Experience description:

Back in 1991, I was 20 years old. At the time of my experience, I was serving in the United States Air Force. My experience happened after training in the Nevada desert in 110 degree heat. I was wearing a mop suit and gas mask and it can be a lot hotter in that suit than the outside temperature. I was fully loaded down with gear  and running through the desert.  After a long day of training, I made my way back to my dorm room; exhausted and ready for a shower. After taking a shower, I laid down in bed to relax and started to fall asleep.  I started to feel a pain in the lower part of my chest and the pain started to rapidly get worse.  The pain was so intense and unbearable that I tried to scream.  Then the pain stopped immediately and I felt like I was floating out of my body. I was floating away from my body like a balloon and had no control over it. I was fully conscious and aware. I'm not sure where I was, but I wasn't in my body or on earth. I felt more alive and more real than when I was in my physical body. My first thought was, 'Oh, no! I just died and I'm not ready to meet GOD.  Please don't let me meet GOD. I want to go back.' I felt a pull like I was being pulled back to my body. I had no control over that either. But after being pulled back, I opened my eyes and was lying back on my bed. After a few moments trying to process what had just happened to me, I decided to go to the hospital and get checked out. After extensive testing, the doctors couldn't find any heart problems.  They told me not to worry about it and that I would be all right. To this day, I have no answers to what had happened to me or what caused it but it was very real. I know what I experienced and carry it with me all these years later.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   Uncertain  Had very intense pain in chest similar to a heart attack. After evaluation at the hospital, the doctors couldn't find any sign of heart problems.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes     It is difficult to express into words as to where I was at.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?      as soon as I felt my self detach from my body

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 felt more alive and more real than in my body. I didn't feel constrained by a physical body.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I seemed to be in a void somewhere between my body and somewhere else

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I just remember silence and peace

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?   I felt peace free from pain and suffering  

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?   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  

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?   Some unfamiliar and strange place
It just seemed to be a peaceful, silent void

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Time seemed to go faster or slower than usual
there didn't seem to be any awareness of time.

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?   I came to a definite conscious decision to return to life
I remember thinking I wasn't ready to meet GOD and that I wanted to go back.  I felt a strong pull like I was being pulled back to my body.  I opened my eyes and was back in my body.

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”)?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   No  

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?   No  

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?   Yes   I was given my experience to share with others to build their faith and encourage them and give them hope,

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience.   I think God was trying to get my attention because he wanted a closer relationship with me.  I was living far from God at the time.

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 had a lasting impact on my life that I will never forget. I've never experienced anything like that in my life.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   Nothing in life seems important.  I look at everything as temporary and not important. I'm only passing through this life for a little while.

My experience directly resulted in:   Large 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?   Yes   it strengthened my Christian faith.  It made me want to serve God and be more involved in the church and it made me more compassionate and thankful.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   Yes   I seem to have more wisdom and be more insightful.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     I was given a second chance on life and to get right with GOD,

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  It was 32 years before i shared it with anyone and they where very inspired and strengthened in their faith by my story.

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 feel it was God reaching out to me because I didn't want anything to do with God or church at the time.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   God gave me the experience to share with others.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   I'm more loving and care about others. I see others as valuable.

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   I'm more involved in church and sharing my faith

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'm just glad that I had this experience in my life.

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes   What could a national organization with an interest in near death experience (NDE) do that would be of interest to you?  These experiences are very real and the world should hear them.