Don T NDE

Experience Description

I was being wheeled down the hallway to my room after a lengthy registration period by a somewhat indifferent Catholic sister/nurse. I was a Protestant and this; the closest hospital (and Catholic) didn't want to accept us. I was fading and getting weaker and weaker by the moment. The nurse was pushing me along the hallway in a wheelchair with my mother following close behind. My mother was getting frantic, because of my worsening appearance, while the nurse seemed to be taking her time. Suddenly I slumped in my chair, moaned and my conscious self 'lifted' out of my body leaving the chair. I floated above the nurse and my mother at about the level of the high hallway ceiling. I saw the thoughts of them both; the nurse thought she would be fired and my mother thought I died and what would people think of her. She was/is a loving mother and that was her immediate thought.

I continued floating upward and became a little frightened. I noticed I was curled up and that I felt very good (much better than when I was in the chair). Finally, I realized I was in the presence of some beings that were very loving. While there seemed to be a main being, the others were free to communicate also. I was shown the history of the planet and other things that I lost almost immediately. I think I remember asking if I could tell people about the secrets I'd seen. They made me understand that I would forget the secrets very quickly (and I did). I then was told that I could stay with them if I liked and have a 'rest' but that I wasn't finished. They said if I stayed, I would have to go back eventually. I understood this as going back in another body and starting all over.

I told them I would go back and immediately felt being drawn back down to the chair where my body was waiting. I got back into my body much like putting on a coat of stiff old clothes. It was very painful and my body felt terrible.

I lifted my finger to signal that I was okay.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: Spring of 1964

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-related Other 'Having had a tonsillectomy 2 weeks prior, I was playing vigorously and broke a stitch in my throat. I lost a lot of blood overnight.' As mentioned I popped a stitch from a recent surgery and lost a lot of blood overnight by continually swallowing. In the morning, I regurgitated the blood and was rushed to the hospital by my mother. I think I died in the wheel chair from loss of blood.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

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? Normal consciousness and alertness As above.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Just after lifting out of the chair when I could see the nurse and my mother below.

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

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. As I mentioned, I read the minds of the people attending me.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. When I was being spoken to by the beings, I was aware that we were talking telepathically and that they could read my thoughts. They answered my questions as they were being formulated in my mind.

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? Uncertain I felt like I was in a room when I encountered the beings, but I don't remember seeing any walls.

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 did not know the beings but felt loved by them and as if I was part of them. It was communicated to me that I could stay and rest for a while if I liked but that my time on earth wasn't finished.

The experience included: Darkness

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? Uncertain The beings gave off a light and I could not make out any features.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm I don't remember

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

The experience included: Special Knowledge

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 We went to church most Sundays. I prayed often and spoke with the Lord in my prayers.

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes They have become stronger. Yet sometimes I take for granted that there is life after death and don't behave to my best.

What is your religion now? Moderate I attend church (almost) every Sunday. And still pray.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes They have become stronger. Yet sometimes I take for granted that there is life after death and don't behave to my best.

The experience included: Presence of unearthly beings

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 was shown things about the universe and the planet. They were things that made me have an understanding of everything. I remember going 'aha!' But I do not remember the things I was shown.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes I try to be compassionate with people.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes I was so young, that I was afraid to share it with anyone. Yet I knew it was important and that it could serve to allay people's fears about death if I were to talk about it.

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? Being told I could go back or stay, but that if I stayed I would eventually have to go back because things weren't finished for me.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I began by sharing it with my mother first and not immediately. Then I kept it to myself for many years. At the time, no one had ever heard of anything like this. I remember reading about if first in a 'Reader's Digest' and saying 'that happened to me'.

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 had/have no doubts about the reality of the experience.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real It was real. I was young and had never heard of anything like this at the time it happened. It was only years later that it was confirmed that it happened to others.

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 good.