Steve D NDE

Experience Description

We had arrived in Key West with our two best friends for our annual trip to south Florida. This trip included visiting Fort Lauderdale for about eight or nine days, with four days in Key West. We always had a blast. We drove from their condominium (condo); I think it was a Wednesday because we had big plans to watch the NCAA Men's tournament games Thursday and Friday. We arrived at the condo and the husband friend and I went to take a dip while our wives had a cocktail in the condo. We were going to go out that night. We came back to the condo, rinsed off and got dressed for the night. I was having a beer, he was having a cocktail. Our wives were coming in off the porch.

I remember turning to leave and feeling a very faint sense of falling face-first to the floor. The next thing I know, I was outside my body. I didn't feel myself leave; I was just floating outside the condo watching the action. I was floating about two stories high, near the steps downstairs.

In retrospect, I don't think I died until the EMTs left the condo because my friends wife started CPR right away. I now know that I was in between death and life. At that time in my life, I was big; weightlifting and exercising. I was in very good shape, six foot two inches and about 265 lbs at that time. I worked out twice a day many days. I say this not to brag but to illustrate two points: I was in great shape and was only a big slab of humanity.

I mention size because as I watched the EMTs negotiate the narrow stairs but just as small turns at the bottom of each six or so steps. I remember laughing and thinking, 'There's no way they're getting THAT guy to the ambulance!'

Suddenly, I became aware that I was floating and saw a large crowd watching the action. I actually remember specific faces. The last face I focused on was that of a dark-haired kid, who seemed to make eye contact with me. Then, in a flash, I shot off at indescribable speed. The light around me resembled the movie 'Star Wars' when a spaceship went to light speed. I saw kaleidoscopic colors so bright and dynamic that I really cannot describe them. Although, I can visualize them as they appeared during my trip.

There is no sense, idea, understanding, or existence of time there. Eternity is a second; a second eternity. I rocketed off and then seemed to slow down. I was facing a wondrous, glowing ball of light. I don't possess the vocabulary to describe the light. At this time, I felt the presence of someone else behind me who communicated that everything was cool. I also figured everything was cool because I was completely at ease. I felt that I was aware beyond belief. There are more than three dimensions and I experienced some of that. It was just jaw dropping, brilliant, goose-bump stuff.

At some point my entire life flashed before me. It was not in snippets of my life but somehow my entire life all at once. Some of what I saw and remembered made me feel euphoria, laughter and other times sadness, but again it occurred all at once. At some point, it was communicated to me that 'love is all that matters.' This meant love for all fellow humans, love and respect for the earth, for the birds, animals, and even insects. All things are from our Creator and we are all, everything connected at every level.

I was given a lot of information that just stuns me to this day. Time is not linear and I can't really explain this thing I learned. All time is now, then, next, or whatever. But I've had to explain it in sort of linear fashion because I guess that's how I understand it. After some knowledge lessons I learned beyond love, connectedness, and our eternal existence, I had to go. Again, in some way I was told it was time to go.

My next memory is waking up in Key West Regional Hospital. My first memory is that the staff had ruined my beard. I was told that tThey'd shaved the mustache so the oxygen mask would fit correctly. I remember nothing other than being there, then I was in a chair with some brain damage but my personality was intact.

Slowly over the next few days, I became more lucid but was still not very aware mentally. I actually complained that I didn't get to experience the near death experience. Eventually, I was sent to a hospital in Miami, then to our friends' Fort Lauderdale home, then on a plane home. I don't remember the whole timeline but I think it was three weeks. Since then, I suffer from PTSD from the event and am very troubled by my vivid dreams. I also have deep compassion and deep love. I remember good stuff and bad stuff. Yet, what I learned is priceless.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: March 13, 2008

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Heart attack. CPR given. Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function) I suffered the widow maker heart attack and was dead when I hit the floor, as I was told later.

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

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes Read above. I have verified it all. 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 was aware of EVERYTHING HAPPENING AROUND ME. Everything. Sight, sound, smell, every emotion, front back, above, below. The breath ofrom the people watching.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Right when I jetted off from this plane, earth.

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 time that I understood.

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. I felt what I saw. Colors radiated feelings.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Hahaha! Unreal. There was a melody, for lack of a better word. I heard beyond anything I can describe. Plus, I heard 100% better when I came back. Still do.

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? Yes Jesus, et al

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? No

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes Beautiful light. Frankly, I believe it was the radiant presence and glory of the Creator, Almighty God.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm Dark, with light. Love, melodic, brilliance.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Love, gratitude, shame, pride. Love, above all total, inconceivable love and peace.

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? Everything about the universe Cannot tell you. I just don't have the words in some cases and don't want to influence in others. Our beliefs here are important. I DO NOT KNOW Everything about the universe but I was told many things and was gifted with big knowledge.

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control My while life was shown to me.

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 Read my story.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Other Christian Deep spiritual belief in God, Jesus, Mohammed, etc. Belief in an ongoing life for eternity.

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Christian- Other Christian My beliefs are much deeper. I am much more understanding of those with dramatically different spiritual points of view. I believe if your belief system somehow sustains you, it's great. I know now that The Creator doesn't really care HOW we acknowledge him, just that we DO. Very, very different viewpoints since my NDE.

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 I experienced Islamic beliefs and have no Muslim knowledge. Muslim friends but zero knowledge.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes Deeper levels of belief.

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 not see anyone but physically sensed their presence and "heard" their words.

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.)? Yes I became aware on an astonishingly deep level. Special knowledge for those who have been told. I am not the only one by millions.

During your experience, did you gain information about premortal existence? Yes We live thousands of lives for a multitude of reasons. It is really wild.

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? Yes It exists. Everything Almighty God has created is connected at the atomic level.

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Yes Read my story.

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes I cannot describe but I know so many things now it freaks me out.

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

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Yes Specific information.

Did you gain information about how to live our lives? Yes I cannot really share much other than to focus on love. Off topic. Sorry.

During your experience, did you gain information about life's difficulties, challenges and hardships? Yes We have to live with challenges, pain, hardships, etc. It is necessary.

During your experience, did you gain information about love? Yes Love is everything. Love of self, all, everything. Respect for every being and entity. We are all connected.

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Large changes in my life My life, life view, love of all. Man, I have changed. Still flawed. Big fucking time! Haha! Just aware and grateful to be here with the love and knowledge I have been gifted with. Thank you so much for providing this forum to share. While I didn't' make it into Heaven, my experience has changed my life. Bless you all.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes Deeper, better, more loving.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes I don't have the words to describe what I saw and felt emotionally.

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. It is the most vivid memory of my life. Plus, it puts so much of my life while growing up into context.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes Some ability to predict the future.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Many parts. But my desire to cross over to Heaven was especially meaningful. I was not allowed to go over, I had to come back. As much as I love and am grateful for my life, I really wanted to stay.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? No

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Uncertain Sort of.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was probably real. Was still recovering from a coma.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. It continues to this day.

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? No.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? All good. God bless you all. Peace and love!