James C NDE

Experience Description

I had moved to Los Angeles in the fall of 1972 from the Chicago area. My job offered those in my department a chance to relocate to one of several cities across the country. On the morning of March 19, 1973,while taking a shower before going to work, I slipped in the shower. In an effort to avoid falling, I threw my arms out to brace myself. My right arm made violent contact with the sliding glass shower door, breaking it completely. The door was not made of safety glass. The door shattered into several sharp shards of glass along the bottom. I fell on one of the protruding shards, making contact under my right arm in the arm pit area. I saw my brachial artery pumping blood all over the bathroom floor and bath tub. In a complete panic, I screamed to my wife that I was going to die. I was able to grab the pulsing artery with my left hand and apply pressure. Shortly after that I lost consciousness from severe blood loss.

My wife was able compose herself and immediately called an ambulance. The Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) arrived quickly and ripped the shower doors and frame out in order to reach me. I was rushed to a hospital. I was clinically dead and had to be resuscitated. While dead, I experienced what I now realize was a NDE; although at the time I did not know what had happened.

I perceived a bright small pinhole off in the distance. The small, bright light grew larger and seemed to be everywhere after a short time. The light made me feel that all would be well. I didn't hear anything. The feeling that the light gave me was wonderful. The utter panic that I felt when I saw blood spurting out of my artery was gone. It is hard to explain how the light made me feel. It was such a reassuring sensation that I experienced.

My accident left me with limited use of my right arm and hand since the brachial nerve was also severed. I underwent surgery in an attempt reconnect the nerves, which was unsuccessful. Another aftereffect of the accident was that I developed hepatitis C. In 1973, blood was not screened for hepatitis. I had received large amounts of blood since I lost so much. It wasn't until 1998, when I donated blood, that the hepatitis C was discovered.

The treatment for hepatitis C in 1998 involved 11 months of interferon injections. Undergoing 11 months of injections was brutal. Injections were given every five days as I recall and after each one I was so completely exhausted that I could barely function. Just as I was starting to feel normal, it was time for another injection; and the cycle started over. I am grateful that the treatment was successful and the virus was eliminated.

I admit that I felt that I was being singled out to receive more than my share of trouble. Having little use of my right arm and hand meant that I could not do things that everyone else took for granted. Prior to the accident, I could play baseball, which was my favorite sport. I could go bowling. Most hurtful was that I couldn't do those things with my children. The hepatitis C was another thing that just didn't seem fair.

I believe that my NDE is the reason that I have been able to withstand these adversities. Despite everything, I have led a good life. I also know that I when my mortal existence is over, there is much to look forward to.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 03/19/1973

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? No. Accident CPR given Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function)

How do you consider the content of your experience? Entirely pleasant

Did you feel separated from your body? No 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 normal consciousness

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? throughout the experience I was alert and conscious.

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? No

Were your senses More vivid than usual? More vivid than usual

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 more akin to being able to sense things rather than visualizing them

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I do not remember hearing anything during the experience

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? No

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

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? An unusually bright light

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes, a small bright light that grew to encompass everything and was the source of happiness and reassurance

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? the feeling that all would be well and there was nothing to fear

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

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back to you? No

Did scenes from the future come to you? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? No

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Catholic I was raised as a catholic and attended catholic school from kindergarden through eight grade. Then I attended public school for high school and college. At the time of my experience I had not attended religious services regularly for several years.

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Unaffiliated- Nothing in particular- Secular unaffiliated Currently, I am more spiritual than religious.

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience. What was made clear was that we survive physical death. I had no specific beliefs about this prior to the experience

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes Awareness that we are immortal beings experiencing a physical life.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? No

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? No

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 a sense that earthly life is merely a stage that we experience and not the end of being

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? No

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Yes the awareness that all will be well and life does not end when you die

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? Moderate changes in my life loss of the fear of death

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? uncertain. I am more tolerant of others but not sure if it has affected my relationships.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes it took years for me to process what had happened. I did not tell anyone about for many years because I didn't know how to describe it.

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 more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience my NDE is something that I will not forget. I have forgotten many other things that occurred at the time of the NDE

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? The assurance that we continue to live after physical death

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Close to 30 years

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 probably not real I did not think about it for years. I slowly realized the message that the NDE was giving me. Now I am grateful that I had the experience and the peace of mind it brings.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real It explains everything about life

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? No

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? I think that the questions and the ability provided to tell your story are ideal as is.

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