Joy H NDE

Experience Description:

I was in surgery to repair a broken hip. I became aware that a doctor was talking to me telling me to breathe. There was great light, and suddenly I was above the bed looking down at what was going on. The light seemed to be flashing around the room very quickly. There were beings there also, somehow associated with the light. These beings had a fluffy see-through-ness to them. This seemed to be going along for a while and I felt as if I was moving with the flashing light, or toward the light. I became aware that I was not going to make it. I was not afraid. I was thinking of my grandbabies, my daughter. I realized or was told I didn't have to go. When I realized that this conversation began within myself and I was telling myself I could stay. 'If I work at this, I can stay.' I was willing myself to make it. Telling myself to stay calm and concentrate on making it. This seemed to go on for a while, and the next thing I knew, I was awake in my room with all of my family around me.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 6/19/2006

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident Surgery-related breathing problems 'Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening' Breathing problems during surgery.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I lost awareness of my body

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 I was alert to the fact that I was being told I had a choice. This alertness was so plain, so clear. Clearer that everyday thinking.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? My highest level of alertness was when I realized I was going to have to work to make it.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening all at once Time was flashing by, but at the same time things seemed in slow motion.

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

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Vision was unclear at first, and became clearer, I do not remember colors, but the brightness was extreme, and flashing, the room was not clear, the doctor was, and when I looked down on the activities, just the doctor and I were clear. The beings were transparent, filmy.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. My hearing seemed at first to be different, far away, but became clearer, and then loud as I convinced myself to come back.

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 as if I was getting closer to the light and farther away from the doctor.

Did you see any beings in your experience? Sensed their presence

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes The beings were around the perimeter. Above. I did not know them. I think my realization that I could make it came from them.

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

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Clearly mystical or unearthly realm

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Disbelief at first, then concern, and then determination. I felt calm, no fear.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness

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? Past flashed before me, out of my control I saw my grandbabies and my daughter. I learned that I could make it back.

Did scenes from the future come to you? Neither

Did you come to a border or point of no return? A conscious decision to 'return' to life

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate Episcopalian

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Moderate Episcopalian

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? Neither

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Sensed their presence

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes That I could fight to make it.

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? No

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? It is significant to me that I knew I was not going to make it, and that it seemed fine, confusing at first, but fine. It is significant to me that I was given a choice and the knowledge that I could fight my way back.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Right away, after recovery, I told all of my family that I almost didn't make it. I told them there were aliens in the room. I was confused, and heavily medicated. They humored me.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes I had heard of NDEs. I had no conscious thought prior to the surgery. The surgery was a full day after the accident and I was heavily medicated.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real As an NDE. A week after surgery, my friend informed me of the call from the operating room and the problems. No one had told me that even though I had spoken often of what had happened. That was my reality.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real It has been one month and my reality has not changed.

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