Kim M NDE

Experience Description :

Surgery-related. One week after surgery to replace a failing aortic valve with a plastic one. I seemed to be getting well enough for discharge. I passed out and recall hearing voices saying emergency surgery was needed to release blood collected near my heart that was squeezing it and not allowing it to function.

After a one week recovery from heart surgery to replace a failed aortic valve with a plastic one (a St. Jude who I adore) I experienced an unconscious episode - yet heard discussion that I needed immediate surgery again. I went to the operating room and remember the overhead white light. Then I felt I had entered a large tunnel and at the end, my mother stood with open arms outstretched. I knew I felt only love and peace. How sweet it would be to go to her. Yet, I had to tell her, 'Not yet. I have to finish my tasks on earth. To be with my family. I will be back later.' And it was hard to turn around. My family tells me that I was dying then. Now, almost twenty years later, I believe when the time comes again it will be wonderful to go and my loved ones will be there.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: Nov. 1987

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-related One week after surgery to replace failing aortic valve with plastic one...and I seemed to be getting well enough for discharge...I passed out and recall hearing voices saying emergency surgery needed to release blood collected near my heart that was squee Life threatening event, but not clinical death Surgery complications.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

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 My total being felt permeated by perfect peace and trust. I needed no awareness - I just was.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? When I saw my mother and felt her love.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Neither There was no time or space.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more so

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. It was sparkling clear as being bathed in light.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Neither

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Yes

Did you see any beings in your experience? Neither

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? Neither

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? Peace, love, desire to stay.

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? United, one with the world

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 Seems I went through the tunnel so fast but there were movies of my early life on the walls. I learned to be more loving and accepting of others - not as judgmental as many things on earth are temporary toys - we are all God's children.

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? Liberal Jewish

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Uncertain More real personal faith but not limited to tradition and dogma.

What is your religion now? Liberal Jewish

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Uncertain More real personal faith but not limited to tradition and dogma.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? Neither

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Neither

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes I am far from perfect and it is okay to forgive myself and keep trying again. I know I will be blessed in death, and that all humans have that same possibility. We should recognize each other as different faces of God.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Uncertain

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

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 Immediately told my family (husband and children).

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 knew I had 'work' to do on earth.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real It is peaceful to think about, especially as I am eighty-two years old.

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? I feel like it was a blessing.