Freda S NDE

Experience Description:

I saw beams of light and thought, am I dead? Thought of and looked for a tunnel that everyone sees. No tunnel, but I walked to the light. Seems like I walked for a long time. Then I thought I was dreaming but I kept walking towards the light. Saw my deceased father with his arms outstretched. My deceased niece was there also. She had been killed in an auto accident a few years earlier. A coworker was sitting down, smiling at me. She died from breast cancer. There was an older woman with her profile turned so I could not see her face. She was dressed in a long black dress with a full white apron. Period clothing from the 1800's. She wore a white bonnet. I walked towards her, wanting to see her face. When I reached out to turn her around, my experience ended. I woke up in the neurological intensive care unit and remembered my journey.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 07/17/2004

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-related Life threatening event, but not clinical death ruptured cerebral aneurysms with sub arachnoid bleed Unconscious due to ruptured aneurysms, brain was swelling.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

Did you feel separated from your body? Uncertain No

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Normal consciousness and alertness

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I don't know.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Neither

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Neither

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Neither

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Neither

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? Neither

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes In a forest like setting. I knew all but one. No sound, no communication.

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 Beams of light from a forest like setting.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Unfamiliar, strange place

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Confused, happy to see my father.

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? No longer in conflict with nature

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? Neither

Did scenes from the future come to you? Neither

Did you come to a border or point of no return? Neither

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Conservative/fundamentalist thought there was a scientific explanation for everything. did not believe in NDE

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I pray daily. No longer swear.

What is your religion now? Moderate strong beliefs lifestyle changed

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I pray daily. No longer swear.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? Neither

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Neither

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes Feel contented now. I no longer complain about things in general, I no longer fear death.

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? No

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes After I was released from the hospital, a month later I told my best friend who is a registered nurse also. We tried to come up with a scientific explanation. We concluded it was a near death experience.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes From watching TV and from my patients' accounts of their experiences.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real I feel that I was spared for a reason. I am not sure of the reason.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real I believe I actually died I don't know the reason.

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

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? One of my physicians asked me if I was afraid of dying, I said no, because I know where I'm going. I have been there.