I awoke that next morning with the memory of soaring with my impish companion over the earth and through the universe and experiencing the birth of galaxy's and deaths of older fragile galaxy's. I was shown many wondrous sites and experienced many un-explainable feelings. One memory I did retain was a futuristic foggy image of a hospital room with a concerned nurse named Anna and a technician named Gabe and the dark shadows allowing me to return to my body.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?   Uncertain    I was on various non-narcotic medications for pain management and had taken a puff from a hookah.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words?   Yes    It was wondrous and there was so much experienced that I can't explain it all nor describe very many particular details.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?   No   

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?   Mentally, I was ultra alert, physically, I was in a stupor and remember laughing at myself due to my trance like condition.

Was the experience dream like in any way?   No, nothing about the experience was dreamlike.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?   Yes   I think I was a spiritual form but do not recall what my appearance would have been.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?    At first it was extreme apprehension that transformed into amazement and then into wonder, delight and enlightenment and extreme peacefulness.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?    Not that I recall.

Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or amazing creatures?    Yes    Some familiar locations from childhood up to the current, then the view of earth as seen from space and on to traveling throughout the universe.

Did you see a light?    Yes    I did not see the light as described by many NDEs but points of interest appeared as lights in the distance and began to emerge as visions as we came closer.

Did you meet or see any other beings?    Yes    My mischievous travel guide and the dark shadows that are familiar from childhood and a couple of previous near death experiences. Communication was not vocal and I only recall the entity that coaxed me from my conscious state and the cat, all assuring me not to be afraid and to allow my mind to open to the experience.

Did you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state?   Yes    I tried to communicate with my physical being to but was not successful.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?   Yes    On July 8th, 2011 I awoke in an ICU and my nurses name was Anna and the Lab Tech was Gabe. I later learned that I was admitted on July 7th with pulmonary embolism and multiple massive DVT's that have compromised my vascular system in my lower torso and extremities. At admission, the doctors believed I would be dead within the next 24 hours.

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?    No   

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?    No   

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Yes    I know that I will not have any more NDEs, the next time will be my end on this earth. I am more at peace but also am trying to learn what is expected of me to relate to this life before it is time to move on. I have reached out to make amends to family and friends that I have wronged in the past, but there are still questions to be answered.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?    No    I did not recognize boundaries limiting my journey.

Did you become aware of future events?    Yes    The hospital event in July of 2010 and it was exactly as I saw it.

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?    No   

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?    No   

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes    I am no longer in a rush to leave this place and want to become closer to my family and friends.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?    I am more aware of people and my surroundings and try to maintain an uplifted attitude.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes    I have tried to be more open to people and to enjoy every minute I can.

Have you shared this experience with others?    No   

What was the best and worst part of your experience?   The worst was the apprehension at the beginning and I can't isolate any particular best part as the whole journey was so utterly remarkable.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?    I wish I knew what exactly my purpose is for the remainder of my life.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?    No