Az NDE

Experience Description :

I had a routine outpatient surgery on my kidney which accidentally ruptured my spleen. Fifteen hours later, my husband took me to the emergency room. An inept staff left me waiting in the lobby for more than half an hour during which time I lost consciousness. I have no memory of being taken from the lobby to the emergency room, of being undressed, or of being placed on a gurney.

I do remember looking down at myself on the gurney, wearing a hospital gown, surrounded by a doctor in green scrubs, a dark-haired nurse in blue on my left and two other people, one partially bald, on my right side. My husband was not present. Everyone was busily working to hook me to oxygen and fluids. My vantage point seems to have been the ceiling as I was looking at the tops of everyone's' heads.

Suddenly, I was in my body again, talking to the doctor. I was not frightened at all, but I do remember thinking that God was watching over me, sending this wonderful team of doctors and nurses to save my life. I received four pints of blood and was in critical condition for four days. Today, three weeks afterward, I am at home, recovering slowly. I am sure I was near death that day and have been intensely aware of God's presence ever since.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: September 9, 2004

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-related Life threatening event, but not clinical death I was bleeding internally and had already lost a great deal of blood.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I clearly left my body and existed outside it

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Normal consciousness and alertness

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? While I was looking down on the medical team working on me. There was no realization that I was re-entering my body, although I suspect it occurred when the oxygen was administered.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Neither

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Neither I seemed to be viewing the scene from the ceiling so I guess you'd call that altered space.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Neither

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Neither

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? Neither

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? Neither

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Neither

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I experienced calm confidence that God was protecting me from further harm.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness

Did you have a feeling of joy? Neither

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? Neither

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? Neither

Did scenes from the future come to you? Neither

Did you come to a border or point of no return? Neither

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Conservative/fundamentalist

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes God is so real to me now that I have no fear of the future or death at all.

What is your religion now? Conservative/fundamentalist

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes God is so real to me now that I have no fear of the future or death at all.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? Neither

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Neither

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes I knew without doubt that God was with me.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes I love my husband, my family and friends more than ever and credit their support for my recovery.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

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? The profound feeling that God was with me.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes This is all so fresh in my memory that I have shared it with several people, including those who came to visit and pray with me in the hospital. No one seemed particularly surprised and some said they had similar experiences. The best influence for me has been the enhanced beauty of the world, the increased love for my family, and the knowledge of the presence of God.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes I have read other peoples' accounts.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real It is as clear as any memory I possess.

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

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No