It was the eve of my 45th birthday, April 12, 2008. I had just come back home from my sister's house. My siblings and mother had prepared a dinner for me and purchased a birthday cake. I felt very sad. I missed my son, Richie, and had requested for my family not to sing "Happy Birthday" to me. My husband was working the night shift. After dinner and cake, my other two children left for a party and I returned home alone. It was 11:40pm, when I arrived home, I decided to shower and get ready for bed. After showering I hopped into bed. A tear rolled down my cheek as I grieved for my son. As I laid my head on the pillow, I felt my son's soft voice say, "Happy Birthday Mom," and immediately felt a soft kiss on my temple. I glanced at the clock and it was precisely 12:00 midnight of April 13, the day of my birthday.

Was this experience difficult to express in words?  No

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?          Yes

            Describe what you heard, how clearly you heard it and what was communicated:    I heard my son say, "Happy Birthday Mom." It was a whisper very close to my ear but very clear.

            Did the voice or sound seem to originate externally or outside of you, inside you, or did you not hear a voice or sound, but had a sense of knowing what was communicated?  The voice originated externally outside of me.

            If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?           The voice I heard was a whisper but it was definitely the voice of my deceased son.

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

            Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?   No.

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?            Yes

I felt a soft kiss on my temple.

            Was the touch familiar or unfamiliar?   It was familiar.

            Was anything communicated by the touch?  It was a kiss.

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

Did you see the deceased?         No

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

How long did the experience last?        The experience lasted just a few seconds - the time it takes to say happy birthday mom and to give a soft kiss.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         It was gradual.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?           Yes

I felt his peace.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  No

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

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:           It was too real and made sense.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           I was tearful. I missed my son.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?           Yes

Yes, I was overwhelmed with a sense of peace and calmness.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best was feeling and hearing Richie. The worst was how short it was.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         No            

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   No       Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?  Yes     I now know that my son's spirit lives on.

Death Compacts are when two or more living people promise among themselves that whoever dies first will try to contact the other(s).  Have you ever made such a compact?        No

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Peace and calm.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           No

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?            No

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Those that I have told see it as a wonderful experience and do believe in the possibility of this happening.

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

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the 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 

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