The weather that October night was breezy and warm.  My husband was just getting over a nasty cold, so I was sleeping in the guest room.  I decided to sleep with the windows open because the weather was so nice.  Just before I turned out the light, I said goodnight to Seymour, our 14 year old sheepdog mix, whose kennel was visible and within earshot of the window. 

Someone was calling my name.  I turned to see my father standing in the doorway of the room.  He looked as he did before the cancer had taken its toll.  At the time of his death, he was thin, bald, jaundiced, and looked much older than his 62 years.  When he came to me, he was healthy and his full head of hair looked a bit disheveled.  I thought it was because the wind was blowing so hard, as that was the last sound I remembered before falling asleep. 

He was wearing the casual clothes that had become, he had often joked, his uniform: blue jeans, a western style shirt, and walking shoes.  After years of wearing suits and ties, he was determined to be comfortable in his retirement.  When I saw him standing in my door, I remember thinking that he was wearing the exact clothing he'd worn the previous Christmas.  The only thing which seemed odd was the fact that he was carrying a shovel. 

I asked, "why are you here?"  He replied, "I've come to help bury Seymour.  I know Marty is sick and Seymour was such a good dog."  I sprang awake but Daddy was gone.  I looked at the clock and then out the window.  The sun had risen but was not yet bright.  I looked toward the kennel and Seymour appeared to be sleeping, though I thought it odd he was sleeping outside of his doghouse.  I remember feeling confused.  I had not dreamt of Daddy since his death.  I could not understand why he would come to me with such an odd message. 

I went to make coffee and then opened the back door to greet the day.  Seymour did not get up to greet me as he usually did.  I stepped onto the deck and looked down at the kennel.  The wind was blowing his black and white fur, but he did not stir.  I cried out for my husband and told him that our beloved dog had died.  He asked why I thought it to be true.  I told him about Daddy's visit.  My husband buried Seymour alone.  I watched from the window and felt Daddy's comforting presence. 

Since that time, I've had dreams of which Daddy was a part but never another one in which we've actually communicated.  I've come to realize that our love of dogs was another of the bonds we shared.  Daddy bought our daughter her first puppy.  When that dog was stolen, he encouraged us to get her another one.  "Every child needs a dog", he was fond of saying.  I think he knew that every child, no matter how old, needs their dad to get them through the loss of a loved and faithful canine companion.

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:     

He said he had come to help my husband bury our dog.  He was in the room and spoke very clearly.

          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 an external voice.  I saw his mouth forming the words as he said them.

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

It was his voice, distinctive and strong.

          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?         

No

Did you see the deceased?       

Yes

He looked as he did before the cancer and chemotherapy.  He was dressed in his usual manner.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            As solidly as he was in life.

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

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?            He appeared to be the age at which he died.

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            Healthy.  At death, he was thin, bald, jaundiced and looked very aged.  When I saw him, he looked as he had before becoming ill.

            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?  

No

How long did the experience last?      

I am unsure, but I think it was only a few moments.

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

Beginning was gradual; the ending was sudden.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?         

Yes

He seemed sad that he had bad news for me.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know? 

Yes.  He told me our dog had passed away.  The dog had been fine the previous day, or so we thought.  Our vet says he most likely died due to a congenital heart defect.

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:  

The message my father brought to me was factual.

          Was the experience dream like in any way? 

Yes

I was sleeping, so I know it was a dream.

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:         

Happiness to see my father again.  Perplexed as to why he was there.  Confused by his message.

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

Yes

I knew that Daddy was still watching over us and that he was whole again.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?   

The best was seeing Daddy, even though it was for such a brief time.  The worst was learning that the message he imparted was true.

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.?         Uncertain     I've always believed in my church's teachings of life everlasting, and that death is a beginning instead of an ending.

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 I was told that our dog had died and it was true.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?          Confusion and sadness

Have you shared this experience with others?       

Yes    I've shared my experience with my family members.  Knowing daddy as they did, no one was skeptical or reacted negatively.

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

 Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience?          Only that I'm glad to have found this website and to learn that many people have had similar experiences.

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