On the morning of January 31, I was at work. I received a call from my mother that Mary had some complications from surgery and was in ICU. I wasn't too worried because she had been through so much over the past few years, and had always come out strong. She had been to the ICU before, and I believed she would be ok. I did have a sense that somehow this was different. About 10 minutes later, I went out to my car to get a bottle of water. I felt fine. I'd had plenty of sleep the night before, was eating well. I was not on any medications, and there was no medical reason for what happened next. I heard Mary's voice, as clear as if she were right next to me. I heard it in my mind, but they were clearly not my thoughts. She called my name and said, "Don't worry. I'm ok. I'm with God." 

I was shocked. My rational mind couldn't deal with it, and it took a back seat at that moment. I responded to her, and it felt completely natural. My initial response was, "No, no, no, Mary, don't say that! You're scaring me!" She responded, laughing at me like she used to do, and said chuckling, "You know it's me! Gee, what's it gunna take with you?" She used to joke with me about my lack of faith. She was very strong in her faith, and she would sometimes challenge my arrogant scientific mind. I loved it, of course. I knew it was her. I could not deny it. I responded in this "room" we were in about how weird this was for me. Her voice became much more faint, and she responded something like, "It's amazing, isn't it." She then said she loved me. 

I was walking back across campus at that point. A minute after this conversation, my father called me. I was nervous...a bit shaken from this bizarre and surreal conversation I just had. As soon as I answered, I said, "Dad, I heard Mary's in the ICU. How is she?" "She died," he said. I knew at that instant that the conversation I had just had with Mary was real. There was no way I could ever deny it. She gave me a gift. She knew what it would take to get me to believe. She knew my scientific mind required evidence; she also knew I was open to possibilities if I have proof. She gave me the proof I needed. 

One could not argue this was a hallucination brought on by bereavement, because I did not know she was gone. I have no mental health history that would explain this, and I have never hallucinated before. One could say that I was exceedingly worried, and that caused it. But then why didn't I have this happen all the other times she was in a critical situation in the hospital? Why only this time? Her words were not my own. They were not my thoughts; I could clearly tell the difference. Add to that, she said she was "with God." I would never say that, because I did not believe in God...until immediately after that moment. 

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   No   

Was the experience difficult to express in words?....Yes....Only that it was hard to explain her "voice." It was not as if hearing with my ears, but rather with my mind. It was not me; I could clearly distinguish between my own thoughts and hers, just as if she were speaking to me in person. I also felt her presence in a very physical way in my heart.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?....More consciousness and alertness than normal    The moment my father told me she had died, I knew with certainty that what just happened was real. My consciousness expanded as I realized their really is life after death! It was my sister, Mary, and she was in a place of beauty, love and happiness.....I communicated with my sister and she described to me some of her experience. It was if I was sharing her experience. I realized their is purpose to life, that the soul is real and lives on. I did not believe that before this experience.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.    Vision was normal.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.    It sounded as if we were in some kind of "room" or space that felt somehow as if it were between here (the domain of the living) and the here-after.

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?....Anxiety, worry, sorrow (because I knew in my heart it was real, and that if it was real she was dead). Also, love, joy, laughter. She sounded very happy.  

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 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....Through which or by which we were communicating.

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?....No....

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?....No....

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?....Yes....As we spoke, her voice began to become fainter, as if she were moving away somewhere. I had a very strong sense that where she was going, I could not follow.

Did you come to a border or point of no return?....No....

Did scenes from the future come to you?....No....

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?....No....

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:....Moderate changes in my life....I have a definite sense that I must tell others about my experience. Those I have told so far appear to have been helped by the story. For some it made them cry and laugh, nod in agreement; for others, it amazed them and gave them something wonderful to ponder that they did not believe before. I have not just been telling anyone; I tell those whom I have a sense need or want to know.....

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?    Yes     I believe that the soul exists.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?....No    

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes   Less than 5 minutes. I told the Chaplin at work who happened to be walking by.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?....Yes     My mother claims to have had an NDE. My experience helped validate for me my mother's story of her NDE.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:....Experience was definitely real    I did not know she had died until after the experience. I never had any experience like this before. I searched for an explanation to challenge my own experience, but I could not find a single argument to challenge its reality.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:....Experience was definitely real....I know it to be a very natural and normal experience. I do not know how or why; only that it is a natural part of our universe, existence, and experience.

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

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?....Yes    I feel the need to go to church or other area of spiritual peace and worship.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?....No   

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

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     The fact she chose me and gave me such a gift. It showed me how much she loved me.