Experience Description

I had a general anesthetic for a female sterilization operation. I had the injection and expected to wake up on the ward post-operatively. I am a nurse myself.

I woke up and found myself in a darkened room lying on a bed that was made of a fabric with all glittering squares. My immediate thought was 'Where am I?' I expected to be on the ward. The information flowed into my head that I had swallowed my tongue in recovery.

I felt fantastic, wonderful, happy and full of joy, which was great as I was suffering from depression at the time.

Suddenly in the distance is heard a shout of 'Roll her over!'

The next thing I knew I was back in a bed on the recovery ward.

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? Yes 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 All the time.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? All the time.

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. I saw nothing but sensed what was happening and that I was lying on the bed with a glittering fabric on it.

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

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

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Very happy and joyful. Uplifted.

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? No

What is your religion now? Conservative/fundamentalist

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 feel kinder towards people and realize death is not the end.

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

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Feeling so happy when I was normally depressed. I suffered severe post-natal depression.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Told my husband soon after. He is a bit skeptical I think. Also told friends later who accepted it and were interested.

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 It was real to me and very vivid.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real It was thirty years ago and is still clear in my memory and stands out amongst most other things that have happened.

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? It was great/fantastic.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? Very comprehensive.