Mark H NDE

Experience Description

I came home from work feeling really rundown, no appetite, and no stamina at all. I lay down, thinking it was pneumonia. I woke up after an hour, started to go up the basement steps, and collapsed. I was lying face down on the stairs, with a broken nose and lots of blood pouring out of it.

Suddenly, I was looking down on myself from about 8 feet up. The part of the stairwell was nowhere near big enough to view all of me, so I realized that this was not normal. Then I noticed just how much the bald spot on the top of my head had spread. I was in complete peace and felt fantastic. Nothing hurt; I had no anxiety and wasn't even worried about my broken nose or why I was lying on the basement stairs. I don't know how long this went on, but it disappeared as soon as the local firefighters picked me up and put me in the ambulance.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date of NDE: 10/10/2006

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
The ER physician said that I had 15 pulmonary embolisms.

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
I could see the ambulance pull up the driveway even though I was face down on the stairs.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? When I realized just how good I felt.
Everything was in sharp focus and my other senses were collecting smells and sounds. I could feel the wood grain against my cheek.

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? Faster than usual

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Time seemed to go faster or slower than usual
Time moved slower, but not distorted.

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 I'm very nearsighted, but everything was vivid and absolutely clear. Even though my eyes were closed.

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 both sides of my wife's conversation with 911 and she was at the front of the house and I was at the rear and halfway in the basement.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Yes, but the facts have not been checked out

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? No

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes
I had a light behind me where there couldn't possibly be one.

Did you seem to enter another world? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Well-being, everything was good.

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? Happiness

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? 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? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will
The voice told me to re-enter my body.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Other faiths - New age

Have your religious practices changed? No

What is your religion now? Other faiths - New age

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 had expected the peace and well-being, but I thought there would be more structure. I had no sense of a guiding presence.

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 heard a voice I could not identify
At first, I thought it was my Dad, who had died almost 30 years before. But there wasn't any warmth. The voice just said "you can't stay. It's much too soon."

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 was told that there were things that only I could do because I was going to be at the right place and right time.

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 could see something inviting, like a meadow or a park, but no way in.

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? Yes
I was told that I still had a purpose and things to take care of in the future.

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
If that was some sort of afterlife, I really want to end up there.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes
I tried to explain the perfect peace I felt, but I know there was no way to describe how much I wanted to just stay.

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 even remember the discussion about my condition that the EMTs had over the radio with the hospital. I remember the smell of dinner, how I was dressed, and lots of trivial details.

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 remember being very amused with the size of my bald spot. I even promised myself a new hat.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
I told my wife a few days later. She believed me, but was also surprised by no apparent rules.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes
Popular culture. Books and articles both supporting and disputing.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real
I knew things I couldn't possibly have heard. My wife with 911, the EMTs trying to figure out how to get me out of my tight spot.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
I'm not always very observant, but I remembered way more details than in any other random event.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Yes
When I was 4 or 5, I choked on a piece of hard candy that was stuck in my throat and blocking my airway. I remember seeing myself being held upside down and pounded on the back to dislodge the candy. I seemed to be standing several feet away and I could see an orderly and a nurse jerking me up and down.

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes
I couldn't think of anything that wasn't at least mentioned.

Anything else to add? I was a little disturbed by not seeing a tunnel or people who went before me.