Sally Probable NDE

Experience Description

During my first cesarean section at Poriya Hospital in Israel, the anesthesia failed to take effect, and the doctors thought they could begin the surgery.

When they started making an incision in my lower abdomen, I felt terrible, unbearable pain. I shouted that I was in so much pain, that I could feel the knife cutting into my stomach, and that the pain was unbearable.

The doctors were shocked and quickly gave me general anesthesia. Initially, I had received only a local anesthetic, an epidural administered through my back.

Suddenly, the power went out in the operating room, forcing them to perform the surgery manually under general anesthesia. Unfortunately, the anesthesia still did not take effect, and they continued the procedure while I screamed in unbearable pain.

I could not endure it any longer. I felt my throat close up, and I could not breathe. In addition to the excruciating pain, I felt inexplicably overwhelmed by it.

I was dying from the agony.

Then I entered a state where I felt no pain whatsoever. I felt only profound comfort and an unfamiliar lightness, as though I were weightless and without a body. It was a wonderful, comforting, beautiful, and indescribable sensation.

During this time, I felt no pain from the surgery, the incision, or the delivery of my first child.

After a few seconds, I would return to the pain, only to enter this miraculous state of comfort again.

I told the doctors that I had been up there and had seen everything as white, pleasant, light, and beautiful. It was simply white, like clear white clouds or fluffy, pure white cotton.

They did not understand what I meant and thought I was delirious. They believed I thought I had been transferred from the operating room to the maternity ward upstairs.

Then I returned again to that comforting state where I felt no pain, no aches, and no discomfort. There was only a boundless and indescribable peace.

There was no pain, no suffering, no body, no weight, no worries, no sadness, no distress, and no physical sensations whatsoever.

There were only moments of indescribable peace, experienced by the soul rather than the body.

Despite this perfect comfort, I felt that something was missing. I knew this was not the right time for me to leave this life.

I had waited for my son's birth for about three years, burning with anticipation to see him, hold him, and become a mother to a wonderful, beautiful, and beloved child. For years, I had longed to give birth and raise children.

I felt that I had to return. It was still too soon for me to leave this world. I wanted to raise my child, and I still had so much to accomplish in this material world.

I nearly died during the surgery more than twice. Each time, I returned to my body and to the pain because I clung to life. I did not want to leave. This was not the right time for me.

I went through this experience several times that same night during the operation. Finally, I returned to life because of my willpower and my determination to remain, despite the return of the unbearable pain.

Unfortunately, no one has been able to explain what happened to me. I have not spoken about it in detail because I felt that no one would understand this strange, beautiful, and wondrous experience. I also felt that I would never be able to describe it as it should be described or truly do it justice.

However, the experience undoubtedly changed my perspective on life and death. It gave me greater willpower and a more positive outlook, and it greatly lessened my fear of death.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 05/27/1996

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Uncertain

How do you consider the content of your experience? Entirely pleasant

Did you feel separated from your body? I lost awareness of my body

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? There is no specific time, but there were times when I was conscious and when the pain intensified more and more, I would drift into another world.

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? No

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 I now have a deeper understanding of life and greater awareness.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience Almost 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? 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 don't know exactly if it's light, or just a beautiful, clean, comfortable, bright white.

Did you seem to enter another world? Some unfamiliar and strange place
A place entirely white, not on Earth, with no one or specific people in it, just like beautiful white clouds. I was with it or within it, without a body, without weight, without feeling tired or in pain. Just blissful peace.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? A feeling of comfort, lightness, tranquility, and pleasure without a body, weight, worries, or anxieties.

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 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? I came to a definite conscious decision to return to life
I could decide whether to return to life or not.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

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

Have your religious practices changed? Yes

What is your religion now? Christian - Catholic

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 no certainty about death and what comes after, but during and after this experience I am almost certain that death is not frightening and that there is indeed eternal rest after the death of the body, and that the rest of the soul and spirit is related to the person, his deeds, his intentions, and the extent of his humanity during his earthly life.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes
I've come to appreciate life and the simple things more than before, and I've become grateful and thankful for everything, and I've started to see the bright side of my life.

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? Uncertain
Since I no longer feel my body, my physical sensations, or my pain, only profound peace, I'm not sure if this is life after death in the context of  the continuation of the soul after its separation from the body.  I can't say for certain.

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? Large changes in my life

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes
I became more understanding and grateful.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes
I am not sure which details you mean.

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 remember the events of that experience more clearly than almost any other events that took place close to that period.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes
I have come to love spirituality and often connect with the Supreme Power, the Creator or God, especially with Jesus Christ and all the righteous saints.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Yes, when I felt neither my body nor my pain, only comfort.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes

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 saw it as proof that there is a spiritual life and that death isn't as frightening as I thought. I was terrified of the idea of death, and I was deeply affected when anyone died, especially acquaintances and relatives, because I couldn't comprehend or accept it.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
I see it as a gift from the Creator to change my perspective on life and death, and to lessen my fear of death and my outlook on life, for not everyone is given this opportunity. I felt that Christ, or the Creator, had chosen me specifically, not by chance, and I felt my own importance and worth.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Uncertain

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes