Victoria Probable NDE

Experience Description

I was eight years old and unwell, so my mother put me to bed with her.

I thought I had woken up. But when I actually looked, I was above my mother and my body. My mother was asleep beside me. I could feel myself rising and felt the ceiling on my back. At this point, I started to panic. To my left, I saw a very bright light above the old wooden wardrobe in the corner of the room. As I looked towards the wardrobe, I felt like I was moving toward it. I was flapping my arms, trying to get back toward my body. It was as if I were swimming in thin air, but not really getting anywhere.

As I looked towards the light, it was so bright but it was not harsh like looking at the sun. The light was everywhere but yet it was within the corner of the room. I was still above my body; yet, I was within reach of my mother. I was trying to get hold of of my mother, but my arm just kept going through her. I can remember saying, "Mom, wake up, wake up. Are you dead? Why can't I touch you?" In that moment, I really thought my experience was happening to her too.

For some reason, my mother woke up. I was burning up with an extremely high temperature. I saw her trying to wake me up. After a minute or so I woke up. The first thing I said to her was, "I thought you were dead. I couldn't feel you. Why wouldn't you wake up?"

After years of trying to understand what happened and talking about it with my mother, I do believe it was real. We explored the experience from my perspective and what she experienced. I wasn't "scared" as such. I just knew that the light was a one-way doorway. I do not know how, but I just knew. I don't recall how I got back into my body, but I did. I was then rushed to the hospital with a very serious infection due to complications from a throat infection. I was in the hospital for a while, I believe.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 1991

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
Yes. After this NDE, I was rushed to the hospital where my mother was told my throat was closed and I needed immediate treatment. I was in the hospital for weeks due to the raging infection and complications.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Both pleasant AND distressing

Did you feel separated from your body? I clearly left my body and existed outside it
As I explained, I saw my mother in bed with me. The room was the same, but I was above us and couldn't touch her. I thought it was her that was dead.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? While I was above my body, it was as clear as a memory of yesterday.

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? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning
It was strange. I can't answer that; time didn't feel relevant.

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 seemed the same, just not in the physical.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience It was quite calm.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Uncertain
I saw a light tunnel, a bright light, but I didn't go into it. I just knew it was a one-way door.

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? An unusually bright light

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes
It was like looking at the sun but much brighter. It didn't hurt my eyes, but it was very bright.

Did you seem to enter another world? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I started to panic.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? No

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? No

Did you suddenly understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back? No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Uncertain
I just knew the light was one way, so I was trying to get away back to my mom.

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
Just heard 'It's not time yet' and I was back.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Do not know
Not religious

Have your religious practices changed? Yes
I suppose I just feel more comfortable.

What is your religion now? Do not know

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 a child. I didn't think about death or an afterlife. I wasn't even spoken to about anything like that, as I was still very young.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Uncertain
I just knew what comes next and not to be scared.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? I heard a voice I could not identify
It's not time yet. That's all I heard. Go back.

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? Uncertain

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? Uncertain

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Uncertain
What was the voice? I don't know.

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes
Something after this. I'm not sure what, but definitely different from what we know in the physical.

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? Uncertain

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Uncertain
It's not time.

Did you gain information about how to live our lives? Uncertain

During your experience, did you gain information about life's difficulties, challenges and hardships? No

During your experience, did you gain information about love? Yes
I just wanted to get back to my mom at the side of me.

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Moderate changes in my life
I'm currently very sick. I have been diagnosed with a serious illness that has no cure, but I'm not scared of death. I just don't want to suffer physically because I know we go on to something bigger and more connected. I just knew something comes next. I can't say what because I didn't go to the light, but I know you do eventually.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain
It's hard to describe the light and feelings. It wasn't physical, but it felt like me.

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 it clearly, and the feelings I had.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes
I can now feel when something bad is going to happen, like a knot in my stomach. I'm usually right, especially with close family.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
I have shared my experience with my family.

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 just know it was real.

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