Sammy O NDE

Experience Description

Tunnel (really just circular black border) with small pinpoint light in center. Scenes which I recognized as being from my youth, etc. being vividly portrayed - really in a continuous (sometime circular around the small light) fashion. I frankly thought that I was dreaming (being in the hospital bed) and was consciously trying to analyze what was happening. I thought it was an unusual dream with a very weird format (circular boundary). I mostly stopped paying attention to what was being portrayed and puzzled about the strange format. After what seemed a considerable time, the tunnel collapsed inward and the light exploded toward me.

This apparently was when the code team shocked me. I then awoke to find twenty to twenty-five people (code team) in my room, and immediately realized what must have happened. Because of the potassium deficiency, when I was revived, my heart was beating with an abnormal rhythm, and I kept slipping into unconsciousness. I was placed in a medial coma for eight to ten hours and the potassium deficiency was found and corrected. It was probably at least five to eight minutes from the onset of ventricle fibrillation until I was revived.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 11/4/03

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-related 'While recovering from heart operation Replaced aortic (2nd time) & mitral valves. Repaired tri-cusped and being treated for congestive heart failure, potassium level dropped to ~2.5 and vfib occurred.' Life threatening event, but not clinical death vfib See narrative.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

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? Normal consciousness and alertness As above.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? The entire time. I was totally aware and trying to analyze what I thought was a strange dream.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual

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

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Circular, tunnel format.

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? Uncertain Looking into what might be called a tunnel, watching images in the tunnel.

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

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Uncertain Memories of my youth, etc.

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? Yes Small light in center of tunnel. Exploded toward me when heart shocked.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Puzzlement.

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

The experience included: Life review

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control I had forgotten some of the images but I knew they were memories of my youth.

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 None

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Liberal None

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? No

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 The next day. No special reaction from others.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes Was generally aware of out-of-body experiences from news media, etc.

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