Susan M NDE

Experience Description

At 11 a.m., I arrived for a CT scan as diagnostic testing for stomach problems. When injected with the contrast dye, I started sneezing uncontrollably. The nurse informed me that it was time for me to leave, after quick scans were performed. I couldn't speak at this point, as I was unable to breathe. When I passed out, the nurse called frantic for the code blue team to be alerted. By the time the code blue team arrived, I guess I was 'dead'. I saw the team enter and surround a person lying next to me; at least that was what I thought at the time. It never dawned on me that the other person was I. I was very, very calm. But I felt bad for the lady (me) as the code blue team struggled to get her heart to start again. I saw 'me' being intubated with chest compressions and the rotation of the team to revive me. I also saw my catheterization and everything else around me. When my heart started to beat on its own, 45 minutes later, I was pulled back into my own body. I saw everything and related this to the code blue team later and they verified that what I saw really happened.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 05/19/2013

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Allergic Reaction. Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function) Anaphylaxis, due to injection of intravenous contrast dye.

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? Yes I saw everything that happened in detail during my death. Every member of the code blue team verified this, later. 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 extremely aware of every movement.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? In the middle, when I saw myself being resuscitated.

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Time seemed to go faster or slower than usual Slowed down

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 tremendously clearer during the experience.

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

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: Void

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 All around me was pitch black. The woman's (my own) body was unnaturally lit up in white.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I was extremely calm and peaceful.

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? Happiness

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? Not important to me

What was your religion prior to your experience? Unaffiliated- Agnostic I am agnostic, still am. But after my experience I am open.

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Uncertain I am more open to believing in God than I was before.

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

What is your religion now? Do not know

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience I thought it was happening to someone else.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I know there is something there after we die. Not sure what it is.

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? God does not exist

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? No I am uncertain if God exists

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? An afterlife does not exist

Do you believe in an afterlife after your experience? An afterlife definitely exists

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? Slightly fearful in living my earthly life

Were you fearful living your life after your experience? Not 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 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? I know now, that there is more after we die. I know now, that there is more after we die.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes I am closer to people. Empathize tremendously more. More emotional.

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. It was and is clearer than anything I remember in my life.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes Empathy abilities

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Knowing that we live after we die and it is very peaceful.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes A year; people are skeptical. I only know what I experienced.

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 couldn't bring myself to think about it because I got too emotional. It was about a year later that I let myself talk about it.

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

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