I was lying in bed reading, and I fell into a very light sleep, the kind of sleep where you're halfway between sleep and wakefulness. I started dreaming, in which I was in my parents home. I wandered upstairs to their bedroom, where I saw my brother and dad on the bed playing cards. Even in the dream state I knew my father was not alive. I remember thinking "my dad is here". I came over to the bed behind him to give him a hug, and at that moment I woke from the dream. At that exact moment I simultaneously felt him hugging me. I could feel the hug and the warmth. I also heard VERY clear and distinctly in my right ear him say "I love you". I didn't say it out loud but thought "I love you too dad". The hug lasted about a minute or so and slowly the pressure of the hug released.

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:    I heard very clearly in my right ear the words "I love you"

            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 was definitely external...it was my dad's voice

            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...and it was crisp and clear

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

            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

It felt like a hug, or a pressure. I also felt warmth' like a body heat you feel while being hugged.

            Was the touch familiar or unfamiliar?   Familiar

            Was anything communicated by the touch?  Not specifically

            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?        About 2 or 3 minutes total

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         The beginning was more sudden, but the end was gradual.

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

I felt loved and a sense of calm wash over me.

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:           Hard to explain, but I just "know".

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   Yes

The experience at first started in a dream during a very light sleep state. This is where my dad appeared, but I was definitely awake and alert when I felt him hug me and heard his voice.

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           I immediately felt a wave of calm and unconditional love wash over me.

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

I was close to my dad and have had a hard time coping with his death. This was comforting and makes me feel that he is still with me.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best part was the sense of peace I felt afterwards, and also the feeling that I got to have an experience with my dad. The worst part is only that it leaves me wanting more time with him.

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     It has strengthened my belief in life 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?          No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I was grateful and relaxed.

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

During the beginning of my experience I was dreaming, and the dream took place at my parents home. The second part of my experience I was in my own home.

Have you shared this experience with others?        

No       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