Sheila's NDE

Experience description: 

My friend, then in her twenties, had been very ill and was in the ICU when she collapsed. She does not recall being taken to the OT or the team working on her (she was later told by her mother-in-law, that a team of 12 doctors worked for  three hours before she came around).  

Interestingly, her experience of time does not match the three hours spent by the doctors on reviving her, as you will see. Neither does she recall any sensation of separating from the body or even when that happened.

She says that she suddenly found herself going down a black tunnel. That experience felt 'interesting' because she said she kept observing what was going on. Today, in her forties (which is now, when she told me) she is (alas) unable to recall whatever it was that was going on. 

She reached the end of the tunnel where she found a tall/big dark man standing with a lantern. He saw her and said, "No, no. Not you. Its another Sheila (I am using a pseudonym here), that I am waiting for." There was no further conversation, nor did she see anybody else. 

That was it, the next thing she knew she was awake. The whole experience was narrated to me as though it were very short. On earth they took three hours to get her back. She actually has no sense of the amount of time she spent in the tunnel.   

Thank you for a great website. I find NDE stories inspiring and that many of them tells us how are earthly lives should be lived.

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     My friend was very seriously ill and in the ICU when she collapsed. Her mother-in-law later told her, that a team of 12 doctors had worked on her for over three hours before she came back. (The mother-in-law didn't know she had 'died')

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    Throughout

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           

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.)?  Uncertain      My friend did not mention this.

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      My friend did not mention this.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            She found it very "interesting" while it was happening.

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

Did you see a light?           Yes     A lantern!

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes     A tall/big dark man carrying a lantern.

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?          No      

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?           Yes            My friend seems to have enjoyed her time in the tunnel which was not an earthly dimension.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     She described the experience as going through the tunnel, which was "interesting" and then being sent back. The three hours doctors spent on her on earth was later told to her. She does not know how long her time in the tunnel was.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     No      

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes     She came across this lantern-holding man who sent her back. So, in that sense he was the keeper of the boundary.

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     I am afraid I don't know who else she has shared it with, but she talks about it very naturally. Also Hindu culture has a very high acceptance of other realms-- our ancient texts are stuffed with gods, demi-gods, space ships, other dimensions/realms such as that of Yama the God of death. His messengers are supposed to get people across and are described as big dark-looking somewhat menacing men. But she didn't feel any sense of menace/ fear. So if if she did speak people would accept it as a very real possibility/happening.

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 am afraid I didn't ask her this.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?    No.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real            Just was.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           No      

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            No           

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 so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Yes