Lee S NDE

Experience Description

On May 11, of 2020, I was at work. I'm a firefighter/EMT. I work 48-hour shifts and this was my second day of work. At approximately 4 a.m., I had some chest discomfort but disregarded it. At 7 a.m., I ended my shift and went home. My wife normally leaves for work around 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon. I complained about a little shortness of breath. But, again disregarded this as just being tired. My wife told me that if my chest pain got any worse to call our daughter, who is a nurse. She could come check on me since she lives nearby. My daughter called shortly after that to see if I needed her to come over. I told her that I was o.k.

About 5 minutes after that phone call, out of nowhere, I had the feeling like something very heavy was sitting on my chest. I was sitting in a forward position, taking in as many deep breaths as I could. It started to scare me. I was home all by myself, so I made the decision to call 911. Then, I text my daughter and wife and told them I needed an ambulance. My daughter and wife both beat the ambulance to our home. On the way to the hospital, the paramedics gave me an albuterol breathing treatment, which seem to have helped at first. The ambulance ride was very short.

When I arrived at the hospital, I felt a little better knowing that I was at the hospital. I received another breathing treatment. When that treatment was done, which was about 15 minutes after my arrival, I was telling a nurse that I was having still having problems breathing. The nurse told me to wait because I would be getting another treatment in about 45 minutes. Then she left the room. The breathing got worsse, so I pushed the emergency room button. I could take in air but couldn't exhale. An emergency room doctor walked in and yelled for assistance. They rushed me to another room where they had more technical equipment. There were two emergency room doctors trying to give me some sort of drugs through an IV in each arm. I could tell that if I took in one more breath, it would be my last. I told myself, 'This is it!'

The next thing I know, I am floating really high above the most amazing forest I had ever seen. It went on for miles. Off in the distance, was a beautiful lake that was calm with no waves. I felt no pain. I was moving, but at a very slow pace. I felt like I wanted to be in this place. I had no worries.

But in the blink of the eye, I was back in the hospital bed. The emergency room doctor was telling me how lucky I was, and that I would need to stay in the hospital for a few days because I was positive for COVID-19. I was then put on a bypass machine to help my breathing. The emergency room doctor told me that he would call my wife and update her on my progress. He also said that if I was not better by the time he comes back, that I would need to go on a ventilator.

My breathing did get better and after 4 days I was able to go home and quarantine for 2 weeks.

I now have a different outlook on death; not so much fear anymore.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 05-11-2020

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Illness Life threatening event, but not clinical death. Pandemic, I had a sudden breathing attack and was positive for COVID-19.

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

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. Everything was crisp and clear

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I really didn't have time to think of it as an event until after I came back

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning. I felt like I was in this wonderful place for a long time. Then, when the event was over, I was gone only a moment

Were your senses More vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. My vision was crystal clear

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. There was no sound during the experience; no wind, nothing

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? No

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Some unfamiliar and strange place. I hovered above a forest that was hundreds of acres. It was a very beautiful thick forest. Off in the distance was a huge body of calm water.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? absolute calm, no fear

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 no longer in conflict with nature

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? No

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Protestant

What is your religion now? Christian- Protestant

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience. I grew up believing in god and heaven. I suppose the experience I had was as close to heaven that I could ever ask for

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I definitely believe you go to a wonderful place when you die

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

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

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

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

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

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? I was uncertain if an afterlife exists

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? Slight changes in my life. I actually haven't told to many people about this because I'm afraid people won't believe me. My experience didn't feel religious at all.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

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. I think about this experience all the time. It is and will be a very vivid event that I will never forget

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? just the calm and wonderful feeling being there

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I told my wife and a few family members and a couple friends. I think everyone is skeptical, not experiencing it themselves. My wife completely believes me

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 think the timing of the doctors giving me lifesaving drugs right before my death was a huge factor. I really had taken my last breath and didn't have time to even think about what was about to happen but I knew my life was ending.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. It's hard to explain. I left my body and went somewhere wonderful even if it was only a moment.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? Yes

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Uncertain. Maybe a web site where people can talk about this kind of thing