Kathy N NDE

Experience Description

The alarm on the blood pressure machine was the last thing I heard before it felt like I shot out of myself. In the next instant, my back was to the ceiling and I was looking down at all the activity. I knew the body on the table was mine, but it didn't matter to me. All I felt was an intense curiosity about what I was seeing. There was a bright silvery white light to my left, but I didn't want to look at it yet. Instead, I wanted to look the doctor in the eye. With a thought, I was there, face to face with him, but he couldn't see me. His concern was to get the baby out, while another group worked on me. With a mere thought, I went around to each person in the room and watched them. I was looking at my nurse (she looked so sad) when suddenly I was slammed back into myself with tremendous force. All the pain gripped me, and I could feel the pressure from the incision on my lower abdomen. I heard someone say, 'We have her back.' Then under anesthesia, I went. When I awoke in recovery the same nurse was there that had been holding my hand in the operating room. I told her about the things I'd seen and heard while I'd been outside myself. Unfortunately, it frightened her and after that day, I didn't see her again. When I tried to talk to the doctor about it, he ignored me.

I can't fully describe the intensity of how it felt: colors were more vivid, sound was different - more melodic, there was absolutely no fear only curiosity. Before I came back, I heard (more like a thought) 'Not yet.' I tell you, coming back was scarier than leaving.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 'April 14, 1982'

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Childbirth Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function) . I was in hard labor for fourteen hours with no progress. My daughter was in fetal distress and I was rushed to the operating room for an emergency cesarean section. While being prepped, my blood pressure dropped to 62/48 and I went into shock.

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? More consciousness and alertness than normal Right before I came back.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Right before I came back.

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 There was no sense of time at all.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Did your vision differ in any way from normal? Everything seemed to be luminescent and the colors were much more vivid.

Did your hearing differ in any way from normal? It was more like hearing thoughts and it had a melodic quality.

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? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? I actually saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No I could sense others nearby.

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? Yes Off to the left, silvery white.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Curiosity and detachment.

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? I felt united or one with the world

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

The experience included: Boundary

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes I knew I couldn't leave the room.

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 Methodist

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I'm now spiritual, but I practice no indoctrinated religion.

What is your religion now? Liberal Spiritual but not religious.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I'm now spiritual, but I practice no indoctrinated religion.

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? No

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes They're more significant.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes Mere words are inadequate to express the experience.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes I've had them as long as I can remember, but they've intensified since this happened.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I shared it with the nurse. After that, I waited fourteen years before I told anyone else. It frightened many people, but now that I've talked about it more I find that people who are old or ill want to hear. I believe it gives them comfort to know or hear that there is something else after this organic life.

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 know it was real.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. I will be there again someday.

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