I was unable to sleep the night my husband died, unexpectedly, from heart failure. The sun was just rising and I was sitting at the kitchen table weeping. I felt my husband stand slightly to my right side, behind me. I clearly felt his hand (he had very long fingers) resting on my right shoulder, and immediately felt comforted. He communicated (without words) that he was alright in a comfortable place that I was going to be alright too. Although I couldn't see him, I could feel him there for about 3 minutes, then he was gone.  

The second experience was about a month later when a friend was driving me home from an outing. Neither of us were talking. I felt like I fell into a trance and suddenly I was in a windowless room with my husband. We just sat together, about 3 feet apart, and he communicated to me that he had to leave and I wouldn't see him any more, but that I should get on with my life. I didn't feel any emotions, just accepted what he told me. When I 'woke' from the trance, my friend asked me if I was OK. I was sad, but also felt comforted from the experience.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?     No  

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?   No          

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?   I had a sense of knowing what was communicated.             

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             

Describe where and how you were touched:     My right shoulder.

Was the touch familiar or unfamiliar?   Exceptionally familiar. He was almost 7 feet tall and had large hands (about 1-1/2 larger than the average person).    

Was anything communicated by the touch?   calm and comfort 

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                

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?   Yes     He was clearly concerned for me, and not upset with his own situation.

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:    I was alone and fully awake and wracked with grief. After the contact, I was much calmer and accepted his death.

Was the experience dream like in any way?    No   

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

What was the best and worst part of your experience?    Best part was having him with me again even for a short while. Worst part was knowing he was not going to be with me ever again.

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

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?    Yes    I believed more firmly that our souls live on after death of the body.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?    Yes   

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

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?        No   

Did you become aware of future events?           No   

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?    No   

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?   Yes    In the second instance, I was in a room, rather than the car that I was physically riding in.

Have you shared this experience with others?    Yes    'wow' 'that's weird'

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