Bethany I NDE

Experience Description

I was brought into the operating room for gallbladder surgery. The IV was unsuccessful in pre-op, so no drugs or sedation had been given ahead of surgery. When the mask was placed on me, things got fuzzy. I heard the anesthesiologist say, 'plan b'. I could see him, even though he was behind me. He then said, 'She is going in too deep'.

All of a sudden, I was in a black tunnel, like going down a drain. This was scary and I felt like something was wrong. I remember saying 'no, no, no!' Emerging from the tunnel, it was like a nuclear explosion went off on the horizon line and I was consumed by a bright light that was 360 degrees all around me. As the light engulfed me, all the sounds and voices from the operating room faded away. The last thing I remember hearing was the beeping of the heart monitor.

Then there was only silence like I’ve never felt. So bright and so still. I began to move forward in the light and call 'Jesus' over and over. I went from being 'afraid to leave' to 'feeling peace'. Then I saw my three children’s faces flash before my eyes. After seeing this rapid slideshow of images, it was as if I crashed back onto the operating table.

The voices and machinery were deafening. It was so loud it hurt my body. The physician's assistant, who I could see, said, 'She still has a good grip on my hand'. Then everything faded to black and I woke up in recovery.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: August 23, 2021

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-related Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function). I stoped breathing on the operating table.

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

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I could see and hear the droplets in the operating room, even though that wasn’t possible. 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? More consciousness and alertness than normal. Everything was crisp, mentally and physically. In the bright light, I had mental awareness that I was safe and ok. That I would be going on, like my body didn’t matter anymore.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? In the white light and also upon my return to the OR.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning. Everything was going on fast forward.

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. Every day life is dull, almost slow motion to how my brain was comprehending in the bright light.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. It was silent. More than silent.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere, as if by ESP? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Yes It was life going down a drain.

Did you see any beings in your experience? No

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

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes Like a nuclear explosion.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I went from being very afraid to being filled with peace.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Incredible peace or pleasantness

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

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

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control

Did scenes from the future come to you? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? No

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Protestant Lutheran

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Christian- Protestant Lutheran

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience

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 see deceased or religious spirits? 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.)? Yes I called out to Jesus over and over, but I did not see Him.

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? An afterlife definitely exists

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? Moderate changes in my life

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes There aren’t words to describe how it felt.

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.

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. In the days following my experience, I told my husband, my mom and best friend. My mom and husband believe me. My best friend does not. My mom is grieving the experience. My husband is grateful.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes A 20/20 TV special when I was young talked to several people who had near death experiences. I had also read Heaven is for Real.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real. It plays over in my mind, more sharp and acute than 'awake' memories.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. I couldn’t know what I saw and heard in the operating room and my statements were confirmed by operating room staff.

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