Joyce M NDE

Experience Description

I floated up to the ceiling and saw myself lying on the operating table. I could see and hear the doctors around me as they performed the surgery. One of the doctors said, "Her hematocrit is down to 14!" and then, "Blood, stat!"

Then I felt myself being drawn into a tunnel, accompanied by a whooshing sound. I heard a single note, followed by a chorus of angels singing. It was beautiful and beckoning.

As I traveled farther through the tunnel, I saw loved ones standing on either side of the "road." They appeared as beings of light with no discernible features, but I knew who they were. My mom, dad, grandparents, brothers, and others were there.

The colors were incredibly vibrant. The grass was intensely green, and there were beautiful flowers everywhere.

Then I saw an awesome light at the end of the tunnel. It was so bright that I could barely look at it. From that light, walking toward me, was God or Jesus himself. I wanted to go to him. He was smiling and welcoming.

Going to him meant that I was part of all of this. All the love, and everything I knew to be good, was there, and I was part of it. I belonged.

At that moment, I heard the whooshing sound again, but this time it was the reverse of what I had heard when I was traveling there. I felt myself being pulled back through the tunnel. I was very upset because I desperately wanted to stay.

Jesus or God said, "Not yet."

I was then pulled completely back to the operating room.

The next thing I was aware of was being in the recovery room, where two of my doctors were standing beside my bed. One of them said, "There you are! You gave us quite a scare."

I asked, "How are my hematocrits?"

They looked at one another. One of the doctors asked, "What did you say?"

I replied, "How are my hematocrits? You said they were 14, and I assume that wasn't good?"

One of the doctors asked, "How do you know that?"

I said, "I heard you when I was being operated on."

They looked at one another again, as if in disbelief.

"But you were under anesthesia. You couldn't have heard that," one of them said.

"But I did," I replied as I drifted off to sleep again.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 06/22/1983

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
Bleeding out during hysterectomy 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
As I said in my story, I could see myself on the table and see and hear the doctors working on me.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? At the point when I saw all my relatives who had passed before, and all the colors were so bright.

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? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning
I was not aware of time passing.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience Things were much sharper and clearer. I knew more about everything I was seeing. And I knew I was going home.

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 more acute too. The sound of the angels singing that one note was so vivid.

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
There was a tunnel lined with flowers, grass, and many souls who had passed on.

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

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased beings? Yes
I saw family members and friends who had passed on, lining the path I was traveling.

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
At the end of the tunnel was a light so bright it was hard to look at. From that light came Jesus/God.

Did you seem to enter another world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm
Beyond the light was where I belonged, and I desperately wanted to go there.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Joy, a sense of belonging

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? Everything about myself or others
I just knew I was a part of all I had experienced.

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
Jesus/God said it was not my time yet, and I went back through the tunnel quickly.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian - Protestant

Have your religious practices changed? No

What is your religion now? Christian - Protestant

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
It did firm up my beliefs that there was something greater than me, and that I was a part of it all, to which I will return when this body dies.

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 light surrounded what I knew was the Almighty Creator.

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.)? Yes
I saw Jesus/God himself.

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

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? Yes
I knew I was part of a bigger plan.

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Yes
He appeared before me.

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes
I was no longer fearful of death. I knew it wasn't to be feared.

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? No

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Yes
I knew I was destined to go into the light, just not yet.

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
I knew that all the love, all the joy, and everything I was living for were all there.

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Moderate changes in my life
I knew I had a purpose, and that God would direct and help me know what that was at any given time if I asked him.

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 more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience
The details I recall remain more vivid than other memories I have had.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Uncertain
I seem to have more empathic abilities, but I am not sure if they resulted from the experience.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? The sense of belonging and love was nearly overwhelming.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
several 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
I just know it was!

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
It is a given.

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
I think the questions covered just about all you'd need to know.

Anything else to add? Just that it was a highly emotional experience. The feelings I had were quite strong and I was in tears at times.