Maryann B NDE/Anesthesia

Experience Description

I awoke on Christmas Eve morning, fainted, and was taken to hospital a few days early for a scheduled surgery. The surgery was for a cyst on the end of the spine. In pre-op, the cycst burst. While I was unconscious, I flew rapidly through gray matter and came upon a being, actually 3 beings in one, whom I knew to be my guide. There was a boundary behind which was a realm that imminated profound love and peace! I begged that I not be sent back to earth because the experience of love and peace was so profound. "They" said I had to go back, so I continued to beg to remain where I was. The being told me that it was I who had chosen my work on earth and it was not yet completed. I then heard my father's voice a long distance away saying, "Here she is. She's rousing!" The being said, "You'd better hurry!" So I bolted through the gray matter and heard my father's voice at my ear saying, "Here she is." I felt no fear of death. I had been traumatized by JFK's assassination the year before and feared dying, in fact, I had been preoccupied with death before this experience.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience? Yes. Anesthesia.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Uncertain. Postoperatively, I developed a staph infection.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience? I felt alert and aware, although my body had not yet roused from the anesthesia.

Was the experience dream-like in any way? It seemed real.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body? Yes. I thought I was in my body until I heard my father refer to my body as waking up.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Love, peace, and joy. Then I felt desperate because I did not want to return to Earth.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises? I heard telepathic conversations with my guide.

LOCATION DESCRIPTION: Did you recognize any familiar locations, any locations from familiar religious teachings, or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or amazing creatures? Yes. My guide and another being were standing nearby. I did not recognize the location or the boundary, but somehow I knew it must be where God was because of the wondrous feelings.

Did you see a light? No.

Did you meet or see any other beings? Yes. My guide, who appeared as three persons in one being, and a witness standing nearby who did not communicate.

Did you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state? No.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later? Yes. My father spoke to me as I roused from the anesthesia.

Did you notice how your five senses were working, and if so, how were they different? Yes. I was hurtling through gray matter in both directions while arriving at and leaving this boundary area.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time? Yes. I was hurtling through gray matter at great speed.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order, and/or purpose? Yes. I thought that this being, with three persons in one, must represent what was meant by the Trinity.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes. I did not cross the boundary because it was not my time. I had work to do in my life, more than on Earth. It was more about timing than location.

Did you become aware of future events? No.

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body? Yes. I was told that my work had been my choice and it was not yet concluded, so I had to go back.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal, or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience? No.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience? Yes. I was comforted by knowing death was not the end. I would not lose my loved ones permanently.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices? My daughter committed suicide four years ago at age 24. I cling to the recollection of my OBE to comfort me and help me cope with her death.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience? Yes. I use the memory of the experience to reassure myself as life brings losses and tragedies.

Have you shared this experience with others? Yes. Only recently have I shared it with friends and my brother. Some are reassured. My brother thinks it may be true. A friend who lost her husband to suicide seemed somewhat angry or disbelieving.

What emotions did you experience following your experience? Relief, comfort, and joy.

What was the best and worst part of your experience? Knowing that such love exists and creates such peace was the best part, and knowing there is no death. There was no worst part.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience? The being was unlike anything I had ever imagined, literally three persons under one primary personality. It was loving and helpful, but strange-looking, yet not frightening.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications, or substances which reproduced any part of the experience? No.

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes. It was good to recall the experience in detail.

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire. Perhaps include a question about how real the experience seemed, and continues to seem. For example, when I recall the event, it is crisp and real. When I do not focus on it, it can fade.