Experience Description:

Fisherman, Cuba-Canada long liner, I jumped ship 02/18/2000. In Key West, my roommate's pet boas died. I'm from Alaska, so I skinned them out, the virus got in me when I skinned the snakes. 05/23/2000 I left on the bus for Alaska via Seattle. I got to Seattle and was so sick; I took a room at the youth hostel. 05/27/2000 - 05/28/2000 I was so sick I called 911 at 7:00 pm.

At 10:00 pm I died, on the glass table. They shocked me back to life; I died again, shocked back to life. Came out of a coma 06/03/2000.

While I was dead, I sat next to a guy who looked exactly like Anthony Quinn in 'Zorba the Greek'- in the closing shot where he's sitting on the fantail of his yacht. We were in a twelve to fifteen feet crater, a pickup truck bombed out burnt up across the entire top, nine inches of light could be seen all around. I was on his left side looking right. He didn't turn to me he just said, 'You're going to be okay.' I didn't know, I was not okay, I was just there and he just said it to me, that was all he said. I knew it was important but had no clue what this okay meant, just that I knew it was going to be okay - God, or Jesus, or an angel (???) said so. I was shocked back.

I could see the room seven to nine doctors doing all kinds of things to me. I could not feel - like a funny haze - I died the second time. I was back in the hole - next to the guy - and we sit there. Outside its dark people are running to escape or find hiding or something. He turns to me and just says, 'Look I told you you're going to be okay.' I had no clue I was not okay, they shocked me back to life.

I came out of a comma on 06/03/2000 - date of birth is 06/03/1960. I always call my dad on my birthday, and came out of a comma to call him. I know I did it was me I was there. A nurse was there who tried to get me to sign a paper for release, so they could give me a new liver and kidney. I said, 'No I'm going to be okay.' She told me I was in a comma and was now dying, my kidneys and liver have died and no one knows what's wrong, my time is up. I said, 'No I'm going to be okay.' She said I was crazy - who's my next of kin? I said, 'Don't cut me or gut me!!! I'm going to be okay!!! If I die that's okay. Measure me, box me, bake me, throw my ashes out to sea, and have a party with the cash in my pocket!!!' They said I was crazy and called my mom in Texas. She's a Baptist Sunday school teacher and will pray for anything in a drop of a hat!!.

The nurse told her I was dying, and I would not sign the papers. Mom asked what I said? The nurse told her (on the phone next to my bed) - she said, 'He's crazy. No one in their right mind would turn down a new liver and kidneys. He's almost dead and will be soon if he doesn't get the transplant. He said, 'Don't cut me or gut me. If I'm through I'm through. I'm going to be okay, and if I'm not just measure me, box me, bake me and throw my ashes to the sea.'.

Mom said, 'He's not crazy!! Don't cut him, or gut him. If he dies, measure him, box him, bake him, and throw his ashes to the sea - just like he told you!!!' She was serious.

Mom called sister Carrol (hyper spiritual - direct line to God). She called to talk - then she says I'll call you tomorrow. The nurse said, 'I think you better say everything. He's not going to be here tomorrow.' I told Carrol God said I was going to be okay - talk to you tomorrow.

The doctors found the antivirus medications that worked. No one could believe I said no thanks. The doctors said I had no more liver or kidneys - it would be dialysis twice a week for life. I didn't believe them. I was told I was going to be okay, wheel chair, and if I was lucky a walker. 'Sure, a lot you know,' I said, '@^*#!!!'.

06/14/2000 it was obvious I was not dead yet. Some nurse lost her paycheck in that pool!! They had a social worker try to sign me up for a hospice (cancer, AIDS, tuberculosis) place to go die!! I said no!! They asked where I wanted to go, its already cost the state $145,000 to keep me alive this long, and other patient's need a maximum care bed. I said Texas to stay with my mom. That day they got me in a wheelchair rolled me to the double sliding glass doors, unplugged my four drip bottles, put a taxi ticket in one hand, and an airplane ticket to Texas in the other. I flew home to Texas - almost died in San Francisco airport lobby - made it to Texas.

Now, as a fisherman, my $2000 bike follows me in a box - it ended up in Texas also. Each day, I would struggle to walk outside (walker had a horn and rear-view mirror - very funny), put a couple of bolts on the bike, and struggle back in - each day further and further. On the fifth day, I stopped taking my meds (a huge bag that I needed to live). I was supposed to go for dialyses two times a week - I never went a single time!!????? I got better and better - soon my bike was together and I went riding, close to the house - very weak. Soon I'd get so far mom had to come get me in the truck. Then I managed all the way and back.

08/01/2000 I took the Greyhound bus to Key West Florida to stay with sister Carrol. Recovered in the gardens.

09/01/2000 I flew back to Boston and went back out to sea fishing on the ship --'Jacqueline L' for another year. Just so you know, I've seen a lot of big men bite the dust fishing, it's the hardest job in the world. I'm a fifteen year veteran of fishing.

Now I can no longer do the job. I live in Maui now - and believe in God. Being a Christian is not about how many times a week you go to church, it's how many times in the week you act like God would want you to (and that means keeping your mouth shut about it). There's a lot more to the story but that's the basics.

Thanks, DaCPTN.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 5/28/2000

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Illness Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function)

My liver, kidneys, bone marrow, died from lepto spirosis/virus infection.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

Did you feel separated from your body? No No

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? More consciousness and alertness than normal I just knew this guy was way up the pole - so to speak.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? When I was dead.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Neither

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Neither

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Neither

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Neither

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Uncertain

Did you see any beings in your experience? Neither

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes God? Jesus? Angel? Advanced thought adjuster? Spiritual guide? Now today I'm not sure, all I know is he was important.

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? Neither

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Neither

What emotions did you feel during the experience? In awe of this person - I knew him - I was not religious, but knew about God.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness

Did you have a feeling of joy? Neither

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? Neither

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? Neither

Did scenes from the future come to you? Neither

Did you come to a border or point of no return? Neither

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I already expressed that.

What is your religion now? Conservative/fundamentalist

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I already expressed that.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? Definite being, or voice clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Neither

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes I know there is more.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes I often have out of body experiences; feel spirits; know future events; and can do anything first time. Examples: carve portraits in shell. I build computers, no one taught me, I can't use, only build.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? The repeat - just to let me know like - listen I just got through telling you (that's not what he said, just how it felt to be there again) - like the first time didn't sink in.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes No one can believe it I build custom computers - never read one manual in my life. I carve beautiful whale's tails and mermaids - the owner of Wiland Galleries in Lahaina (whale guy) his wife wears one of my whale tails made out of golden lapis mother or pearl shell I carved while talking to God one day.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes Hundreds of times. I ran away from home in 1976, you have no idea!! And have been traveling ever since.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real Point blank matter of fact happened and that's that.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real Nothing, no torture, nothing you can do to me will ever, ever convince me I was not there, not if you cut off my fingers one at a time, or slice my mother up in little pieces in front of me!!! And I mean that!!!!

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Yes Two or three out of body experiences while being creative.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? You should try it sometime it just might change the eyes you look out of.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? There comes a time in each person's life, when gold loses its luster and diamonds cease to sparkle. That special time, when we all start to search, and quest, and seek, that hidden voice which speaks inside, yet no one hears, that special time, when all the good we do means less than a simple smile put on a strangers face by our own unselfish acts of kindness. You can take that to the bank, because money won't get you in heaven.

DaCPTN.