Wanetta L Probable NDE

Experience Description

I was alone in a row boat that was attached to the pier. The water was only about 4 feet deep. I was not supposed to be in the boat or on the water alone. To get out, I stepped on the lip of the boat. It tilted toward the pier. As my body rocked forward, I slammed my head against the pier and fell into the lake. I could not swim. I remember being underwater. How long? I don't know. Minutes? It was long enough to drown.

I was confused, but not afraid. I remember thrashing my arms and legs and as I looked up, I saw two things. I saw sunlight, at least that is what I think it was, and I saw a lady's arm reaching down towards me. It was a white arm encased in a shimmering sleeve.

The next thing I remember is that I was on top of the pier with a big lump on my head. As I felt the lump and my soaking wet body, I finally cried and ran up to the cabin where my family was. No one was there to witness what happened. I believe to this day it was my guardian angel who saved my life.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: summer of 1953

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident 'Life threatening event, but not clinical death' I hit my head against the pier.

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

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes The arm I saw was not mine, I did not see a body and when I was on top of the pier, there was no one in sight. No

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 didn't know exactly that I was drowning but I knew I was helpless on my own with no one around to help me.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? When I was in the water.

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Time seemed to go faster or slower than usual I couldn't tell exactly how long I was under water.

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. I was under water but my eyes were open so I saw the arm reach down to me.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. It was silent except for the bubbles I made waving my arms and legs. I must have held my breath.

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: Unearthly light

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? An unusually bright light

Did you see an unearthly light? Uncertain It may have been sunlight, but it could have been heavenly light.

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

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I wasn't afraid, but I was aware I needed help.

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 no longer in conflict with nature

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 importance did you place on your religious/spiritual life prior to your experience? Moderately important to me

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Protestant a normal little girl who enjoyed going to Sunday School and singing hymns

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes God became real to me for the first time. I understood later what is meant by 'a guardian angel' and knew I had one for sure.

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

What is your religion now? Christian- Protestant I am a very devout Christian, lay servant, mission volunteer, hospice volunteer

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 It did not surprise me that I had a guardian angle who was sent by God to save me

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I knew God was watching over me.

The experience included: Presence of unearthly beings

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 An unexplained arm came down to me.

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? Yes I knew for certain that I had a guardian angel-first and only time I encountered it

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? Yes God is with me all the time and sent an angel to save me

Did you believe in the existence of God prior to your experience? God definitely exists

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Yes I was certain my 'savior" came directly from God

Do you believe in the existence of God after your experience? God definitely 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? Unknown

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 probably existsÂ

Do you believe in an afterlife after your experience? An afterlife definitely exists No

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? Not 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? Unknown

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? Unknown

During your experience, did you gain information about love? Yes Life is uncertain-it is easy to be in danger of dying-God is love and He is always with me

Were you compassionate after your experience? Greatly compassionate toward others

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Moderate changes in my life Moderate changes in my life. The experience I had as a 5 year old helped me to be more trusting of God's interest in me personally.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No 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 I never forgot the experience-I can recall it completely in my mind today

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? Only that it was a spiritual miracle.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes For as long as I can remember when NDE comes up, I talk about the one I had.

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 could repeat exactly what happened.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real I should have drowned, but I didn't.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No But I've never been afraid of the water or drowning. I learned how to swim but I'm not the strongest swimmer. I love the water and feel very comfortable in it. It's my main source of exercise.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? The questionnaire was very thorough, and as a hospice volunteer I am very comfortable around people who are near the end of their lives.