Thomas R's NDE

I remember suddenly being aware that I was 'floating' above a bed and when I looked down it was me laying there. It was not in any way troubling. I did not see a tunnel or light or any other beings with me but I was totally at peace. It was very pleasant and comfortable. I watched as two medical personnel came in and began discussing whether to debribe the wound with a copper brush or water. I remember thinking if I were still in that body I wanted them to use water! As this was going on I was floating slightly above them then I just thought about moving up and there I was, hovering just above the light fixture. I remember reading the little identification sticker on the upper side of the lamp fixture but I don't remember what it said. For some reason I thought it was really neat to be able to just float there and read such a dumb thing. I did not see any boundaries or objects around myself, just a sort of gray fog. But it was a friendly gray fog - not frightening at all.

The next thing I knew I was in the recovery room, back in my body and with my whole face bandaged up. I told the doctor that I heard what they were discussing about the brush or the water but he did not believe me. I also told him exactly where the little sticker was on the upper side of the overhead light and he just brushed it off and said I could not know that. He said I had come very near to not being revived and was just dreaming, but I know better. Before that experience I had always feared death more than anything else in the world. I never went to ANY funerals because of that fear. After the experience I have never again feared death. I do not want to die but I am absolutely certain that we DO continue and it is a very pleasant experience. I felt no pain during the experience and did feel great peace. It was also a lot of fun just being able to 'float' anywhere I wanted to.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words?          Uncertain     It's kinda hard to describe in words the sense of peace I felt. It was a total peace.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes    I was riding my bicycle from a friends house in San Diego and decided to take a short cut on the freeway for approx 1/4 mile to get on the strand road back to North Island Naval Air Station. I was in the Navy. The on-ramp to the freeway was steeply angled down from the overpass I was on. I did not know that a storm drain was at the bottom of the ramp. The drains 'cover bars' ran parallel to the direction of my travel. The front tire of the bike fell into the drain and I was thrown over the handle bars and landed directly on the left side of my face. I do not remember any of the actual accident, only what I was told and going to look at the location after I recovered.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?  Immediately after realizing I was looking down at my own 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         

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.)?          No     

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.)?
          Yes    Well at least I think it was more acute. When I was listening to the medical personnel I am pretty sure they were not speaking loudly but I heard every word very clearly.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?          Peace, comfort, joy and a little thrill that I could 'float' (that really was fun).

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?        No     

Did you see a light?         No     

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    The medical personnel KNEW that they had discussed the debribe procedure but would not admit that I could know that. If they had just looked at the overhead lamp they would have seen that the sticker was exactly where I said it was. You could NOT see it from below the lamp.

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?          No     

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  No     

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Uncertain     I think I was shown that very tiny glimpse of what happens after we die so I would not be afraid of death. I also think I was placed back in my body to help others as much as I can.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No     

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    Immediately after I returned to awareness in my body. I had a very good friend who was at the bedside when I awoke. I told him but he did not make much of it. I have told many people over the past 35 years and most think it was some kind of hallucination. I do not personally know anyone else who has had this type of experience.

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 don't know how to answer this. I KNEW it was real and I KNEW it was meant to teach me a lesson about life and death. I viewed, and still view, it as the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you? It seemed to me it was a short experience but it meant a lot to me because I no longer have an overriding fear of life or death. I had a very spiritual uncle who once asked me if I knew where I was going after death and I could honestly answer him YES and it is wonderful. I don't think he really understood what I was saying.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:          Experience was definitely real         Same as above. It was a wonderful experience that I wouldn't trade anything for.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?          Yes    Since the experience I always try to understand that no matter how someone is acting there are reasons and they are valid reasons. That goes for both the good and bad. This job sometimes involves people who are less than pleasant but I always try to understand that they may just be having a bad day and try to find the good in the situation.

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         

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?       I know I did not see the tunnel, light, other beings or other places but it was enough for me and it gives me great comfort to know, without any doubt, that death is not the end.

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes    Like I said it was a short and really not very interesting experience compared to some others but it was very meaningful to me and I treasure it. I feel I am a very lucky person to have had the experience.

Are there any other questions we could ask to help you communicate your experience? No suggestions just a heartfelt THANK YOU for allowing me to tell about my experience.