For the whole day, something had been nagging at me. I kept thinking about my precious cat Sierra. I was worrying about her. I was thinking things like "Sierra is old." and "Sierra is dying." I kept brushing these thoughts away. I thought I was just anxious because my sister's birthday was coming up and it marked another year older and time passing.  

   Later that night (I am not exactly sure of the time), I was sitting in my room alone. I was having fun chatting and singing along to some music. Suddenly, I stopped. I was overtaken by what I would call a mental slideshow. I saw Sierra walk into my mom's kitchen and fall over right in front of the door. The next slide was my father burying her. I heard the dirt falling and I felt the sensation of dirt over fur. I saw up from inside the hole, watching my father fill it in from above me. I saw exactly where in the yard she was buried, the perspective panned out and vanished then went black. Then, as suddenly as it began it ended. I said out loud to myself "Sierra is dead."  

  I told myself this was just imagination and I let it go. Then over three months later, I called my mom to talk. I jokingly said "Is everyone still alive?" She said no and told me Sierra had died. I asked her when and she told me June 19th. I asked her what happened. She said Sierra fell over in front of the kitchen door and my dad had buried her. I asked her if she was buried in this specific corner of the garden and she said she was.  

   I could barely close my mouth when she told me. It was exactly what I had seen! All I had asked is what happened. Up to that point, I did not believe in my vision myself. I had spoken of it to no one, nor had I even written it. The validation of her story was incredible to me. It was also incredible that I had had the vision on the day Sierra passed, but no one told me "for real" until over three months later. I really feel Sierra came to me and let me know of her passing because we loved each other so much. 

Was this experience difficult to express in words?          Yes

It was a combination of clairvoyant, clairsentient, and clairaudient simultaneously.

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 the sound of dirt falling into her grave.

            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 internal and also visceral. It was like I heard and felt the sound at the same time.

            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 dissimilar. I did not hear Sierra meow or make noises in my vision, only the dirt falling.

            Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           No, no one was shoveling dirt anywhere near my bedroom.

            Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?   I will admit I have moderate hearing loss. But when I heard the dirt falling it was incredibly "close" and crisp. This is another reason I feel I heard it with my "internal ears".

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

I was not touched but I felt the sensation of dirt falling onto Sierras fur.

            Was the touch familiar or unfamiliar?   It was familiar only because when Sierra was alive she would roll on the sidewalk and get dirty. Sometimes if I had petted her right after I could feel the dirt in her fur. This was much like that.

            Was anything communicated by the touch?  It was her showing me she was being buried.

            Is there any possibility what you felt was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?  No. There was nothing furry in my bedroom. The only things my hands were touching is my computer keyboard and desk.

Did you see the deceased?         Yes

At first, I saw her walk into my mom's kitchen and she looked a bit woozy or wobbly. Then I saw her fall over. The next thing I saw was her lying in her grave.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            She appeared very clear to me, like I was actually there in physical presence.

            How much of the deceased did you see?       Her whole body.

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

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            When I saw her fall over in the kitchen, she looked woozy and sick. After this there was a sense of relief in the communication.

            Is there any possibility what you saw was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           No, I was not in front of Sierra nor was I looking at pictures or movies of her. I saw this as it happened.

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

            What smell, scent, fragrance or odor did you smell?           I smelled the dirt from the grave.

            Was the smell, scent, fragrance or odor familiar?     It was the smell of freshly overturned earth. It was not nearly as strong as the sights and sounds of the vision though.

            Was anything communicated by the smell?   Just showing me where she was.

            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, I had no potted plants in my room. I also did not have any garden outside.

How long did the experience last?        maybe 10 seconds. 15 at most.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         Very sudden. It just came over me and then once I had seen the vision it just vanished again. That is one reason I second guessed myself.

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

In the beginning I could see Sierra was "out of it". I felt weakness and faintness. After this I began to feel lighter and a sense of relief.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  Yes. She showed me everything. She showed me herself dying, she showed me who buried her and where. I did not actually find out she died from anyone else until over three months later, this is why I answered that I was not bereaved when I had the vision. I did not know she had passed yet.

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 believe this experience had to be real. I saw it as it happened. Sierra's death was kept from me by my family for over three months. There would be absolutely no other way for me to have known she was dead, where she was buried, when she died, and who buried her.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No           

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           I felt what I believe to be Sierra's emotions. I felt the absolute fatigue. I felt the relief. I also somehow felt that she was telling me goodbye and that she loves me but I never heard the words. I only felt the emotions. During the actual vision it was oddly clinical as well. It was like "Here is what happened" very straightforward.

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

Not immediately after. Once I found out it was true and she had come to say goodbye it was very beautiful and cathartic. I knew she loved me and that she lives on.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best part was the verification. This experience was real. The worst part was the knowledge I will never again see Sierra in this life.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes                 Describe:      I try to think of things with a bigger scope. I try to treat people better and nurture bonds of love.           

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Uncertain      I vacillate quite a bit on my beliefs. But this experience being completely verified and real and true makes me think there must be something more than our 5 senses and this existence.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?            Yes     I think it taught me that love bonds us all. Death can not break that bond. I had heard it time and time again, but experiencing it firsthand really cements the knowledge.

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?        Yes

I have death compacts with some of my sisters and also between my mother and I. Sierra was not included because she is a cat.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          Yes Absolutely every detail I saw and heard was verified.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I felt shock, disbelief and worry. I also began to feel a very slight despair, but as I did not believe the truth of my vision, I remember telling myself Sierra was ok. Hoping she was still alive.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           No

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes

The time it took to show me what happened seemed very long but very short. It seemed like I got all the information instantly.

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?     Uncertain

All I know is for those few seconds of the vision all I was aware of is the vision. The sights and sounds and feelings I was getting from Sierra.

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

I felt like I was simultaneously there with Sierra but also in my room.

Have you shared this experience with others?        

Yes     My mom told me that she knows Sierra came to me because she loved me. Some friends were happy and a few were doubtful.

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

A long time after it happened, I posted a short version of it on Unsolvedmysteries.com

 Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience?       I was so very grateful for it. I was honored she came to me. That is why I felt it was joyful and sacred.

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?           Yes 

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