Santo C's NDE

Experience description: 

I was wounded in Vietnam by a mortar round (another half-inch and I would have been dead). All of a sudden I was above my body looking at myself on the ground. I thought I was dead and the first thought that came to my mind was how the three women in my life were going to cry. There was a warm and secure feeling, like everything will be all right; but once I thought of those women crying I was hurled back into my body and was up and running.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?     No      

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    

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?           Super-alert yet a "cottony" feeling.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes     I was about 15 feet above my body with no form at all.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Sad that the women in my life were going to cry, yet... everything was OK. No fear, I felt an unconditional love.

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          Yes            Super-alert and all-knowing.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     Time stood still.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Yes            That death was another stage of life.

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 regarding your return to the body?       Yes     It felt like I was sent back into my body because I didn't think of myself first, but thought first about the women in my life.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         Yes     From then on I could always "hear" my mother and sister's voice in my head when they were in trouble. My friends got so used to me saying "I need to go to my sister's, I hear her calling me", that they would come along; and every time it happened, I would show up and sure enough my sister or mother would tell me they needed me and thought of me first. Each time they were in trouble, physically or spiritually.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     I am sure we all come from God and go back to God. And, that heaven and hell are what we create here on earth.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       Yes. I find myself excusing and not accusing. I put myself in the other person's shoes first and try to see things from their perspective. I look for the good in everything.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     I don't know if they were influenced, but they listened and believed. They did not criticize or poo poo my experience.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Confusion. I looked for other ways to come out of my body.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best part was the wound sent me home. The worst part was the wound sent me home. The experience also caused me to question life, death, and psychology. It sent me on a life-long search for the ultimate answer of why we are here and is there life after death.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         Yes     Twice more under life and death experiences I came out of my body. Once I was hit by a car going about 45 MPH and knew in a nanosecond I couldn't go back or forward to get out of the way. I came out of my body and watch myself throw my body at the hood of the car and was dragged a full city block while under the car, holding on to the front bumper and watching myself from above. When the car stopped I was forced back into my body, uninjured.

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

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    No.