Crystal B NDE

Experience Description

A few weeks after I had a progesterone IUD inserted, I was on my way to a graduate class when the smell of greasy french fries suddenly triggered nausea. At the same time, I had a strong premonition that I was pregnant and that there was a problem. I went to my OB/GYN and told her what I was experiencing. She said pregnancy was not possible because it had only been about three weeks since the IUD had been inserted. She told me that if I missed my period in two weeks, we would do a pregnancy test.

I was supposed to get my period over Labor Day weekend. Instead, I began having bad cramps and light spotting. I had already told my husband about my premonition that I was pregnant and that something was wrong, but he thought it was too early in my cycle for me to be pregnant. Because I was not feeling well, he suggested that I stay home and rest while he went to finish clearing out our former rental house and meet with the landlord so we could get our security deposit back.

We had just moved into our new house and did not yet have a telephone. While my husband was gone, my condition became much worse. I was extremely cold, weak, and in shock. If I tried to stand, I would begin to pass out, so I had to crawl. At one point, I crawled to get my blue kaftan because I was so cold. I then crawled back to the living room because I wanted to make sure that, if someone came into the house, I would be found quickly.

I later learned that I had a tubal pregnancy. The fertilized egg had implanted in my fallopian tube despite the IUD. Instead of the tube rupturing and causing a sudden massive hemorrhage, blood had been slowly seeping from it into my abdominal cavity. There were approximately 400 cc of blood in my abdomen. My blood level, normally around 15, had dropped to 9, and I was in shock.

As I lay on the living room floor, I suddenly saw myself lying there in my blue kaftan. Then I began to travel. I was moving through what appeared to be a tunnel or pathway of light. Outside that pathway of light was darkness.

I came to a beautiful garden with velvety green grass. There was a circular walkway surrounding a huge fountain, and I found myself sitting on a marble bench. My grandmother was on one side of me and my grandfather was on the other.

They told me that a decision had to be made. I told them that I wanted to stay with them. I had been so cold and in so much pain, and now I was surrounded by warm, bright light. It had been so many years since I had heard their voices and felt their love. I wanted to remain there with them.

They told me that I had to go back because there were still things I had to do. I begged them to let me stay, but they told me that they would be there waiting for me when it was my time. They also told me that help was on the way.

They kissed me, and then I was drawn back through the tunnel, surrounded by ribbons of light. Suddenly, I felt icy cold again. I was back in my body, lying on the floor. I began to cry.

Shortly afterward, my husband rushed through the front door screaming my name. He told me that while he was away, he had suddenly gotten an overwhelming sense that I was in trouble and needed him. He was frantic when he found me lying on the floor and shivering.

I wanted to go to the hospital, but because it was Labor Day weekend, my husband believed that only residents would be working. He thought my blood sugar was low and that I needed to eat lean red meat. He made me hot tea and wrapped me in blankets.

On Tuesday, I went to my OB/GYN. I was so weak that I waited in the car until I could be seen. She performed blood work and determined that I was in shock. She immediately sent me to the hospital, where surgery was scheduled.

During the surgery, she initially tried to save the fallopian tube. My vital signs began to drop, however, and she had to remove the tube so that she could close me up quickly. I remained in the hospital for five days because my blood chemistry was so abnormal and my body needed time to recover.

I later learned that highly fertile women may need to use a secondary form of contraception during the first month or two after insertion of a progesterone IUD while the hormonal effect becomes established. In my case, I became pregnant despite the IUD, and the fertilized egg implanted in the fallopian tube.

I was not afraid when I underwent surgery. After what I had experienced, I had lost my fear of death. I now know that death is simply a journey onward and that the people I treasure are waiting for me.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 09/03/1979

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
I had a tubal pregnancy. The fertilized egg had implanted in my fallopian tube despite the IUD. Instead of the tube rupturing and causing a sudden massive hemorrhage, blood had been slowly seeping from it into my abdominal cavity. There were approximately 400 cc of blood in my abdomen. My blood level, normally around 15, had dropped to 9, and I was in shock.

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

Did you feel separated from your body? I clearly left my body and existed outside it
I just saw my body lying on the carpet.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? While in the garden.
Aware of every detail and sensation.

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

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning
Time slowed down. There was no sense of time passing, just joy to see and hear my grandparents.

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 Clearer and more focused. The pain had made my focus poor.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience Hearing was the same.

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? Yes
It was black with bright white light swirling around me.

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

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased beings? Yes
Deceased grandparents. I felt that more were waiting for me if I was allowed to move on.

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
Swirling light all around me.

Did you seem to enter another world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm
A garden, marble fountain and benches. Beautiful plants and soothing sounds of water.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Warmth, contentment, surrounded by love.

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 understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back? No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes
The garden was a waiting area. I would travel onward if it was decided that I would take the next step on the journey.

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
The step after the garden was closed to me.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian - Protestant
Episcopalian with Jewish background. In college, I talked to a rabbi about converting.

Have your religious practices changed? No

What is your religion now? Jewish

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 didn't think you kept awareness when you were dying. I had no preconceived notions.

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
The voice with the decision: I had to go back. When my grandparents told me, I begged to stay. The voice told me that I had not yet fulfilled my purpose.

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.)? Uncertain
They were in another room deciding my fate. My grandparents were their messengers.

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? Yes
He was the one who decided if I stayed or returned. I got the sense of a collective decision rather than solo.

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Uncertain
I don't know what my purpose was supposed to be, only that I was on the path.

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? Yes
I had a purpose yet to accomplish.

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Yes
When I returned, the people I loved would be waiting for me.

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? Yes
Love does not die. My grandparents' love surrounded and anchored me.

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Moderate changes in my life
I don't fear death. I do fear getting old and unable to care for myself.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes
I have never felt such a sense of peace and joy.

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 remember it clearly decades later.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes
I have always had premonitions. I have more faith in them now.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Being with my grandparents and being told again that they loved me and were proud of me.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
A few years.

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
What I was told came true. Help was there right after I returned.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
I have read about others. I took a graduate course with a student of Dr. Kubler-Ross.

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? Yes