Experience description:

I had been sick for about a week.  Bad cough.  Dr. put me on medication for bronchitis and pneumonia. 3 days later I had trouble breathing.  Went to the ER.  My husband was there with me. The doctor came in after many tests and said 'you are very ill and need to be admitted.  You're oxygen is way too low to let you go home.'  She had diagnosed me with pneumonia. After waiting several hours for a bed and very calming feeling came over me.  I felt a presence in the room.  Even though my husband was there next to me, it felt like I was totally alone with this presence.  It was a very personal interaction with just this one presence.  Everything around me just kind of disappeared.  I felt a I felt unjudged by anything I had done wrong in my life.  I felt a tremendous feeling of love and warmth.  I had absolutely no regrets.  Just felt like someone had wrapped me in a warm blanket and gave me a dose of love I had never felt.  I was at total peace.  I was in the ER from 10:30AM until 5:30PM.  I am guessing this happened between 2:00-5:00PM. I remember saying to myself (talking to God), I love you and know you love me.  Have never said those words before.  I also remember thinking that it's ok if I die.  I'm ready if this is my time. I looked at my body and said 'this is just a shell'.  It's not really who I am.  My spirit is who I am.  This is just a vessel. Next thing I know, they are moving me to my room.  The doctor came in later and again told me I was very sick.  I was put on numerous bags of antibiotics. I was in the hospital for 4 days and then released.  I went over to the hospital about 10 days later to pick up my medical records.

In reading through the paperwork, I found that I was diagnosed with acute hypoxic respiratory failure, severe sepsis, bilateral pneumonia.  I was only told I had pneumonia. 

It was suggested that I have a follow-up with my GP, which I did a few days after release from hospital.  He told me I had a near death experience.  He was referring, I think, to the fact that I almost died. Not a near death experience as in what I personally experienced.,  It took me a few days to put it all together.  I did not tell him what I experienced in the ER room.  But when I thought about what he said about being near death, it all made sense to me. I truly believe I did have a near death experience with a higher power.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   Yes  I was in the emergency room with an oxygen level of 83 with sepsis.  Also, diagnosed with pneumonia.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes     It was an overwhelming feeling of peace, love, warmth, unconditional nonjudgmental love and being totally ok with dying.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?      About half way through.

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   Yes.  I was very, very aware that a presence was in the room with me.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I did not even notice vision during the experience except  remember looking at my body and realizing it is just a vessel,.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   Did not notice any noises even though machines were beeping and people talking.

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   No  

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   Peace and serenity like I've never experienced.  I felt very loved and had no regrets of anything I did in my life.  I was in the perfect space.  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   No  

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
I definitely felt a presence and talked to it. Told Him I loved Him and knew He loved me.

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  

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

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   No  

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

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

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   No

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   No

Did scenes from the future come to you?  No 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)?   Uncertain   I think because I felt a very powerful presence in the room that it gave me a definite sense of continued existence.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   Yes   Definitely felt God with me and talked to Him.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   Yes   Felt incredibly loved and accepted.

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   No  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   No  

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience   I am spiritual and completely believe that there is a higher power.  I believed that before the experience and even more after the experience.

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 ex   It seems I had a time lapse when the experience was happening.  Other than that, I pretty much remember what was going on.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   I'm not as afraid of dying and I look forward to experiencing those feelings again,.

My experience directly resulted in:   Moderate changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   No  

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?     I was raised Catholic and was taught that we are punished for our sins.  I did to feel any judgement at all.  Only unconditional love and acceptance.

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  I shared the experience with my husband after I saw my GP and realized what had happened to me.  He is very spiritual and totally believed me.  I told several of my sisters.  One cried. They were all very attentive when I shared when them and I got the impression that they all believed me.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   Yes   I had read 2 or 3 books regarding NDEs.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was definitely real   I viewed thee experience as truly a gift to me.  I believe I was on the cusp of passing.  I did not see any light or tunnels. that's why I say I think I was on the cusp.  I believe it happened because I was low on oxygen and my body was slowly shutting down.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   I believe that it happened.  I still can conjure up those intense feelings if I want to.  I love reliving the experience.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   No
   
Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?   Yes

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes. I believe the questions described the experience I had.   I am fascinated with reading other people's NDEs.  I hope that there will be more and more research done on this.  I tell people about my experience because my hope is that they believe there is something after death and that there is a higher power.