I was in my bedroom and was getting ready to fall asleep.  I was in the bottom bunk bed, my sister in the top.  She did not witness the event.  I was having trouble sleeping due to severe sadness.  I suddenly saw a bright light on the wall across from my bed. Emerging from the light I saw my grandmother approach my bed. She was in a beautiful flower dress wearing a white pearl necklace. I could touch her hand and smelled her presence.  It was as if she was really there.  She sat down beside my bed and told me not to worry, that everything would be all right.  She told me to take care of my Mother and Sister and to be brave.  She then went back towards the light and disappeared.  Several years later, my step-father passed away and I was forced to care for my sister and mother for some time afterward.

Was this experience difficult to express in words?  No

Did you ONLY sense an awareness of presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them?            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:    She sat down on the bed and told me not to worry about anything.  She said to take care of my mother and sister.  She was going to be all right.

            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?  It was externally, from my grandmother.

            If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?           Similar.

            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

With her hand to mine.

            Was the touch familiar or unfamiliar?   Familiar.

            Was anything communicated by the touch?  Love.  I felt when she touched me that it was the familiar love of my Grandmother and a sense of calm.

            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?         Yes

She was wearing a dress I have seen her in before.  Flowers on the dress.  She was also in heavy makeup.  The odd thing was that the dress and appearance was the same as she was when she was buried.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            Solid.

            How much of the deceased did you see?       All of her.

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?       She appeared to be the same age as when she died.

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            Very healthy.

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

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?      Yes

            What smell, scent, fragrance or odor did you smell?           The same familiar smell my grandmother had when she was alive.  Perfume.

            Was the smell, scent, fragrance or odor familiar?     Yes.

            Was anything communicated by the smell?   No, just familiarity.

            Is there any possibility that the smell, scent, fragrance or odor was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?        No.

How long did the experience last?        3 min.

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

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?           Yes  She was very peaceful, caring, and showed much love with affection.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  She told me to take care of my Mother and Sister. 4 years later, my step-father died and it was just me, my Mother and my Sister.

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:           Just the general smell, feel, and emotion of the experience as a whole.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           I was excited and ran into the living room and told my mother what happened.

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

I felt like she was at peace and I need not worry about her.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best part was seeing her for the last time.  The worst was the fact that she left.

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 had a general understanding that life does exist after death.

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?          Yes Just in regards to the death of my step-father.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I was excited, sad in some ways that she left.  I wanted to see her again.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           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?    Yes

I had a feeling that I knew she would be all right in the after life.

Did you become aware of future events?       Uncertain

Awareness that I would have to care for my mother and sister.

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

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     No

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

Did you see a light?           Yes  Bright white light shining through the wall.

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     My mother felt at the time I was dreaming. She has told me later that she thought it probably happened.

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 you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?           No 

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