Cheryl B NDE

Experience Description

On May 25, 2010, I was experiencing a typical day. After work, I decided to go to my favorite casino to play Bingo at 7:00 pm - that decision was fortunate because if I had stayed at home by myself I would not have survived. I entered the Bingo hall, purchased my cards, and found a favorite seat at the rear of the room. They started the first game - and I woke up in the hospital eight days later. According to the Bingo staff and manager, I made a small sound and then fell to the floor. I did not appear to be breathing. Because I was in such a public place, the medical response was quick (less than five minutes) but I appeared to be dead for more than twenty minutes. One paramedic would not stop the chest compressions, just kept going, going, and going (per witnesses). The last thing I remember was a lady saying 'She must be drunk,' as I hit the floor.

I was in a tunnel but there were no walls, as we know them. Beautiful lights of every color in the rainbow surrounded me. It was like a childhood kaleidoscope. I felt like I was moving somehow and was floating on air. I was surrounded by feelings of warmth and peace. I didn't see or hear anyone, but did feel the presence of others. I was not afraid and felt tremendous peace. That is my NDE.

When I woke up in the hospital eight days later, I could not stop talking about the beautiful colored lights in the tunnel. I wanted everyone to understand what I had seen.

I was transported to the emergency room and still had no heartbeat. After several shocks with the defibrillator, my heart was restarted. I was told that I had no heartbeat for twenty to twenty-five minutes total and had been clinically dead - and there was a fear of what condition I would be in when I woke up. I was in a medically induced coma for the next eight days and have no memory of how I got out of the tunnel or anything else that had happened up to that point. May 28th was my fifty-third birthday and I spent it in the comatose state. When I finally awakened, I was so surprised to be in the hospital, but still felt extremely peaceful and calm. I now have an ICD implanted that should restart my heart if it should ever stop again. I was in the hospital until June 9, a total of sixteen days. I no longer fear dying, and am much more alive and in touch with my relationships with my family and friends. I hug them often and tell them that I love them, and those feelings sometimes bring me to tears. That is my experience and thanks for allowing me to share.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 05-25-10

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Heart attack 'sudden cardiac arrest, no symptoms or warning as it occurred' Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function) I was clinically dead for more than twenty minutes. The cardiologist says I am extremely lucky to have survived at all. Less than ten percent of people who experience my condition outside of a hospital setting will survive.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

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 As above.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I was very aware of the tunnel and beautiful colored lights - but the entire experience seemed like it could not be measured by time. It could have been seconds, days or years. There was no concept of time.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

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.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Yes, and the facts have been checked out

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Yes I was definitely in a tunnel but it had no walls. I was surrounded by a warm feeling.

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

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

The experience included: Light

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 Lights - in beautiful colors like a kaleidoscope.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? No Just the beautiful tunnel full of colors

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Peace, tranquility and calm.

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 seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

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? Scenes from the world's future

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

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Liberal None - spiritual but not religious

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Liberal None - spiritual but not religious

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

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

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Uncertain

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes I feel much closer to my family and friends - and more patient and accepting of people in general.

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? Uncertain Not as of yet, but somehow I am expecting to have these experiences.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? The entire experience was meaningful and significant to me. I don't have a fear of dying anymore and believe that my journey when I leave here will be very peaceful.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I started sharing it as soon as I was conscious and able to speak. Everyone believes me and says I give them chills when I talk about my NDE.

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 knew it had happened while I was clinically dead, there is no doubt in me that it is a hundred percent what I experienced.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real It has been four months and the memory is still that it is a hundred percent 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? It was very thorough.