Jo S NDE

Experience Description

I went into the hospital for a hip replacement. During the procedure, my abductor muscle tore completely off, so they were repairing that as well. I had wanted to give blood prior to my surgery, but they refused to order it. While they were getting me set up, the anesthesiologist asked me if they could give me blood if I needed it. I said no unless it was an emergency, as I had a fear of getting long covid from a transfusion. The surgery was longer than expected. My hemoglobin was 15 right before surgery and dropped to 8 within 15 minutes during the operation.

The following morning, my blood pressure bottomed out. I was sitting in a chair and could tell something was not right. So, I asked to be helped into bed since it felt like I had no time to waste. I went unconscious as soon as I laid down.

I woke up in a room or space and was surrounded with the most beautiful, soft white lights I have ever seen. It was the warmest, most beautiful, and peaceful place I have ever been. I did not say anything, and no one said anything to me. I was just there, taking it in. I felt so at peace and happy. I really did not want to leave, but I guess it was not my time yet.

When I came back, my room was full of nurses and a doctor. They had put an IV in my arm. I was on full oxygen, and they administered some medications along with Ativan through my IV. This is noted in my chart. Something strange happened next because I completely lost my hearing. I could see people talking but could not hear them. I kept asking my husband what was wrong. I could feel my anxiety growing. A wonderful woman, who I thought was a nurse, sat down beside me and held my hand. She mouthed a question asking if I wanted her to stay. There was something so comforting and safe about her that I said "yes."

When my hearing started coming back, she talked to me about my dogs. Somehow she knew I had two, and she showed me pictures of hers. I did not know her and had never seen her before. I turned to look at my husband, and when I turned back, she was gone. I asked my husband who she was, and he did not understand what I was talking about. This may sound weird, but I wondered if she was an angel. I wanted to thank her, but she was gone and I never saw her again. She was a true blessing.

Since that time, a couple of other things have happened. After my father passed in 2007, I was out in my kayak alone. A lone eagle kept circling me, flying closer and closer. I was not scared at all. I stopped and looked up to talk to my dad, and the eagle circled closer. After about 15 minutes, I decided to head back. The eagle circled me all the way back to our dock. Once I got out of my kayak onto the dock, the eagle slowly flew off.

Another thing happened one night. I know my dad came to me. I woke up and he was standing by my bed. He looked amazing and healthy. We had moved my mom up here to a memory care facility close by. He told me I was doing a wonderful job with mom and said he was proud of me. It did not feel like a dream, and I remember every detail. It was around 2:30 a.m., about four or five years ago. He has not been back since, and I miss him very much. He is my hero.

Why is all this happening? Is it all my imagination? It does not feel that way. I remember every detail perfectly.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 06/10/2025

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
Post surgery. I lost a lot of blood, my numbers went from 15 to 8 in a matter of minutes. After I was in my room my blood pressure crashed. They had not given me any blood during or after my surgery.

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

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Yes. I felt wonderful. No pain at all from surgery.
I have chronic pain and it was gone. I was just at peace.

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
I lost all sense of time.

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 was really intune to my environment. I didn't have a worry in the world. My pain was gone.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience I completely lost all my hearing. That was very scary and no one could explain it to me.

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? 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? Yes
It was the most beautiful pure white light I've ever seen.

Did you seem to enter another world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm
I'm not sure how to describe it if it was a room or an area. It didn't have any wall. It was just space. It was different than anything I've ever seen before.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Total peace, warmth and comfort.

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? No

Did you suddenly understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back? No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Uncertain
I'm not sure if it was a room or just space around me. I keep describing it as a room because it was a pure white and I didn't notice wall. I was just into the light.

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'm not a practicing Lutheran but I believe.

Have your religious practices changed? Yes
I pray more and have more conversation with God.

What is your religion now? Christian- Protestant
I went to church until my 20's until all they wanted was money I didn't have.

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've always questioned whether I'll go to heaven or hell and after this I feel blessed to hopefully be going to heaven. It gave me a real peace. As a baby my mother was letting me die and she didn't want me so I always wondered if I deserved to go to heaven if your own mother didn't love or want you.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes
I have a stronger belief there is an afterlife and I will see my loved ones again. I'm not afraid of dying anymore. I know it's good.

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? Yes
I felt like I've gained a sense of well being and love.

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? Moderate changes in my life
I'm more spiritual and more sensitive, which surprises me because I was sensitive before. I've noticed I cry more than before. It was a very emotional journey.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes
When anyone gets mad I have no desire to argue or fight with them. I just want peace, no anger. I'll apologize faster if I'm wrong but if I'm right, I'll let it go and not try to convince anyone I'm right. I know it and that's all that matters.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain
I was afraid to tell anyone for fear they wouldn't believe me. How do you tell your husband who is very logical something like this happened to you. I wasn't sure he would believe me but he was with me while it was happening.

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 will never forget it. It was life changing for me.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Uncertain
Sometimes, but I'm not sure. I'm still figuring things out.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Knowing there is something waiting for me after our my time is done on earth. I'm blessed to have gone through it.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
Just a few weeks after. My husband was there, he knew something had happened but just didn't know what. I was afraid to tell him. He's a very logical and factual person who needs a reason. When I told him the details he didn't question me. He believed me 100%. I also told my 2 best friends and they didn't ask any questions which surprised me. I'm very protective of my experience, I've only told 3 people. I haven't even told my son because I doubt he'd believe me.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Uncertain
I'd heard of it but never looked into it or researched it. It was something I'd read about minimally. Now I want to learn more.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real
I knew it was real the day it happened. I know every detail. I can still see the "room" I can still feel the peace, love and warmth to this day.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
It was an unforgettable experience. I feel more peace now.

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
Yes, everything I wrote was the truth.

Anything else to add? I seem to cry more than before and that's OK. I think I've said it all. Thank you for hearing me out. I don't feel as alone anymore.