.  It was white and soft and peaceful- not really cotton-like or a fog (although that's the word I use to describe it), just enveloped in white.  I seemed to be walking away from where I'd been (and could see myself moving but my legs weren't moving- I was gliding).  I could hear voices around me but not make out what they were saying.  After what seemed like many minutes, I became frustrated with the mumbling and stopped.  I turned around and began to move closer to the voice that was loudest.  As I moved back, the fog became gray and muddy in color and appearance. 

Then very suddenly I was aware of tremendous pain and I cried out.  Immediately I felt jolted into blackness and felt as though people were pulling me from all direction.  Then I seemed to fall asleep.  I woke 18 hours later in a hospital.  Although I believe I was unconscious for 18 hours, records show that I had drifted in and out of consciousness and was described as dazed and confused.  When I woke, I thought it was Dec 27, 1978.  It was 3 weeks before I regained any memory and after 3 months, most it returned.  I still have 4 years of lost memory that doctors say will probably never return.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience:  Uncertain

      Explanation:  the experience happened at the site of the accident but I was given  demoral at the hospital

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  No

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

      Describe:  A tanker slid sideways and rolled over my vehicle, splitting open the tank and covering my husband and I with fuel.  I had a severe head injury and serious laceration to my left arm.  My husband thought I'd bled to death.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?  I felt conscious during the experience, however, my husband and EMT reports list me as drifting in and out of consciousness- dazed and confused.

Was the experience dream like in any way?  No.  It was very real

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

Describe your appearance or form apart from your body:  Unlike other descriptions I've read at your site, I did not see my body, but saw my consciousness glide away

What emotions did you feel during the experience?  peace at first, softness, calmness, then frustration as I was returning

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?  mumbling that grew in intensity

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

      Describe:  yes, but it didn't have walls, it was made of a fog like substance

Did you see a light?  Yes

      Describe:  I found myself in a place where the fog was brighter away from me and dull and muddy behind me.

Did you meet or see any other beings?  No

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

      Describe:  My husband said he kept talking to me, telling me to hang on and that at one point he said, "Don't leave me, I need you."  At that point he said I opened my eyes and cried out in pain. 

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?  Yes

      Describe:  the fog area was beautiful

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  Yes

      Describe:  The plane I visited was unlike anything I'd ever experienced and time seemed to move very slowly.

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

      Describe:  I knew peace like I'd never known before.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?  No

Did you become aware of future events?  No

Were you involved in or aware of a decision to return to the body?  No

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:  I'm less critical of others, forgiving those who I'd held in contempt for years.  I no longer feel the need to find a church with beliefs that match my own, but now accept my spiritual beliefs without trying to analyze to convince others that they must agree with me.

Has the experience affected your relationships?  Daily life?  Religious practices etc.?  Career choices?  8 months before the experience, I had married.  But felt a sense of loss concerning my children from a previous marriage living with their father and not having a close relationship with me.  I questioned my decision to remarry.  I had even thought of going back to my former husband.  Since age 13 (when I was raped) I'd been driven by perverse sexual desires.  Those feelings are gone.  I am happy in my marriage, feel I'm where I should be, and no longer have thoughts of being unfaithful.  I do have trouble concentrating now.

Have you shared this experience with others?  Yes

      Describe:  Most think I was dreaming or am being dramatic.  No one has said they were influenced.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  confusion about what had happened- a desire to find out what happened medically as well as spiritually.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?  Best- A feeling of appreciation for every day, a love of life, no fears of death, a feeling that everything will be alright for years to come.

Worst- Memory loss that haunted me for nearly a year.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?  Yes

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