Courtney NDE

Experience Description

When my son was born I lost a lot of blood and I felt my heart stop. It's strange to describe but the closest thing I could think of to it is the sensation of not being able to breathe. I felt my heart stop.

I lost consciousness, then I felt myself rise up, and I was looking at myself. I could hear the doctors and nurses calling me and I could see my husband and my new baby. My hubby was looking so helpless. The room looked slightly different, like it was hazy. I keep yelling, 'I am here, I am right here!' but no one could hear me.

Finally they gave me ephedrine to get my heart going again and I felt myself plunge back into my body and take a breath, like being underwater and coming up for air.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 4-12-2009

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Childbirth Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function)

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

The experience included: Out of body experience

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? More consciousness and alertness than normal As above.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Right after I rose up out of my body, I could see and hear everything, and I felt warm.

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 It seemed like there was no time. I have no idea how long I was out of my body, it felt like no time at all and such a long time too.

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. Everything looked like I was seeing it though a haze, but it made things more clearly instead of less clear, the scrubs on the doctors were vibrant.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I heard everything in the room clearly and could recognize where it was coming from. I heard voices, thoughts, and feelings as well.

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? 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? 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? No

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Confusion, desperation, peace.

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

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 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? Moderate

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Moderate

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? Yes I knew that death is not the end. I used to be afraid of dying, but after the dying part is over there is nothing to fear, we go on, we are still us, and we aren't in pain anymore.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Uncertain I definitely feel more sensitive to the atmosphere in a room. I can almost feel if there is someone in the room that has passed, sometimes I will get really sad and not have a reason or I will be elated for no reason and then it will pass as quickly as it came.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? I felt my husband's feelings, and it made me realize how much he really loves me. It has made me love him more.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes A few weeks. The people I have shared it with just say that is weird. They don't know how to respond. My husband doesn't like to talk about it.

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

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