I ran out of the house it was dark I was crazed didn't know what to do where to go. I went into a storage shed behind the house. I was thinking what could I use to end it all. I was looking around but couldn't see anything because it was so dark. I stopped. I really didn't want to die but nobody wanted me or my baby, my poor baby. I began talking to God, asking him to please take me and my baby, I said "I'm tired, please take me, you know nobody would care, I'm tired." 

I don't know why, but I was staring at the corner of the shed. I saw a tiny little light, got bigger and bigger before I knew I was in a dark tunnel going very fast got to the end and there was a very bright light not harsh. I could see a white road made of what looked like caliche.  On the sides of this long road were beautiful flowers then trees behind the flowers.

Then behind me was a person of what looked like African American heritage.  He was wearing a long-tailed tuxedo with spats on his shoes, slightly balding on the top of his head with salt and pepper colored hair. He began to speak to me through his mind; his mouth or body never moved. He said "do you know where that road leads to?" I just answered "yes." I just knew it must be Heaven. He said, "do you want to get there?" I answered, "yes." 

He went on and said, "Jesus was given a cross to carry, he carried his cross.  You've been given a cross.  Are you going to carry it or are you going to leave it there?"  Of course, I wanted to get to Heaven.  I felt a little sad because I thought I was getting ready to escape my horrid life.

Faster then I had gotten there, I was back in my body. I remember thinking, wow did I just dream this?  No, I was awake.  So what really happened?  I felt confused, but I also felt good because I wasn't alone. I went inside the house, I don't know how much time had passed. I didn't want to see or speak to anyone, I went to my room laid face down so nobody would see me crying.

My oldest sister who was retarded came in patted me on the back and said "don't cry Norita."  I kept my face down and I wondered how she knew I was crying. She hardly ever said anything and for her to come to me and say that, well that just further made me realize that it really did happen. I soon fell asleep. I went to sleep knowing that I wasn't alone and that no matter how hard life gets stay focused on getting to the light, carrying my cross.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?     No

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No

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?           I was awake before and alert through out the experience

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   yes but I was awake and standing up

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes

I looked like myself

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            loving warmth, safe.  I wasn't sure about the man but I didn't fear him

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           whooooooosh very fast going through the tunnel

LOCATION DESCRIPTION:  Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or amazing creatures?    No response

There was the bright light coming from the end of the road which I felt was heaven

Did you see a light?           Yes  Very bright but didn't hurt my eyes

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes

The black man who spoke to me, I didn't know him and he was behind me, never moved not even a twitch. He  asked if I knew where the road went and told me about Jesus carrying his cross was I going to carry my cross

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes

I knew I had gone somewhere in that tunnel

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?       Yes

had to decide whether to carry my cross or not

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes

I knew God really exists and he knows what we go through

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       no matter what happens good or bad I know I'm not alone I will be helped

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         I just have a very strong belief in God

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes

after a long time and hearing that others have experienced this I didn't feel so strange

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  confusion and calm knowing I wasn't alone

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      Knowing there is a heaven the worst part was having to come back to this cruel world

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

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    no