Tamara H NDE

Experience Description

They induced labor. Then realized I was already in labor on my own. They let me be in this state for over 24 hours, putting me in ridiculous positions to try and make the delivery of the baby. I was crying, 'We have insurance. Please take the baby!' The third doctor came in who was new on the shift rotation. She had the staff check the vitals of the baby by running something up me and into the baby's head. She looked at the results and yelled, 'Get us into the OR immediately!' It was too late for an epidural. They thought they had me numbed when they started to cut me for the c-section. I felt it and screamed.

That’s when my blood pressure dropped. My husband was there with me. I felt myself leave my body. I could see everyone in the room from above them. I could see on the other side of the drape where they were trying to start the surgery.

I turned my head to the anesthesiologist and said 'I’m leaving.' He barely heard me, but my husband did. The anesthesiologist started scrambling and they started injecting me with something. My husband said they took something like a hypo needle and slammed it into my leg. At that point, I returned to my body.

My daughter had an Apgar score of 2. They had to resuscitate her, and dig bile out of her mouth and throat. They also had to do a blood infusion on me for the amount of blood I lost.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: April 8, 1995

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Uncertain Surgery-related Childbirth Other: Blood pressure dropped immediately. I was having an emergency c-section after 24 hours of labor

How do you consider the content of your experience? Both pleasant AND distressing

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes Only seeing and not hearing. Also only within the operating room (OR) 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 wasn’t experiencing pain at that point. I felt light and aware. I could see them trying to figure out what was going on. I felt no panic feelings; I was just aware and watching them

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? When I was floating above my body

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Time seemed to go faster or slower than usual It seemed to me to be in slow motion

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. Vision seemed to be the same. I simply was able to see things in the entire room that I shouldn't have been able to see while on the operating table

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I didn’t hear anything. It was silent, like watching a TV with the sound off. I could hear myself tell the anesthesiologist I was leaving but that was it.

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

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? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Calm. Aware but peaceful

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- Other Christian Raised Catholic. Was going to Lutheran church at the time

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I don't believe in one and done anymore. I don't believe there is a heaven. I believe there is another dimension

What is your religion now? Christian- Catholic Christian

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 felt like it was my soul that left my body but then returned to my body

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I believe the soul can leave the body. It can wonder and it can come back

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? Uncertain. I was aware of what was happening but from the vantage point of being above and looking down. I felt like I was supposed to watch what they were doing

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

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Uncertain. I knew I was floating above myself. I was aware this wasn’t where I should be, but wasn’t afraid

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 feel that there is a continuation of life. Reincarnation. I feel there is some sort of higher power. Exactly what that is, I am not completely sure. At times I feel like a believer in Christ and of God. At other times, I'm not sure. I do not believe any more that when we, die we simply go to heaven. I feel we move in to other lives. We may take a break but eventually we come back again and again. That goes against the Catholic and Christian beliefs, but so be it

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 as accurately as other life events that occurred around the time of the experience. I told my husband what I had experienced. He told me what they were shouting in the room. He said I looked dead and he was screaming at them to do something. I never heard any of that while I left my body. I could see the commotion but it didn’t upset me

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Uncertain I have always been able to see those who have passed. I can feel their presence too. It has increased as I age. They have communicated with me as well. My mother did not have this ability but her two sisters did. My youngest child does too

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? That I felt I had a choice. I could choose to go back to my body.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Immediately in my recovery room. The nurses didn’t seem impressed but my husband knew it was real. My mom knew it was real although she hadn’t personally experienced anything

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes Movies. Articles written

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real. I knew what happened to me was real. I saw things on the other side of the sheet that I shouldn't have been able to see

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. I knew what happened to me was real. I saw things on the other side of the sheet that I shouldn't have been able to see

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? I think this was very thorough

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