I am a 27 year old professional.  I live with both of my parents who have been married for close to 30 years.  My grandmother lived with us as well, up until she got sick and died on February 18, 2002.  Although her death was expected it was still very hard for the entire family.  There are a number of strange events that took place the day of her death.  But the one I am writing about happened in a dream that I had.  My mother and I were both at her bedside the day she died.  My grandmother had slipped into a coma type state, and had not opened her eyes in days.  When she finally was about to leave us, her eyes opened up real wide, and looked at as.  We talked her through her transition. What I am getting at is we are a very close family, and have always been there for one another.

The dream that I had took place in our kitchen were I live.  Although I can not remember specifics about what I was wearing or what my grandmother was wearing, the entire dream was very vivid.  My grandmother was walking through the kitchen door.  I knew that she was coming home from church because she was all dressed up the way she looked when she went to church.  She looked to be about the age of 65 or 70.  She did not look sick the way she did in the bed the afternoon that she died.  I remember the kitchen being very bright all around her.  I did notice that she was wearing a ruffled shirt that she had, and a certain pin that she wore along with it.  I am not certain if I said out loud, or thought to my self "this isn't real, you are dead".  Just then she smiled at me, and the dream was over.  I do not remember waking up at that point, she just disappeared.  I do know that I was my current age, and the kitchen looked just like it would today.  Everything surrounding my grandmother and myself was warm and bright.

Did you sense an awareness or presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them ?  No
      Describe:  I did see her, clear as day.

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?  No
       
Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes

      What was it about the experience that makes it hard to communicate?  I knew that I was dreaming because I knew that my grandmother was dead in the dream.  I looked at her, and said, this isn't real, you are dead.  She just smiled at me and the dream ended.

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?  No

Did you see the deceased?  Yes

      Describe the appearance of the deceased:  My grandmother looked exactly how she would have looked when she was 65-70 years old.  She looked very healthy.

      How clearly did the deceased appear?  Solid

      How much of the deceased did you see?  I remember seeing the upper half of her body. I saw her shirt, and pin.

      Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?  She looked to be younger 65-70.

      How healthy did the deceased appear to be?  My grandmother when she died looked absolutely horrifying.  She was pale, dehydrated from lack of food and water and very skinny.  During the dream that I had, she looked very healthy and very happy.

      Is there any possibility what you saw was from any other source present in your surroundings at the time of your experience?  NO

Did you smell a distinct smell, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?  No

How long did the experience last?  This dream was very short, perhaps one minute.  There was no leading into the dream, and no leading out.  She just appeared out of nowhere and then disappeared.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?  It happened the way I described above.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?  She walked in the door, and was very happy.  She was all smiles.
      Describe:  She walked in the door, and was very happy.  She was all smiles.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:  Experience was definitely real

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:  I was sleeping, however I do remember being happy to see my grandmother although I told her "you are dead".

What other attitudes and beliefs about your experience do you currently have:      Joy
      Other Attitude or Belief
          A friend of mine told me to read "One Last Time" by John Edward.  It was in this book that I learned that my dream, was more than a dream. It has changed the way that I think about the deceased.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?  Yes
      Describe:  Once I learned through John's book that this dream was more than a dream, I felt very happy.  I am happy that my grandmother came to me.  I feel now, that she is safe, happy and healthy.  Although my feelings of sadness overwhelm me when I think that I can not go home and hug her in the real life.  I do believe that I will see her again in the next life, or in my dreams.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?  Yes
      Describe:  I believe now that there is another state of being. Although we can not see it with our eyes it is there.

Have you ever made a death compact?  Yes
      Describe:  When my grandmother was sick in the hospital, I would joke with her about watching me after she passed.  I told her that she would always have her eye on me, and she could always watch me.  We laughed and then I told her not to watch when I was in private with my boyfriend. She told me that she would turn and not watch. It was funny.

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?  Uncertain
      Describe:  When I was three years old, I had my right leg amputated. The only spiritual goings on that I can relate to is how I felt before the surgery and after the surgery.  To this day, it is the closest i have come to death, and it is how I explain what I feel death is like.  NO pain, no cares, no worries, just Nothing.

To the best of your knowledge, did the deceased, during their life, ever have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual experience?  Uncertain
      Describe:  My grandmother was a devout Christian.  But never spoke of any experiences.

Did you see a light?  Yes

      Describe:  During the dream that I had...It was very very bright.

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?  No

      Describe:  The dream was me and my grandmother.

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

      Describe:  I feel as though my grandmother is in the house.  I have since moved into my grandmothers apartment in the house.  I do sometimes feel as though she is present, and I get that uneasy feeling.  Although I love her, and want her there, it is still a bit weird.  My dog now barks at the air, nothing is there, but she sniffs and barks like crazy.

 Has the experience affected your relationships?  Daily life?  Religious practices etc.?  Career choices?  I feel more at peace knowing that my grandmother is ok.

 Have you shared this experience with others?  Yes

      Describe:  When I told my mother, she cried.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?  No
        

 What emotions/feelings did you experience following your experience?  I would have to say both happy and sad.  Happy because I got to see my grandmother again.  Sad because I want her alive and well again, like she was in my dream.
 

What was the best and worst part of your experience?  Best part was seeing her. Worst part was the dream being over.

Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience?  I feel more at peace now, because I truly believe that this was indeed a visit from my grandmother.  She knew how upset I was, she knew that I was uncertain as to her being ok on the other side.  She came through to me, to show herself, and to smile and let me know she was  ok.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?  Yes