Keith M NDE

Experience Description

I am back!

It all began when, on February 6, 2012, I arrived at the medical center in California for a routine triple coronary bypass surgery (CABG). There was no indication that the operation would be far from routine and result in a major life changing experience.

Following the surgery, I was returned to the critical care unit where it was discovered that the surgery had apparently not been successful and I bled out. The bleeding was so voluminous that nineteen units of blood and four of plasma were required before I could be stabilized. In the interim, my lungs were filled with blood and fluid, my kidneys failed my heart stopped and I flat lined.

I then recall that I was slowly swimming in the clearest, blue tinged, warm water that I had ever seen and was totally relaxed and free of any care or anxiety and, strangely, I had no requirement for taking a breath.

I then realized that I was accompanied by four Manatees. They were guiding me downward at about a forty-five degree angle toward a large black wall. There were two ahead of me and two at my sides and were gently guiding my way. I then observed that they were also not rising to the surface to breathe.

As we approached the wall, an aperture, (which resembled the iris of a camera,) began to open to slowly reveal a bright, warm, white light. The light began to grow brighter and warmer as we approached. As the light began to engulf my gentle companions and me, I grew more comfortable and relaxed.

Just before we reached the opening, the aperture began to slowly and deliberately close. The manatees then gathered below me and began to guide me to the surface as they and other mammals lift their newborn for its first breath. As we broke the surface and I tried to take a breath, I heard the noises and activity of the surgery where I had been resuscitated.

I was back!

One puzzling thing about this experience is that I had not had any previous experience nor familiarity with Manatees other than to have casually read about them in magazines or books.

I was in the critical care unit on a ventilator for a month and in rehabilitation for seven months after the incident. I am now suffering from numerous conditions. I was on dialysis for five months and miraculously had my kidneys recover thirty percent of their functionality.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: Feb 6 2012

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-related Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function) I bled out after surgery. I ‘flat lined’. I was clinically dead.

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

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? No 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

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Throughout 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. It was clearer.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. It was clearer.

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

The experience included: Darkness

The experience included: Unearthly light

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

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Peace and relaxation. Affinity and compassion for the manatees.

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? incredible joy

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? 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? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What importance did you place on your religious/spiritual life prior to your experience? Slightly important to me

What was your religion prior to your experience? Jewish

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What importance do you place on your religious/spiritual life after your experience? Not important to me

What is your religion now? Jewish

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

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? 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

Did you believe in the existence of God prior to your experience? I was uncertain if God exists

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? No

Do you believe in the existence of God after your experience? I am uncertain if God exists

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

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

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant prior to your experience? Are not meaningful and significant

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

Did you believe in an afterlife prior to your experience? I was uncertain if an afterlife exists

Do you believe in an afterlife after your experience? An afterlife probably exists No

Did you fear death prior to your experience? I did not fear death

Do you fear death after your experience? I do not fear death

Were you fearful living your life prior to your experience? Not fearful in living my earthly life

Were you fearful living your life after your experience? Moderately fearful in living my earthly life

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant prior to your experience? Are not meaningful and significant

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant after your experience? Are not meaningful and significant

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

Were you compassionate prior to your experience? Moderately compassionate toward others

During your experience, did you gain information about love? No

Were you compassionate after your experience? Greatly compassionate toward others

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Large changes in my life

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes Yes I want to return.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

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

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 Within a few months of being released from critical care.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes Only vague references. Nothing specific.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real

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

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