Connie N NDE

Experience Description

The day was January 3, 2003. It had been a cold dreary day. Our oldest son had a doctor's appointment. My husband, our two sons and myself were going to town. After the doctor's appointment, we went to my parents' house and our oldest son wanted to stay there with them. We were about to leave and my husband's mother called. His sister was in an accident and needed us to pick up her son from daycare, so we picked him up. We went through the McDonald's drive-thru, got him a happy meal, and headed back home. We were about half a mile from our home.

We were approaching an old wooden bridge and noticed another vehicle coming from the opposite direction. They flashed their lights for us to go first. As we were crossing, our car spun out of control and landed in the water. My husband was able to jump out. Once he did, his door shut and the car flipped over onto the hood. I could feel myself getting hysterical and told our nephew to unbuckle his seat belt. I had our 5-week-old son in his car seat, strapped onto my lap with the seat belt. The car was filling up with water fast. I was having a hard time getting air.

Then it felt like time had stopped. I thought I felt air on my face, so I was able to pull my son from his car seat. I pushed him toward the air that I thought I was feeling. Then it was all dark. I couldn't hear or see anyone. I felt like I was falling down into darkness. Then I just stopped. I felt something touch my legs, but I couldn't see anything. But then, I started hearing something. It almost sounded like muffled chatter or moans. I felt like I was in despair and felt helpless hearing those sounds. I thought I must be in hell. The only light I saw were thin lines of light. I don't remember seeing Jesus or anyone.

When I came to, I was told my neck was twisted and my face was implanted into the back seat. My body was still in the passenger seat with the seat belt and my son's car seat buckled in. There was a nurse giving CPR to my nephew and the other people in the other vehicle were trying to give my son CPR. I had training for that, so I gave my son CPR twice that night. Right then and on the way to the emergency room. I had nightmares for over a month. I didn't believe I had been a bad person, so I didn't understand why I was going to hell. After that, I have tried my best to be a better person.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 1/3/2003

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Uncertain
There were 3 of us in the car. All 3 were assumed to have drowned but we all lived.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Entirely distressing

Did you feel separated from your body? I lost awareness of my body
I thought I heard someone say something about CPR. When I came to, I saw a nurse giving CPR to my nephew.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? As our car was going off the bridge.

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

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
In one thought, I was pushing my son towards air. The next I was in total darkness and was falling, but then I wasn't falling.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? More vivid than usual

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience My vision was gone during the experience. I just saw darkness. I wore glasses then and still do. My eyesight has gotten worse over time.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience My hearing was fine before the experience. When I was going through this, I was able to hear muffled chatter and moans.

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

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Uncertain
It was total darkness but I felt like I was falling.

Did you see any beings in your experience? I sensed their presence

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased beings? Uncertain
I heard what sounded like voices, but I couldn't make out what was being said.

Did you see or feel surrounded by a brilliant light? No

Did you see an unearthly light? Uncertain
I just saw thin strands of bright light.

Did you seem to enter another world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm
I felt like I was going to hell.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I felt helpless and despair.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? No

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? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will
I felt like I was falling and immediately I wasn't.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian - Other Christian
I'm non-denominational Christian.

Have your religious practices changed? Yes
I stopped going to church. I talk to God daily. My husband and I have biblical discussions now. Before my experience, he didn't believe in God.

What is your religion now? Christian - Other Christian

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
I had always believed in heaven and hell. I believe in God and I know about Satan. But I always thought you went straight to Jesus when you died. But I didn't see Jesus. Yet, I felt like I was going to hell immediately.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes
I believe now.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? I heard a voice I could not identify
It sounded like muffled chatter.

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.)? No

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

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? No

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Uncertain
I felt like I was going to hell, but something brought me back.

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? Uncertain
Just an awareness to do better. Be better.

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? No

Did you gain information about how to live our lives? No

During your experience, did you gain information about life's difficulties, challenges and hardships? No

During your experience, did you gain information about love? No

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Moderate changes in my life
I pray to Jesus every day now. For my family and for our country. I pray for myself and another day to be better.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes
I haven't talked about it since it happened.

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
I feel like I have PTSD now. I am always questioning myself and my decisions about everything.

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? No

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 heard about other people's NDEs and realized that I must have really gone through it, too. That I wasn't going crazy.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
I believe it was meant to wake me up, before it was too late.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Uncertain

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Uncertain