My grandmother was admitted to the hospital the weekend of my son's 5th birthday.  I was concerned, but she was tough, and had been hospitalized before.  On a few occasions, my family was told she wouldn't recover, but to doctors amazement she would get better and come home.  I had also been scheduled for surgery in a few days.  I have to say I was a little hesitant to keep my surgery scheduled, but the whole family encourage me to have it.

I do not remember what time of day any of this occurred, but I can dig out the medical records if need be.   

The day of my surgery, I went to visit my grandmother about an hour before my admission time.  She did not look good.  She had labored breathing, she couldn't talk, but tried to squeeze my hand, so I'm sure she heard me.  I did tell her that I had to have surgery, so my spirit would not be far from her, and I would come to visit her after I was released from the hospital in a couple days. When I left her I felt sad, but still felt that she would pull out of this.  Again she had come back from numerous "close calls"

Directly after my visit, I admitted myself into the hospital.  My surgery was quite a few hours away yet.  They had to run antibiotics directly into my blood stream before the surgery, I believe it was 2 40 ml bags. and at least an hour had to elapse before the surgery to make sure all the antibiotic were working full force. At this point I was anxious about my surgery and worried about my grandma.  So time seemed to slow down.   

Eventually I was rolled in for my operation.  I do remember the operating room, then that was it.  Until, I heard a voice.  I heard my grandmothers voice and within a few seconds I saw her standing next to me.  I was sitting on the edge of a bed.  Here, you should understand that my grandmother had an amputated leg.  During our meeting the first thing that struck me was she had both legs.  Then I noticed her hair was thicker and blacker than it had been in the last 5 or 6 years.  If I had to guess, I would now say she looked like she was in her 40's or possibly 50's. 

She preceded to tell me that she was great, but her body was dead.  She also stressed to me that she had limited time with me so basically "listen up".  She stated to me that an "all knowing" entered her when her spirit passed out of the body.  And, to help me with grieving she was going to give me as much information as she felt I could understand, in as much time as she was allowed.  I do not remember it all, and out of fear, it took me years to talk about it.  So here is what she told me...... 

She likened the soul to a "puzzle cube" I believe she meant a rubric cube.  The cube was the whole soul.  Each side was a section of our soul, each space was a learning experience required for each section of the soul.  As she explained it each section of the soul touched a different dimension, and would continue returning to that dimension until all the spaces of learning were completed.  Then that dimensional level would not repeat, and your soul would work on the next section.  I know it is confusing, I do not still understand it all.  She also said that only a portion of your complete spirit was housed in the human body with each reincarnation.  It was directly connected to your "core" soul.  When your "human" portion of soul would learn, it would directly impact the "core" soul.  She also alluded to the fact that a human body could sometime hold more than 1 "human" portion of a soul connected to different "core" soul.  This was more common when the earth was less populated.  Each soul yearns to learn and complete its lessons, so "human" vessels would be shared.  Once the "puzzle" of the soul was competed your whole spirit would remain intact with all the knowledge it collected, it would not have to return to a vessel, and would live in the presence of God forever.  It is so much information I can't remember all she said at this time.  But, I will say she alluded to the fact that there were other "vessels" of learning for our soul other than those here on earth.  The other striking comment that she was in contact with my core soul and I would from time to time feel her presence because our "learning" portion of our soul is connected to the "core" soul.

It is complicated, I know. So I will leave it here with her words of enlightenment.  I can say she was a staunch catholic, so some of her explanations surprised me.   

At the end of the encounter she hugged me, and cackled.  She said her goodbye for now, and stated she was excited to return to her "core" soul.  That although she wasn't a completed soul yet, the time in "heaven" where the "core" soul resided is amazing. 

It felt like seconds, and I was waking up to see my sister sitting next to my bed.  I could see she was upset, and before she told me about my grandmothers death, I told her I already knew grandma had died.   

I had tried to push some of this to the back of my mind, trying to rationalize it as a dream. Until years later I heard a program on the radio.  It talked about Physicists mathematically proving 11 or 12 dimensions.  And, her words flooded back.  And to this day I only told a select few friends and family members about her visit. I am not a scientist, and at the time knew very little about physics.  I know more now, but it is still a rudimentary knowledge.  I believe she contacted me, I believe what she said, even if I don't understand it all.

Was this experience difficult to express in words?      

Yes

Yes, her explanation of the soul is hard to articulate.  Also, I know I do not remember the complete experience.

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 communicated much of her words above.  And, I'm sure I missed something.  She sounded like she always did in life.  Her voice was clear, as clear as two people chatting over morning coffee.

          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 heard her voice outside of me.  She was standing there, looking wonderful and talking in normal tones.  There was also a sense of knowing associated with the words.  It is strange that she talked but also projected other thoughts feelings and emotions throughout our communication.  I also saw glimpses of people around us, but did not recognize them.  Although I had a feeling I knew who they all were.

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

She sounded the same.  Only she was now stronger and younger than her body

          Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?     

I can't imagine doctors and nurses speaking to me in these terms.

          Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?

Yes I was under anesthesia

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

Yes

yes, right at the end she hugged me and kissed me on the cheek

            Was the touch familiar or unfamiliar? 

Very familiar, except it was no longer a shaky touch.  She was steady.  And her hands were beautiful.  They didn't look papery thin

          Was anything communicated by the touch? 

Just an immense love.  And it was obvious I was to convey that to my children.

            Is there any possibility what you felt was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?        

No,  I couldn't even imagine the words she spoke to me.  It wasn't within my belief system at that time.  What makes me believe it is my grandmother was a Catholic.  The terms she used with me during our encounter, she would have never used in life.

Did you see the deceased?       

Yes

Younger stronger, wearing clothes similar in style to what she wore here.  She did glow in a certain way.  But it is hard to explain this.  It was more a glow within rather than without.  It was more a conveyance.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            solid

            How much of the deceased did you see?       all of her.....she walked up and stood next to me.  and leaned an one point against the bed as she talked.

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?            no she was much  younger

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            very healthy. she was diabetic in life with an amputated leg....none of this was present in our meeting

            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?  

Uncertain

          What smell, scent, fragrance or odor did you smell?       

Do not recall any at this point.

How long did the experience last?      

I have no clue.  I was in surgery for 5+ hours.

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

Sudden, it seem to come out of nowhere and ended as quickly.  I don't remember her walking away, it just ended, and i woke up

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?         

Yes

mixed, she was elated to be going back.  She was worried about my emotional state.  Confident that I would be ok.  Sad that the human condition had to endure such sorrow though grief, but also glad about the process.

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

Tons, I'm still digesting some of it.  And, I don't know why she told me.  I not sure about much of it......

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?        

Experience was probably real

          Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:  

I don't know how I would come up with these visions inside my head.  It isn't something I had thought about before.  But a small part of me is still reserved.  I was under anesthesia at the time.

          Was the experience dream like in any way? 

Yes

I knew I wasn't awake.

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:        

it ran the gambit of sad, to happy for her, relief of her suffering....amazement in her comments......confused sums it up

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

Yes

This was my second experience with poof of life after death. It helped me to understand that there is way more out there....just most of us have more trouble connecting with it than others

What was the best and worst part of your experience?   

no best or worse

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?            Yes    I've opened my mind up to more than just the book of the bible to explain our existence.

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

Yes    Growth in our lives has very little to do with hour bank account balance.  Our material belonging do not go with us.  Growth in the spirit is what matters.  When we complete our learning process, we leave earth for another adventure.

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 only that she died while i was in surgery.  So no one had a chance to tell me.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?         

Sadness for a few hours.  Then I started to relive what she told me and I felt at peace.

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

Just the information she gave.

Did you become aware of future events?     

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

Others were there, but not sure who they where.  Only that I should no them, but couldn't place them.

Did you see a light?        

Yes

There was dimly lit light surrounding us, it went away immediately after she left.  It was the only source of light in the room

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    Most think it is interesting, some agree with bits.  But I think they kind of think I was hallucinating

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?  

Yes

I shared bits of it on coast to coast forum board

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?     Yes  I was under general anesthesia

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? 

Uncertain 

I believe I may have when I was an infant.....but I don't remember it.  I was diagnosed with liver failure, sent home with my family and told that flooding my system with water might kick start the liver.  I got very ill, until a few days into it, when all of a sudden my mom says I started "pinking" up

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

Yes

I remember little bits about it on occasion.  And, I have a nagging feeling I haven't remembered the whole experience. 

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.         

Very comprehensive....