Experience Description

I was to have a D&C (dilation and curettage) after a miscarriage. I was told not to eat or drink anything after midnight. Upon my arrival at the hospital the following morning, after waiting, what it seems like a long time I got very thirsty and was looking for something to drink. The only thing I could find was milk in a machine in the waiting room, as soon as I drank the milk, the nurses called me. They asked if I had anything to eat or drink, I said 'no' because I did not want to wait any longer. Then they put me under. I was told that the worst thing I could have drank was milk, because it was like food, and there was nothing they could have done for me. I was choking on the milk.

I saw the nurses and the doctor working on my body. I was up in the ceiling looking down. I thought it was cool I could float like that. I also saw my brother and his girlfriend in the waiting room looking worried. I wondered how they got there so fast. I tried to touch them and to say I was all right, but I could not. After it was all over, and my brother and his girlfriend came to the room to see me I reached out and touched them; I told them I had tried to touch them before. I was feeling no pain, I was aware that I was on a hospital bed, but it was by a huge river and there were a group of people on the other side, waving to me to come on the other side where they were. But I could not. I had two little girls I had to take care of. So I told them that I could not come.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 1980

NDE Elements:

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

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? No 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? More consciousness and alertness than normal As above.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? While I was talking to the group of people on the other side of the river.

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 I was by this huge river of some sort, on the hospital bed, and I saw a group of people on the other side of the river calling me. I waved to them and told them that I could not come, because I had my two little girls back there. Then I heard the nurses calling me. When I open my eyes, one of the nurses told me that we almost lost you and I told her that I knew.

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? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Peaceful.

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

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I try not to do the wrong things anymore.

What is your religion now? Moderate

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I try not to do the wrong things anymore.

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? Yes

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes

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 can, it scares me. But I pray to God.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? I know I was telling the people that I could not come to them, because of my daughters, and I was calling their names. And one of the nurses asked who my daughters were by their names; she said I kept repeating the names.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? No

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

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