David R NDE

Experience Description

Had been in hospital a couple of weeks with pneumonia. Late one evening, my parents were visiting. A doctor was present. I felt tired and drifted off. I heard the doctor say, 'He's gone'. Then I was aware that I was floating above the bed at ceiling level. My first response was to wonder why my mother was crying because I felt very serene and peaceful. It did not occur to me that my position above the bed was unusual. I observed the doctor inject something into my left arm and I awoke the next morning.

The experience was a short one and I saw no lights or other entities but it was not a dream.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: Fall 1951

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) . Seriously ill with pneumonia.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes
I lost awareness of my body

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Normal consciousness and alertness Throughout - experience did not seem to last more than a few seconds.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Throughout - experience did not seem to last more than a few seconds.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

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? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? I actually saw them

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

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? No

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? I felt united or one with the world

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

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control

Did scenes from the future come to you? Scenes from the world's future

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate do not like/understand the 3 categories. I was a 7th grade student a Roman Catholic School

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes Belief in afterlife.

What is your religion now? Conservative/fundamentalist no church goer but with strong religious beliefs

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes Belief in afterlife.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? I actually saw them

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? Uncertain

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? No

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Immediately after the event and then not for several years. Disbelief.

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.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. I am convinced that it was not drug induced or a dream.

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