Lori R Probable NDE

Experience Description

When I was finally stabilized enough for surgery, I had been in and out of consciousness.

I was in a huge room with pale yellow and white tiles and pale yellow walls. The light was very average. It wasn't bright, but also wasn't dark; like a large classroom without the lights on. My cousin was there. He was sitting on a metal chair, like a student chair in school. He had his legs spread out with his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped. He had passed away six months earlier at the age of 34, but I didn’t feel surprised to see him there. He was extremely important to me. I asked him what we were doing there. He said, “We just have to wait.” He was pensive, but not sad. I felt very content with whatever was going to happen. I had the feeling that something really good was on the other side of a door.

While I was on the operating table, I remember being very calm and telling my husband to take care of our son. I was somehow in both places at once. According to the doctors, my husband, and my medical records, I told them that I had been talking to my cousin and that he was an anesthesiologist, too, before he died.

After my son was born, I realized I was going to live. I was unbelievably joyful and totally and completely in love with my baby. All the doctors who checked on me afterward were visibly surprised by how happy I was. I was just so joyous to be alive with a baby in my arms.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 6/15/10

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
I was giving birth. My water had broken and I’d been in the hospital for 36 hours with little dilation. I had been doing hypnosis for labor. However, my exhaustion and the time passing since my water broke made the situation more dangerous. We decided to do an epidural and C-section. Unfortunately, a mistake was made and the epidural only worked on one side of my body, so the pain was even more amplified on the other. The doc (a resident) gave me more anesthesia. My blood pressure bottomed out (45/25) and the docs were extremely worried. I head the resident, the attending and the chief in my room for what seemed like a very long time. It took at least several hours to stabilize me enough for the c section, though I lost consciousness several times and remember only snapshots.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Neither pleasant NOR distressing

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? In the waiting room with my cousin.
I felt completely present and aware of what was happening.

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 felt like I was with my cousin and in the operating room at the same time.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? No

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience The same.

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

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 actually saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased beings? Yes
My cousin who had died six months earlier. He was a huge role model for me. He was an anesthesiologist who died of colorectal cancer at only 34.

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? Some unfamiliar and strange place
I could tell it want earth, but it wasn’t very different.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Peace and a sense of neutral acceptance. Acceptance of whatever was going to happen.

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? I felt no longer in conflict with nature

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? Unaffiliated- Atheist
I came from a predominantly Christian background (United Methodist). I had explored many religions, including many classes on religion in university. I had always been fascinated by religion and spirituality. I had learned a lot about Buddhism and was drawn to it. However, in the years just prior to my experience, I had embraced atheism. I had experienced very difficult, traumatic times and I was comforted by the idea that things just 'were' - there was no god to blame or worship. Humanity, and our tiny little lives, were just a blip. We can embrace the beauty of being present in this universe, knowing that it’s all fleeting.

Have your religious practices changed? Yes
I began to believe again in something greater than the material world

What is your religion now? Other faiths- New age
I wouldn’t say I’m any particular faith. I do believe that there is something beyond the physical world and that consciousness extends far beyond our physical bodies.

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 was operating in the belief that the material world was all there was. I was never sure of this belief or completely at ease with it, but I also didn’t believe in anything else. This experience showed me that there was probably more than what we can see.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes
I went from atheist to agnostic.

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? Yes
Yes, my cousin had died, but he was still there. I knew we were waiting for some decision to be made about whether I was supposed to stay or go back to earth.

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

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
Even with the birth of my child, this experience stands on its own.

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? The clarity of knowing there is something after death.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
I think I was trying to share it pretty much in real time, but I wasn’t coherent. I shared it with my husband and my mom shortly afterwards. It was years before I shared it with my aunt, my cousin’s mom, because I wasn’t sure how it would impact her.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Uncertain
I’m sure I’d heard of them, but doubt I believed in them.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real
I just knew I’d seen him.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real

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
That’s all I have to say.