James R NDE

Experience Description

The accident itself was portrayed in that old TV show Rescue 911.

My vision flickered when it went into tunnel vision twice, real quick. Then I went unconscious.

I found myself suspended on my back with my arms and legs crossed as if I were lying in a coffin. Then a wave of bright, white light came over me. It was a bright light. I could still feel discomfort and I was clammy. Then another brilliant white light came over me and everything was released. I was in a state of suspended animation and bliss.Then a brilliant, white hand came over my body. I felt the hand masculine. I was amazed at how bright, calm and euphoric I felt. I marveled at how clear the fingerprint lines were at the bottom of the hand's fingers to the palms. Before I could ask a why everything worked the way it did, it was answered. I remember the answer was so simple. Then I heard a voice through my body say, 'You're all right, I like you.' The hand was lifted and the first bright light was back.

Then I could feel pain again and I was in the arms of a deputy Sheriff calling my name.


Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 02/22/1992

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function) I was accidentally shot in the heart with a nail-gun. The nail went into the left ventricle of the heart.

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? More consciousness and alertness than normal. The clarity, focus and understanding was just known; if that makes any since.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? All of it.

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. I remember the clarity. I remember everything in the brilliant, white light was so bright, but clear with detail.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I did not hear through my ears, it was through my body.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere, as if by ESP? 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? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes It was the most brilliant, white light with brilliant detail.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm. I honestly don't know where I was, but it wasn't here.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I felt euphoria, love, and blissfulness.

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

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. It was revealed why everything is the way it is. It seemed so simple at the time but I couldn't remember it once I came back.

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? Unaffiliated- Nothing in particular- Secular unaffiliated. I was baptized Presbyterian, but not a church-goer.

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I really didn't have any beliefs or spiritual practices before, but now I do.

What is your religion now? Unaffiliated- Nothing in particular- Secular unaffiliated. I was baptized Presbyterian, but not a church-goer.

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience. I didn't have any prior strong beliefs but now I do.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I am not so materialistic and the little things/drama don't bother me. I look at the big picture.

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. I saw and heard the hand and voice of what I call God, but not in the Biblical since.

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.)? Yes. He did not live on earth and I saw and heard him as God but not in the Biblical since. He did not say who he was and I only saw his hand.

During your experience, did you gain information about premortal existence? Yes It was revealed to me why things are the way they are but I can't remember what all was revealed.

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? Yes We are all a part of a bigger existence which was revealed.

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Yes I was aware of who I call God or should I say came to me as God but not in the Biblical since.

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes I had a sense of knowing.

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? Yes I did but I can't remember what it was.

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? An afterlife definitely exists. We are just a part of an ongoing thing. There is so much more that I can't describe or remember. But I do know there's more.

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? Large changes in my life. I have had PTSD since I was age 14. Sometimes, my PTSD and my NDE battle each-other.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes I think I am closer to my friends and family now. I was going through a divorce at the time of my NDE and that was brutal.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes Sometimes I feel that I don't have the vocabulary to describe what actually happened.

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 experience happened 27 years ago and I remember everything as if it was this morning.

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 knowing that this life is not the end, it is just a part of the whole.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes about a year. And yes, the people I shared with were influenced.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes I had heard of them but had no real knowledge.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real I was wondering if it really happened. I knew it happened but was confused. I went to the library to look up if anyone else had this experience, since I was nervous to tell anyone.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. It was as real as me typing this.

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? With my PTSD and my NDE, I feel that I can help other people or a book can be made about my experiences that can help other people cope, accept and confirm that this life is not the end.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? Not at this time.