My mother was placed in hospice care a little over a month after being in a terrible car accident. My brothers and sisters and I had all gathered around her side to be with her during her final days here on earth.  We knew she was going to die but just not when exactly that was going to happen.  It was a very sad time for all of us but most especially for my sister, Teresa.  She was having a very difficult time with her grief.  We were trying to make sure that someone was by my mothers side at all times because we did not want her to pass from this world alone.  The night of her death my sister Teresa was the only one who was available to stay the night with my mother.  I was so worried about how Teresa would handle things if my mom passed on her watch but there was no one else who could stay this particular night.  I promised Teresa that I would get up very early and be back at the hospital as soon as I could.  I had flown into town to be with my mom during this time as well as many others of my siblings.  We were sleeping wherever we could find a soft spot at my mothers home.  I was sleeping on a recliner in her living room with several other family members on  couches and on the floor.  I was sound asleep when I was abruptly awakened by someone urgently calling my name.  I did not recognize who it was although it sounded familiar.  I immediately looked around the room to see who it was but the room was dark and everyone around me were still sound asleep. I didn't know what to make of it.  It was not a part of a dream.  I know I was awoken when I heard my name being called out and there was a sense of urgency to the tone.  I was wide awake now so I picked up my phone to see what time it was and to see if maybe I had missed any messages from my sister, Teresa.  It was 5:41 in the morning and there were no messages. 

I immediately wanted to call my sister but then thought better of that idea.  I didn't want to wake her if she was asleep so I decided to text her instead.  I figured she would answer a text if she were awake.  So I texted at 5:42 in the morning the question "How is mom?" Less than a moment later Teresa called me on the phone.  As soon as I answered she said, "Tanna, mom just passed away!  The nurses are here in her room right now turning off her pacemaker!"  I stayed on the phone with her and was able to be with my sister emotionally during this very difficult moment!  I knew immediately that it had to have been my mother calling out to me and I am sure it was with her urgent desire for someone to call Teresa to be with her at this exact moment so that she would not have to handle the moment of my mother's death all alone!  I immediately shared this experience with my sister Teresa over the phone along with my feelings as to why mom woke me up.  This experience has brought such comfort to me and to my sister Teresa and to my whole family.  I already believed in life after death but this has greatly strengthened that belief! I feel like I can say that my belief has turned into a sure knowledge that life continues after death and that we continue to care for those we have loved here on earth.

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 my name being called.  Actually it was my nickname "Tan" in a very clear loud voice.  There was a definite tone of urgency in the way my name was called.  I immediately felt as if someone was trying to wake me up.

            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 seemed to originate externally to me.

            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 sounded familial.  It could have been anyone in my family.  I did not immediately think it was my mom until I realized it could not have been any one else!

            Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           No!  Everyone in the room was sleeping and snoring.  No one else heard this but me.

            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?         No

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?      No

How long did the experience last?        a few seconds.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         It was sudden.  I was abruptly awoken from a deep sleep.

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

Urgency.

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 know this wasn't a dream.  I know what I heard and to discover that it happened within moments of my mother's passing it could not have been a coincidence.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No 

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           I definitely woke up a little confused not sure who was trying to wake me up.  But with a definite feeling that someone did just wake me up on purpose.

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

Absolutely!  It helped my sister Teresa immensely to believe that mom made sure to find a way to bring comfort to her at the exact moment she needed it most!

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      My mom had 6 children.  I felt honored to be the one she called out to!  Although my siblings who were in the room with me at the time this happened feel as if she might have been calling them too...just that I was the only one tuned in enough to hear her.  :)  Who knows?

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            The experience did not change any beliefs I had previous to this experience!  Instead it validated and strengthened them.

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?            Awe!  Amazement!  Privileged! lucky!  Loved!

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?            No

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     My family all believed me and took comfort from me.  I have not shared the experience with non family members except for one close friend who also believed me.

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?       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