Jennifer B NDE-like

Experience Description

I had been very sick for several weeks, with heart problems and almost constant chest pain for about two weeks. I had gone to the emergency room, where an electrocardiogram (EKG) showed possible damage to the front wall of my heart. A Lexiscan stress test also indicated damage in that area, and a cardiologist was investigating what was happening. I could barely walk any distance without severe chest pain, and sometimes I could not even make it from my car into the house. I was exhausted, constantly sleepy, and felt as though I was recovering from a terrible illness. During my first major episode, I went to the emergency room in excruciating pain. I was shaking, and the pain felt like a knife going straight through my chest and into my back. There was also a stabbing pain beneath my ribs that seemed to shoot upward toward my heart. I could hardly breathe and honestly thought I was going to die that day. Yet the doctors told me it was not a heart attack, and they did not know what was causing the pain.

About five days later, during another episode of pain, I had an unusual experience. I am not sure whether I was dreaming or awake, but it was so clear and surreal that it did not seem like a dream. An angel, a being, or something I cannot identify came to me and calmly said, "It's almost time to go." I understood immediately that this meant I was going to die soon, but strangely, I was not upset or frightened. I simply accepted what I had been told. Approximately seven days later, while I was sleeping alone, I had the following experience.

I remember arriving at the edge of a beautiful river with a being beside me on my left, although I could not really see it clearly. We seemed to be moving together, but we were not exactly walking. I had a body, yet I seemed to be floating. The being communicated with me through my mind, and I could communicate with it the same way. We were having a conversation without speaking aloud or moving our mouths.

The being told me something I remember very clearly, in these exact words: "Your work is finished. You can go." Then it somehow directed my attention toward the river and indicated that I should cross it. I cannot remember whether it pointed or used its arms, although it seemed to have a human shape.

There was no bridge or anything to help me cross, but I understood that I could simply float across the water. On the other side were many people moving about, apparently going about their daily activities, and they all seemed happy.

The place was incredibly beautiful, with lush green trees and a magnificent, crystal-clear blue river. Everything was peaceful and lovely, and even the air smelled wonderful, although I cannot adequately describe the fragrance. Perhaps it was something like the fresh, clean smell of a river in the mountains. I cannot really compare it to anything familiar, but I remember how beautiful everything was. I understood that I was free to cross the river and join the people on the other side.

Then I began thinking about my granddaughter, Scarlett, who has the most beautiful, long blonde hair. I thought about how much I loved her, and I also thought about a man whom I love with all my heart.

The being reminded me that I had a choice, but it also seemed to remind me of how much pain I had experienced on Earth. My body had been suffering terribly because I had been so sick for so long, and there was emotional pain, too, from loving this man for such a long time. It was as though the being was helping me remember everything I would be returning to if I chose to stay. I began talking it through with the being, thinking about how beautiful the rivers are on Earth, how pretty Scarlett's hair is, and how wonderful it feels to love this man despite the emotional pain. There was so much beauty and love in those things that I did not want to leave them behind. Throughout our conversation, everything had felt completely neutral, with no pressure or judgment about what I should do. Then I asked the being one simple question: "Can't I just stay a little longer?"

The moment I asked that question, everything changed. I instantly began drifting backward, away from the river. It was almost like a scene in a movie where everything suddenly fades to black, except it happened faster than I can describe. It was as though, in the space of a single heartbeat, before I could even finish the thought, everything disappeared, and suddenly I was back in my bed.

It was nighttime, and I was lying sideways on the bed, looking around in confusion. I felt strange and was somewhat short of breath. My chest hurt, and my continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask was still on my face. The machine was blowing air very forcefully, the way it does when I have not been breathing properly.

I was startled, with my eyes wide open, looking around the dark room and trying to understand what had just happened. I did not have the feeling of simply waking up from an ordinary dream. It was as though I had suddenly arrived back in my bed, fully aware, but unable to explain the transition. I was alone that night, so I do not know what physically happened to me while I was sleeping. For days, weeks, and even months afterward, I struggled to understand what I had experienced.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 07/00/2026

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Uncertain
I had been seriously ill for several weeks, with nearly constant chest pain, difficulty breathing, and possible heart damage indicated by medical tests. During one severe episode, I experienced stabbing chest pain that went through to my back, and I thought I was dying. Doctors ruled out a heart attack but could not determine the cause. About five days later, a being told me, "It's almost time to go." Approximately seven days after that, I had this experience while sleeping alone. I do not know what happened physically.

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? After being directed to cross the river, while I was considering asking if I could stay a little longer.
I was totally aware. I could talk to the being without speaking. I knew they were there without looking. The trees were wow.

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? 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 I could see the wisps in the water in the river. And somehow I could see the wind as it swirled through the trees and around over the water.

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 the chattering of the people on the far side of the riverbank even though we were quite far away.

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? No

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased beings? Yes
There were probably 100 beings across the river walking back and forth. I don't think I would call them 'deceased' because I didn't think of myself as 'deceased,' but they were people in the same state of being as I was, so I suppose from our point of view right now here on Earth alive, they would be considered deceased.

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? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm
There was a place by the river with the people.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Peace, calmness, rest, release of pain, ease, love, longing.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Incredible peace or pleasantness

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? I felt no longer in conflict with nature

Did you suddenly understand everything? Everything about myself or others
I did seem to understand that my work was finished and that if I chose to come back to Earth, I didn't have to struggle anymore. I could just love. Be at peace. Not rush things. Not try to force things. Not try to be more than I had been. That what I had done already was enough and I didn't have to be more.

Did scenes from your past come back? My past flashed before me, out of my control
Not totally scenes from my past, but I did remember small scenes of my granddaughter and me being together, and scenes with the man I love and times we have had together.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes
The river.

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a definite conscious decision to return to life
I thought of my granddaughter and the man I love and asked if I could stay a little longer even though the being told me it was time to go.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Other or several faiths
I was raised Christian, however, I walked away from the church when I was about 27. For a long time I believed there was no God at all, and eventually I came back to believing there was a God, but not like a big man in the sky, I don't think. A sentient being, yes. Kind. Loving.

Have your religious practices changed? No

What is your religion now? Other or several faiths
This has not changed. My beliefs about what I thought God was before and after are similar.

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience
I don't know that I had any specific beliefs about what I thought this would be like for me, only that I didn't need to be afraid.

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
There was some kind of being there with me, beside me and talking to me. It was telling me, 'Your work is done,' but it was also communicating things without words, like welcome and 'Look, it's awesome, huh?' and 'You don't have to be scared.'

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? Uncertain
Only that my specific work is done, which I suppose means that I had specific work to do. In my living life, I had been very much worried about what I had come here to learn, what I came here to do, why I was here on Earth. And the being told me my work was done.

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? Slight changes in my life
I can't explain it. It changed me somehow. I can relax and live.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes
It's 3 months later and I'm still trying to figure out how to express it.

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
As time goes by, pieces of this get more and more clear, even though until today I haven't really read or thought about it much. But other things, the doctor visits, being sick, walking around in a haze, are almost totally forgotten. But this, this is as clear as if it is in an aquarium glass on replay. And then suddenly I'll remember the smell. And then I'll remember the way the wind looks. And then I'll remember the chatter of the people, or the way the being talked without talking, or how we floated, or how I understood I was supposed to float over the river.

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? Choosing to stay. Because when I am in pain, I remember I chose to stay, and it makes it bearable.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
A week. My sister told me laughingly, 'Don't tell anyone else, they'll think you're nuts, sister.'

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes
I had researched it before. I don't see how simply knowing about something can actually change what happens to you, and I'm telling you, something happened to me. Also, I had another much simpler experience once where I simply popped out of my body into the sky. No body, bright light behind me, no tunnel. I was a ball of light then, and thrilled. I thought it was awesome! And then swoop, in an instant I was just sucked back in. So, just knowing doesn't choose your experience.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was probably not real
I thought it was a dream in the first week or month afterward.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was probably real
The more I piece all of the pieces of it together, I'm realizing, wait, there was a choice, a barrier, a being, surreal senses, the sudden sense of going back to my body. CPAP blasting like no tomorrow. And then, wait just a minute. What happened?

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

Anything else to add? I just know that the next time I am at that river, when my grandkids are older, my children are not in their 20s, I've loved a little more, felt the water of Earth's rivers on my feet, and felt Earth's wind on my skin a bit longer, there will be a day I go across it. I won't be afraid to go. I know that dying itself is not scary at all. Nothing I experienced there made me want to run away. It was just that I wasn't quite ready to leave here and asked if I could stay a little longer. I was given a little more time.