Bob H NDE

Experience Description

My brother Bruce, my dog, Candy and I went in my truck across town to teach a friend how to cut roof rafters. The temperatures were very warm and projected to top out near 100ºF that day. I got about 2 hours into the instructions when I felt very weak and had a bad headache. I noticed that I had stopped sweating. My body was on fire. I knew instantly that I had to cool off immediately. I told my friend I would meet him at a local brewery later where I could instruct him further while we cooled off. My brother and I drove to my daughter's apartment to drop off my dog. When we got there, I couldn't remember their door code, yet I go there at least 6 times a week. I called her, found out she was home, got the code and went to her apartment. She immediately noticed that I didn't look good. She gave me a large glass of ice water and told me to lay down. I downed the water and told her I'd be o.k. Then I drove to the brewery with my brother.

We met my friend at the brewery 2 miles away. I continued the rafter/roof cutting instructions while enjoying a beer.

About a half hour after arriving, I experienced the most intense leg cramps and told my friend I had to go out to walk it off. I did so, but knew the cramps would most likely reoccur. So, I told my brother I needed him to drive me home. He suggested we go to his house where I could lay on his guest bed while he rehydrated and monitored me. As soon as I laid on his guest bed, I told him I needed to get to the emergency room immediately because I knew I was in serious trouble and if I didn't get immediate medical attention that I was going to die.

Bruce helped me into the front passenger seat of his truck then proceeded to the hospital about 7 miles away. I told Bruce that I felt like I was going to die, possibly before we got to the hospital. He called 911 to notify the hospital of my problem and that we were on the way. I called my adult kids and told them to meet us there, that I didn't think I was going to live through this event, and I wanted to say goodbye. After that call, I decided to record my Last Will & Testament on my cellphone.

We got to the hospital. An orderly came with a wheelchair to the truck, but I was unable to move my legs because I had no feeling in them at all. Bruce helped me get into the wheelchair. Then they whisked me into triage, and then right into the emergency room.

I was placed on a bed and immediately knew that this was the end.

I was not scared. I was very sad that my kids were going to be fatherless. I devoted my life to them and was looking forward to grandkids and watching my kids future. I knew everything that was being done and said by everyone in the room. My hearing became extremely acute as did my usually fair eyesight. The doctors and nurses continually asked me what I was feeling as they performed their jobs. I described every feeling and vision I was experiencing in detail. I felt my life slipping away multiple times. When that happened, I'd tell my family I love them and it was time to go. I visioned the room and my physical body shrinking as my spirit was rising from my body. I saw many deceased friends and relatives looking at me and telling me it's ok. I was brought back to life repeatedly by my family who begged me not to go.

This happened at least six times over a period of 3 hours, with each experience deeper than the last. I told my family that if I fall asleep, I will never wake up. They continued to tell me I cannot leave now and begged me to stay. They honestly are the reason I am still breathing.

I distinctly remember a vision, as my eyes were open, of clouds clearing. I saw a tree-lined forest road with my deceased relatives and friends pointing the way. This occurred as I watched my soul rising from my body while my family begged me to stay. I felt my body convulse a few times. I said, 'It's time for me to go. I love you all.' Then, I closed my eyes in complete comfort. It was the most peaceful feeling I had ever experienced in my life. I was unafraid of death and was now looking forward to an eternity of peace.

My family shook and squeezed me while begging me to stay with them. It worked. I am still here.

The doctors had already given me two bags of fluids and had just started a third bag. I lost all feeling and control of my entire body. An x-ray technician brought in a portable x-ray machine. He wanted to take pictures of my lungs. He asked me to bend forward but I felt like a pile of jell-o. I could not move any part of my body. I was able to talk slowly, see and hear, but had no feeling anywhere else whatsoever. The doctor noticed and performed some neurologic tests to determine if I was faking it. He realized that I was not and ordered an immediate CT scan of my head, believing I may have had an actual stroke or aneurism. The CT scan came back normal.

I finally regained body function/control after the third bag of IV fluids. As the last third of the bag flowed into me, I could actually feel life flowing back into my body. It was the same feeling I had when I had my own two units of blood re-infused into me after a major spinal surgery decades prior.

The doctors and nurses repeatedly asked if I remembered what happened, what day it was, where I was, what city I was in, etc. I answered correctly at all times. I was completely coherent at all times and non-delusional.


Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 08/10/2018

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Life threatening event, but not clinical death. Severe heatstroke with renal failure and extreme dehydration (fourth heatstroke. It was the second episode within 30 days)

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

Did you feel separated from your body? Uncertain. 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. I was completely aware of absolutely everything going on around me along with everything happening within me: every conversation, people present, body feelings, thoughts, etc.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? From start to finish, from 1pm when I first noticed heatstroke until 8pm when doctors helped me recover

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. The entire four hours the emergency room seemed like 20 minutes.

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. My vision was extremely clear during experience.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. My h Hearing was extremely acute during experience

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

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? I actually saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes I saw deceased best friends and relatives

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? No

Did you see an unearthly light? Uncertain. I saw strangely-lit fog that opened up to a tree-lined gravel road in a forest

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm. I felt my soul as it was leaving my body and described everything to my family as it was happening. I said, 'It's time for me to go. I love you.'

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I felt calmness, heartache for leaving my kids, feeling of relief, with no anger or fear whatsoever

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? Happiness

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? I felt united or one with the world

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about myself or others. Unexplainable for me. Just knew I was at complete peace with everything and everyone in my life. I felt no regrets and nothing to be ashamed of. I just wish it didn't have to end so early

Did scenes from your past come back to you? I remembered many past events. Childhood memories, births of my kids, many many life events in vivid detail but NOT my entire life

Did scenes from the future come to you? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a definite conscious decision to return to life See question 29 answer

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Uncertain. Did not know whether there's a God or not but I had a strong feeling there is something more than just evolution.

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Uncertain. I know for sure there is something more

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience. I always believed that I'd see my deceased family and friends again someday. Now I know I will for sure!

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? I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin. There was something telling me to trust them and take the last step. I took that to mean 'just let yourself go' but my family pulled me back as I was describing what I was feeling and seeing.

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? I actually saw them

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? Yes I realized there is nothing to fear about death.

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? Large changes in my life. I do NOT fear death. I only ask that I be allowed to show my loved ones how much they mean to me daily until I do expire.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes I am MUCH closer to family.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

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 as accurately as other life events that occurred around the time of the experience. I am 100% positive I will not survive a fifth heatstroke

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? Seeing deceased family and friends

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes They (brother, kids, doctors and nurses) all experienced it with me. I described everything I was feeling, hearing and seeing from start to finish. I was coherent and realized that I had never heard of ANYONE being told what a dying person was experiencing and I wanted them to know everything. They believe everything I told them.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Uncertain Heard about it but never really gave it any thought.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real. Not one scintilla of doubt in my mind what I experienced was real. Had I fallen asleep or stepped over the line, I am 100% positive I wouldn't be here now.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. I will always KNOW it was real.

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

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? If there were others with you during the experience, did they pull you back and if so, how? Voice, shaking, smack to the face, etc.' 'If others were present, did you describe everything to them as it was happening?'