Bruna D NDE

Experience Description:

I was eleven years old, my brother eight years. We were at a public swimming pool; there were many people around as it was school holidays. My brother dived into the shallow end of the big pool and I realized he was struggling. Without thinking, I dived in. He grabbed my shoulders and clambered on top of me to get air. In so doing, I went under and lost consciousness. I remember leaving my body, watching them resuscitating me. I felt the man's lips on me as he breathed into me. I could hear my dead granny calling me in Italian. I was floating, not walking but upright, like those conveyor belts at the airports, towards a very bright light. I felt an emotional tugging as I kept looking back and watched them resuscitating me. I watched my brother run and hide in the public toilets behind the middle door. I was very calm, no struggling. I read the label on the back of the lifesaver's shirt and remember it distinctly. Then I told my granny I wanted to go back, there was no disappointment, no turmoil. I opened my eyes as they were about to breath into me again. My mother rushed us back to the hotel, as she was embarrassed at the spectacle I had caused. At the dinner that night as stated above she freaked out that I knew where my brother hid.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: can't remember

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident I jumped into the swimming pool to save my brother who was drowning, not realizing I could not reach the bottom either Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function) I was resuscitated for close to 10-12 minutes Drowning.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I clearly left my body and existed outside it

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Normal consciousness and alertness It was neither heightened; it was or seemed the most natural thing to look down on myself.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I think when I watched them resuscitating me.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Neither

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Neither

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more so

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I remember a very distinct sound as I walked towards the light in response to my granny's voice it sounded like a gentle rustling of leaves about my feet but never in a threatening way.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Yes, and the facts have been checked out

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Yes It was more like tall walls closing in on me but not in a threatening or frightening manner.

Did you see any beings in your experience? Sensed their presence

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No

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

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes The light was at the end where the gentle voice of my grandmother was coming from.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I was calm, at peace, not scared. I felt the answer to staying or following my grandmother was okay whichever way I answered. I felt good to be placed in such an important position to make such a big decision. I felt whatever my answer it would not disappoint anyone.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Incredible peace or pleasantness

Did you have a feeling of joy? Happiness

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? A conscious decision to 'return' to life

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Liberal I was too young to have any

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No Not religious.

What is your religion now? Liberal Not religious at all

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No Not religious.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? Neither

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Sensed their presence

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes I knew that if I chose to return to my body my decision was not going to disappoint anyone.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain I felt no one would believe me. My mother was very disturbed by it. She asked my brother where he had gone to hide, and I answered before he did. He was taken aback as I was being resuscitated at the time. I explained I left my body and watched him hide. My mother threatened me and said I must never speak about it again.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes Sometimes, I cannot explain it, when I am resuscitating a patient I am calm in knowing I will not bring him back.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Three friends, much later on in my life, when I had forgotten about it and it came up in conversation and I remember it.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? No

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real I was very young and forgot about it as my mother put the fear of God into me if I ever spoke of it. I only remembered it about twenty-five years later when it came up in conversation.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real It was a very real, process; I have resuscitated countless patients and watched them go peacefully, even the suicides.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No