Darla Z NDE

Experience Description

On March 16, 2007, I experienced my first heart attack, unbeknownst to me. I had the classic symptoms, which included chest and arm pain. But being only 41 and in exceptional health, I found it unrealistic that I could be having a heart attack. Several days later, I had the same symptoms, but this time my skin turned ashen. I was working as a mail carrier and was close to my house. I went home, and upon entering, my husband asked why I was there. I explained I wasn't feeling well again, with the symptoms from the previous incident recurring. He asked if I wanted to go to the hospital, but I declined and said I just wanted to rest. I took two baby aspirin. Several minutes went by, and I was not feeling relief, so he decided to take me to the hospital. I asked him to call our doctor's office to let them know we would soon be arriving at the emergency room. Upon arrival, I was given an EKG and asked many questions about my health history. The attending physician believed I was suffering a gallbladder attack.

To the credit of my personal doctor's nurse, she had the presence of mind to contact the heart specialist, who only visits on Tuesdays, and relay to him my plans to arrive at the emergency room. He promptly went to the Emergency Room. He looked at the EKG reading and overruled the Emergency Room physician. He said that I was experiencing a heart attack and would need to be flown to a nearby hospital for stent placement.

I was rushed there and quickly taken to a procedure room. During the procedure, the pain became more than I could bear. I started to pray. I chastised myself, admitted I had not been faithful to God at that time in my life, and ceased praying. I remember "giving up," and everything went black.

Then, I was walking through an amazing field of the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen. There was a majestic mountain landscape in the distance. I heard the voice of my niece, who died in 1998 from injuries she sustained in a car crash. She was calling me to her, saying, "Aunt Dar, Aunt Dar."

I was not able to see her, and the next thing I heard was the hospital team calling my name to wake me up.

I was unaware until the next day that my heart had stopped during the procedure. I had no idea that defibrillation and CPR had been administered. I did find out that my husband had never stopped praying. By the grace of God, I am here to retell my story. I am here and no longer fear death.

The image of the field of flowers and mountain landscape is as clear in my memory today as it was nearly twenty years ago. Believe! There is life after life.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 3/20/2007

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes

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

Did you feel separated from your body? No

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? As I was walking through the flowers and heard my niece call to me.

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

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? No

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 enhanced by the absolute beauty and colors I saw.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience All I remember hearing was the voice of my niece.

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 sensed their presence

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased beings? Yes
I heard but did not see my niece

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

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter another world? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Excitement as I had not seen my niece for nearly 10 years

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- Catholic
At the time I identified as Catholic but was not committed to religious practice.

Have your religious practices changed? Yes
I no longer identify as a Catholic. I am a Bible-believing Christian.

What is your religion now? Christian- Other Christian
I am currently a faithful Christian. I know Jesus to be my personal Lord and Savior. I believe the Bible to be true and without error. I pray for discernment and avoid following man-made religious laws and practices.

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
As a Catholic I was taught purgatory. Even though I didn't encounter Jesus, there was a peace about where I was that I would never have imagined. Even though I did not get to reunite with my niece, I have great faith of the everlasting life.There was no excruciating pain in death.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes
I became more committed and dedicated to God.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? No

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? No

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? No

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? Large changes in my life

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

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 as accurately as other life events that occurred around the time of the experience.
I have birthed three children. This event stands out more and I am able to convey the happenings with ease, unlike retelling my children's birthdays.

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? I heard the voice of my niece. This leads me to believe she is gifted with eternal life. I long to be with her and others one day.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
Days after my experience, I shared it with family and friends. My husband challenges me by suggesting the voice I heard could be that of Satan. I do not believe that is possible.

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
Skepticism by others would have me question if my experience could have just been a dream.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
This memory does not fade, nor does God.

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? Yes
Like any experience, one has a hard time conveying it fully to others.

Anything else to add? No