Stanley C NDE

Experience Description

I was working in a lab in college. Taking care of various animals in our lab. I was unaware that the floor drains were blocked and the air handlers were waiting for parts. I suddenly was gasping for air. I staggered out of the animal room and collapsed.

The lab director called campus police and they transported me to the hospital next to the campus. They put me on oxygen, but I still couldn't breathe. They rushed me to the emergency room. The last thing I remember was the medical staff trying to intubate me, but the swelling was preventing the insertion of the tube.

That's when I noticed the music. I started to float out of my body and was seeing everyone working on me. I was calm and floating on the notes of the music. They finally intubated me as they were getting ready to do a tracheotomy. They then converted me. I didn't want to go back, but I did.

Later, I was diagnosed with allergy to rodent feces.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date of NDE: 05/14/1978

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
I was working in a lab in college, taking care of various animals. I was unaware that the floor drains were blocked and the air handlers were waiting for parts. I suddenly was gasping for air. I staggered out of the animal room and collapsed. The lab director called campus police, and they transported me to the hospital next to campus. I had O2 on but was still gasping. I was rushed to the ER, and the last thing I remember was staff trying to intubate me, but swelling was preventing the insertion. That's when I noticed the music. I started to float out of my body, seeing everyone working on me. I was calm and floating on the notes of the music. They finally intubated me as they were getting ready to do a trach. They then converted me. I didn't want to go back, but I did. I was diagnosed with an allergy to a mold related to rodent feces.

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 heard music that wasn't being played in the ER. I believe the music was my guide.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? As I slowly, I think, floated away on the music, I was at my most aware and peaceful moment the second before they jump-started my heart and got the airway in.
Again, I heard this music, and I could see the notes of the song, and it was carrying me away. Each note was like a cloud. I don't believe there was any music being played.

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
There was no sense of time at all. As a medical professional now, I know how long that must have taken, but I had no sense of time while it was happening.

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 It was nothing I had ever experienced before or since. Nothing even close.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience Again, I heard not just music; I was actually hearing each note.

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? No

Did you seem to enter another world? Some unfamiliar and strange place
Again, I think they, the staff, brought me back before more would have occurred.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Calm, peace, actual warmth, tranquility, no more concerns.

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 the universe
I could know anything, but it just didn't matter. Nothing mattered but the floating.

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
I came back, but definitely didn't want to.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian - Catholic
Not particularly practicing.

Have your religious practices changed? No

What is your religion now? Christian - Catholic
Still not practicing.

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
It's difficult to explain. I know I'm a Catholic and I was supposed to believe in heaven. I do believe in something out there. It was reaffirmed after this experience. I can't say exactly what it was or whether it was Heaven or whatever, but whatever it was, it was very pleasant and comforting, and I was not afraid of passing away.

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? 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? Uncertain
Again, something is "out" there.

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
But I've never been able to understand it.

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 don't believe it was caused by drugs administered in the emergency room, nor is it a biochemical reaction. I don't know what is out there, but I'm sure I'm going to find out someday. But that was not the day.

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? Slight changes in my life
Compared to what I experienced, we are just waiting for the end. What we do on earth to and for each other is important, but it's all just a placeholder for whatever is to come.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes
Initially difficult, but then it got easier, especially when I heard about others. I've only ever told my wife.

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'm not sure if I've ever felt as peaceful, calm, and cared for as I did that day. I remember the events clearly, but there's certain information that I think I knew that I can't really put my finger on. Thus my answer.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? No

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
Almost 20 years. I told my wife after we got married. She was surprised but not shocked.

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
As soon as I was stable and transferred to CCU, a doctor came by to tell me what had happened and that I was in asystole in the ER. He also explained my airway issue and that they found mold spores on my clothes and in my sinuses.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
Same view as before, but now with medical training, I don't believe it was a biochemical reaction or that it was caused by drugs administered in the ER.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Uncertain
Same time period, I was sitting at a table in the cafeteria and suddenly I felt a hand grab my shoulder from behind and call my family name, Charles. I turned because no one called me Charles in college, and no one was there. Long before cell phones, when I got back to my apartment, there was a message waiting that my favorite aunt had passed, at almost exactly the same time as the hand on my shoulder. Everyone who was eating with me saw me turn, and I explained to them what happened, not knowing that my aunt had passed until I got home. This was the only thing ever besides my emergency room episode.

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

Anything else to add? No, but it was very peaceful. I sometimes remember the event and the feelings, but I can't recreate the emotions as much as I would like.