Liam W NDE

Experience Description

I was having unexplained chest pain and tried to wait it out to see if it would go away. The pain became so intense, that I had to go to the emergency room. The medical staff thought I was having a heart attack, so they gave me nitroglycerin and then took an x-ray for definitive diagnosis. The Thoracic surgeon informed me that I actually had a spontaneous pneumothorax. I was given no pain medication. He inserted a chest tube, punching through the rib cartilage. I was later told that my heart rate dropped to 3, and that is when I had an out-of-body experience.

I saw the brightest light that is possible and was floating above my body that was on the operating table I could see everyone in the room. I remember praying to God not to take me and that I wasn't ready to die. I remember begging God not to let me die. I do not remember how transitioned from floating above my body or how the bright light sensation ended.

I just remember the surgeon telling me later that he thought he had lost me and my heart rate dropped quickly.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: July 1993

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Spontaneous pneumothorax. Life threatening event, but not clinical death

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

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I saw and heard the surgeon giving orders and the staff responding. Later, the doctor told me what had happened, which matched the experience when I was out of my body body. 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. I have never experienced alertness and intensity like that before or since.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Not sure about the question. I was aware that I was floating and had the blinding light experience.

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? No

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. Normal

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

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere, as if by ESP? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Yes It wasn't like a long journey, but rather it was instantaneous. It was just 'poof' and I was through the tunnel and hovering.

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? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes Already described.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Not wanting to die.

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

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? 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

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 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? An afterlife definitely 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? No changes in my life

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.

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 I shared my experiences then and now.

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

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