Sylvia P NDE

Experience Description

I believe this occurred during the emergency, exploratory surgery to save my life. I later found out that during the surgery my body started to 'shut down'.

My experience was that I was in the dark, lying down, but I felt very comfortable. I was experiencing total comfort and not afraid in any way. A figure walked in (although dark, I could see him). He was someone that I had known as an acquaintance all my life and about the age, my father would have been. This person had passed away several years ago. He sat down beside me, not facing me, reached for and held my hand. After some time, he tugged on my hand and I said, 'I am not ready to go with you.' He very gently placed my hand back by my side, and walked into the darkness very slowly. He never said a word nor did he turn his face to me, but I knew him.

After he left, I remember nothing until I woke up the next day on the ventilator.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 'March 20, 2008'

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

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

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

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I could see well through the darkness. There were no bright lights, just a very comfortable darkness.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I really did not hear anything.

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? Yes See experience description.

The experience included: Darkness

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? Total peace. I felt my decision had been honored.

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? Conservative/fundamentalist

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I want to study the Bible more and more.

What is your religion now? Conservative/fundamentalist

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I want to study the Bible more and more.

The experience included: Presence of unearthly beings

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? Uncertain I feel a peace that I have never known. I am waiting 'for an assignment'.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? The fact that I was safe, and allowed to make my own decision.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I did this in the hospital, and most people were taken aback. They kept telling me it was the anesthesia.

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 keep visualizing it and absolutely nothing changes. I have maintained the peace.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real Nothing about it changes.

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? I am just so grateful that I was allowed to remain here with my spouse and family longer. I lost a daughter at age four with neuroblastoma. I read everything I could find about the afterlife and especially Kubler-Ross. My experience parallels nothing that I have read.