Bella R Anesthesia Experiences

Experience Description

I was told that my first child was due on December 11, 1980. However, nothing was happening, so I asked the doctor, “Please don’t let this child be born on Christmas.”

A couple of days before Christmas, they took me in and induced labor. My baby was bigger than expected, and I was in labor for 18 hours. I was exhausted, so they broke my water. The contractions were so strong that you could see them in my stomach. I was later told that one of the new nurses fainted when she saw it.

They took me into the delivery room. I remember the doctor saying that he had to cut more because the baby’s head was turned. The anesthesiologist gave me more medication through the IV.

The next thing I remember was hearing my husband say, “She is not breathing.”

The anesthesiologist replied, “You are right.”

I believe I was getting oxygen. I felt like I was going to panic. Then I saw three men, all dressed in white, standing on my chest. They were holding me and telling me that everything was going to be okay.

It felt as though they were moving my chest up and down and making the oxygen go in and out of my lungs. I remember trying to understand how all three of them could be standing there, bending over me, and doing what they were doing.

I was completely at peace and simply listened to them talk to me. Their voices were gentle and reassuring.

Then I heard the doctor say that the baby’s cord was wrapped around him and his neck. He was concerned about whether the baby would make it. I could hear other people talking, but I could only see and clearly hear these three men who were still standing on my chest.

They seemed soft, yet large and gentle. To this day, I can still remember how they felt and how their voices sounded.

When I came to, I was freezing. It felt as though I had been packed in ice. I could hear people around me, but I could not open my eyes for quite a while. They kept doing things to me, but I could not feel anything except the intense cold.

Then I heard the doctor praying over me while holding my hand. I was told that they had almost lost me, but that I was going to be okay.

They asked if I wanted to see the baby, and I said no. I could not feel my arms or legs. All I could feel was the cold. They kept putting hot blankets on me, but I could not get warm.

I do not remember what happened after that. I was told that I lost consciousness again and remained out for quite some time. I later felt guilty about not wanting to hold the baby, but I could not stop thinking about what had happened.

I did not tell anyone about the experience for a long time because I thought they would think I was crazy. When my son got married, I finally told his wife. She said, “Well, you know it was the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who were there helping you out.”

When I was pregnant with my second son, I was also given an epidural. I believe they may have given me too much because something similar happened. My entire body went numb, and I became frightened that I was going to die.

Then, through all the people in the room, I saw a man come toward me. He came to my side and told me that everything was okay and that I should just rest with him.

I knew it was Jesus holding me and keeping me going. I gave everything over to Him and let the medical team do whatever they needed to do.

I do not remember much after that.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 12/24/1980

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
I believe I reacted to the large amount of anesthetic given to me that took me under too far. If the doctor had not been there, I would not have made it. I was scared at first and then at peace. It was hard to explain.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Both pleasant AND distressing

Did you feel separated from your body? I lost awareness of my body
I'm not sure. Well, three men standing on my chest are not real; it is impossible. First, how could three men fit onto my little chest? They didn't weigh anything really; I was just to focus on them.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? I'm not sure I understand the question.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness? Less consciousness and alertness than normal

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Time seemed to go faster or slower than usual
Way slower, like time had stopped.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? No

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience It was like everything was slowed or in slow motion. Most of the time I couldn't see what was going on in the room, just the three people standing on me. The rest was kind of a blur.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience I could hear some voices sometimes in the room, but it was like I wasn't there or they weren't. I could just hear the voices of the three people, like in my head, but not verbal voices. I'm not sure how to explain that.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? No

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 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? Uncertain
They were all white, kind of bright white and yet not solid. All around them and them. Weird.

Did you seem to enter another world? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Just peace that everything was going to be okay.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? No

Did you suddenly understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back? No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? No

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian - Protestant
I believe the Bible is the true inspired word of God and factual in full.

Have your religious practices changed? Yes
Again, it just verified that all of it is real.

What is your religion now? Christian - Other Christian
I don't believe you have to go to church to be a believer. Denominations are man-made rules and regulations, but faith in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is in our hearts and minds. I still believe the Bible is the true inspired word of God and believe it in its entirety. A person needs to believe that Jesus is who He said He is and not just the parts they want to believe to make it okay to do what they want.

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience
None of the above. I had no idea about any of it, because none of these things were ever discussed or mentioned. I had no experience with any of this before, nor had I heard of anyone else going through this type of thing.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes
It just confirmed that God is real and He showed me that He is always there for us.

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
Absolutely! Three men standing on my chest telling me to feel the air going into my lungs, that everything was going to be okay. Trust them.

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)? Yes
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That description was mentioned to me later. At the time I had no idea who they were.

During your experience, did you gain information about premortal existence? No

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? Yes
I don't believe in mystical stuff as some would explain it. God is real and this just proved it.

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Yes
Just another proof that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are real.

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Uncertain
Maybe not at the time, because like I said, I was only in the moment. Things came to me afterward as I looked back on it all.

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? Yes
That God wanted me to stay here and be there for my kids and for His purpose, whatever that might be. Only He knows.

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Uncertain
I don't know; never thought about it. I already knew that there is a heaven and hell, but I still don't have an actual explanation of what happened or how.

Did you gain information about how to live our lives? Yes
That we have to trust God, that He knows what He is doing, and that He allows things to happen so that we can be there to help others.

During your experience, did you gain information about life's difficulties, challenges and hardships? Uncertain
At the time, I was only in the here and now. I didn't think beyond that. Yes, the whole experience was very difficult. Way more than I expected.

During your experience, did you gain information about love? Yes
Yes, God really does love me and this baby I was having, or He wouldn't have kept me alive.

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Moderate changes in my life
I don't fear death in itself, because I know I will go to be with Christ in heaven. However, I fear dying in pain.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Uncertain
My relationships with whom?

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain
I remember it, but it took me a long time before I could talk about it. I didn't understand how to explain it without someone thinking I was crazy.

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience? I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience
It was intense and a totally new experience. It was hard to forget.

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? The three men and seeing Jesus himself standing there holding my hands. I can't explain how much that means to me; it is beyond words.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
I did share it with my husband, because he too was a believer; however, I explained it like it is what I believed happened, what I thought happened, but I wasn't sure. It was quite a while after because I didn't want people to think I was crazy. Some people were okay with it, but I didn't share it with very many people. Mostly with other believers, but only a few. Some were in awe, and some others weren't sure if it was just the medication.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes
I had heard of things but didn't really know of anyone personally.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real
It was really clear, and all the feelings that went with it stayed with me. It is still very clear.

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

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

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Uncertain
I believe so; however, with my age I may have forgotten something, but most of it is like it happened yesterday, and yet I can't tell you most of what happened yesterday. Things that are dramatic in our lives will many times stay with us.