Experience Description

I just had transplant surgery. I was in the recovery room in an oxygen tent and had a lot of trouble waking up because the operation lasted over seven hours and I was thirteen.

I was in much pain, it hurt everywhere, and I had tubes in the mouth, in the head and the hip. Suddenly, my body was lifted and I saw myself in bed with all those tubes. I was floating above it. I was in a state of complete bliss, everything was beautiful, and, especially, I was not suffering any more, the pain was gone and I felt really good. Then, I saw a tunnel with a white dot at the end that attracted me. I moved toward it, and as I was moving on, the white dot was getting bigger and bigger, and I kept going.

Then, I heard the nurse telling me that my parents, my aunts and several family members had phoned to ask for me and at this very moment, I stumbled into bed and all the pain was back again!

Now I think that if the nurse had not reported on the calls, I might not be here anymore.

I had other surgeries after this one, but this experience only happened in this one, the first one.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 1981

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? No Surgery-related 'Life threatening event, but not clinical death'

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? Uncertain 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 When I stumbled into bed.

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

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 Floating above the bed.

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

The experience included: Darkness

The experience included: Light

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? A feeling of wellbeing.

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? incredible joy

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? Liberal

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Liberal

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No

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? Yes I am much more receptive to others, and my intuition has grown.

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 Premonitory dreams.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I talked to the professor who operated on me, and he explained to me the phenomenon and especially that, to come back was my choice and that nobody, at that moment could do anything for me - it was my decision.

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 cannot really explain the fact that I am absolutely sure that this experience was real, but in my heart, I know it was.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real As above.

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

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? At the time, in the 1980s, I dared not tell anyone, and I am happy that today we talk about it openly.