Experience description:

In summer 2003, I had become very ill with the flu.  I am elderly and I therefore had a hard time fighting it off.  I was in and out of the hospital where at one point, I had to be given Oxygen.  Then, on August 4th, I was laying in bed, trying to let it run it's course, but I was feeling terrible nevertheless.  Suddenly, I was outside my body looking at it.  My position was standing beside my bed looking at my body.  I felt confused, this had never happened to me before.  The experience only lasted a few minutes, before I regained the vantage point from my body.  This had never happened to me before or since, and I have been sick just as badly many times since.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes     I was very surprised and confused to be experiencing such an unusual phenomena.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes     Sick with the flu, but I was very old and had a weak immune system.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    During the NDE.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    More consciousness and alertness than normal

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:            During the NDE.

Did your vision differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any aspect, such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?  No      

Did your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?            Uncertain      The room was silent at the time of my NDE

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Very curious, wondering what had just happened.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          No      

Did you see a light?           No      

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No      

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    No      

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No      

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?           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?     No      

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No      

Did you become aware of future events?       No           

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

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     It was only seven years later that I told my grandson about my experience.  He told me he heard that many more people had had similar experiences and he directed me to this site.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    No      

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    I was very confused at first, and couldn't make sense of it until I told my grandson.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            The entire experience stood out, but no specific detail was of any special significance.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real    I am certain I wasn't dreaming, because although I was physically weak before and after the experience, but I was still very alert and I can recount the entire thing with no gap in my perception.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           No      

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            No           

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

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        Nothing else happened.

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Yes     I felt this completely covered every aspect of my experience.

Are there any other questions we could ask to help you communicate your experience?   Maybe asking if the person was physically conscious or unconsious at the time of the NDE might help you gain some more information.