Thomas R NDE

Experience Description:

I remember suddenly being aware that I was 'floating' above a bed and when I looked down it was me lying there. It was not in any way troubling. I did not see a tunnel or light or any other beings with me but I was totally at peace. It was very pleasant and comfortable. I watched as two medical personnel came in and began discussing whether to debride the wound with a copper brush or water. I remember thinking if I were still in that body I wanted them to use water! As this was going on I was floating slightly above them then I just thought about moving up and there I was, hovering just above the light fixture. I remember reading the little identification sticker on the upper side of the lamp fixture but I don't remember what it said. For some reason I thought it was really neat to be able to just float there and read such a dumb thing. I did not see any boundaries or objects around myself, just a sort of gray fog. But it was a friendly gray fog - not frightening at all.

The next thing I knew I was in the recovery room, back in my body and with my whole face bandaged up. I told the doctor that I heard what they were discussing about the brush or the water but he did not believe me. I also told him exactly where the little sticker was on the upper side of the overhead light and he just brushed it off and said I could not know that. He said I had come very near to not being revived and was just dreaming, but I know better. Before that experience, I had always feared death more than anything else had in the world. I never went to ANY funerals because of that fear. After the experience, I have never again feared death. I do not want to die but I am absolutely certain that we DO continue and it is a very pleasant experience. I felt no pain during the experience and did feel great peace. It was also a lot of fun just being able to 'float' anywhere I wanted to.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: December 24, 1971

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident Direct head injury Life threatening event, but not clinical death I was riding my bicycle from a friend's house in San Diego and decided to take a short cut on the freeway for approximately a quarter of a mile to get on the strand road back to North Island Naval Air Station. I was in the Navy. The on-ramp to the freeway was steeply angled down from the overpass I was on. I did not know that a storm drain was at the bottom of the ramp. The drains 'cover bars' ran parallel to the direction of my travel. The front tire of the bike fell into the drain and I was thrown over the handle bars and landed directly on the left side of my face. I do not remember any of the actual accident, only what I was told, and going to look at the location after I recovered.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

Did you feel separated from your body? No 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? Normal consciousness and alertness

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Immediately after realizing I was looking down at my own body.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Neither

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Neither

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Neither

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Well at least I think it was more acute. When I was listening to the medical personnel I am pretty sure they were not speaking loudly but I heard every word very clearly.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Neither

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? Neither

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? Neither

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Neither

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Peace, comfort, joy and a little thrill that I could 'float' (that really was fun).

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? No longer in conflict with nature

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? Neither

Did scenes from the future come to you? Neither

Did you come to a border or point of no return? Neither

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Liberal None

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Liberal None

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? Neither

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Neither

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Uncertain I think I was shown that very tiny glimpse of what happens after we die so I would not be afraid of death. I also think I was placed back in my body to help others as much as I can.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes Since the experience I always try to understand that no matter how someone is acting there are reasons and they are valid reasons. That goes for both the good and bad. This job sometimes involves people who are less than pleasant but I always try to understand that they may just be having a bad day and try to find the good in the situation.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes It's kind of hard to describe in words the sense of peace I felt. It was a total peace.

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? It seemed to me it was a short experience but it meant a lot to me because I no longer have an overriding fear of life or death. I had a very spiritual uncle who once asked me if I knew where I was going after death, I could honestly answer him 'YES, and it is wonderful.' I don't think he really understood what I was saying.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Immediately after I returned to awareness in my body. I had a very good friend who was at the bedside when I awoke. I told him but he did not make much of it. I have told many people over the past thirty-five years and most think it was some kind of hallucination. I do not personally know anyone else who has had this type of experience.

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 don't know how to answer this. I KNEW it was real and I KNEW it was meant to teach me a lesson about life and death. I viewed, and still view, it as the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real Same as above. It was a wonderful experience that I wouldn't trade anything for.

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? I know I did not see the tunnel, light, other beings or other places but it was enough for me and it gives me great comfort to know, without any doubt, that death is not the end.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? No suggestions just a heartfelt THANK YOU for allowing me to tell about my experience.