I awoke suddenly at 5:38am from a very deep sleep. Realizing that I could not go back to sleep, I got up and let my dogs out the back door. It was dawn but there was enough light for me to see clearly. I began to notice that there seemed to be a problem with my vision- it was a sort of strobe light effect (about the same effect you would achieve by blinking your eyes very rapidly). I then began to feel very light headed and started to notice that I was losing sensation in my extremities. For some reason I said to myself "I am dying, I can not believe this I am actually dying!" At this point I hurried back into the house and onto my bed feeling as though I was about to collapse and like my body was literally being erased. Still convinced I was dying, a part of my brain insisted that this was impossible as I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and I was still able to breath. At this point I could think of no other reason to be so convinced that I was dying except that I was possibly losing my mind. I was absolutely horrified and began to pray to God to make whatever this was stop.

The next thing I knew is that I felt as though "I" (the very core of me- my awareness) was being sucked out of my  head and upwards at about a 40 degree angle at an incredible rate of speed through what for a lack of a better word, could resemble a tunnel (although the edges seemed permeable, rather than solid). At this point I was no longer afraid but still fully conscious and aware of what was happening, it was really a very comforting peaceful feeling and I recall thinking that I was heading somewhere pleasant. I could not come close to guessing how long this went on, I totally lost track of time- or rather there was no time to track.

The speed was unlike anything you could imagine. Although the "tunnel was dark (like a starless night sky) I could still "see" but not in the normal context of seeing- it was more like I could see all around me without using my eyes. Far ahead in the distance was a vague light- (like headlights behind a hill of an oncoming vehicle). The next thing I knew, the whole experience came to an abrupt end, like a bungee cord had yanked me back into my body and I immediately fell into a deep sleep. It was about 11:15 in the morning when I woke up. The first thing I thought was "what in the hell happened to me?"

I had a strange feeling that something horrible had happened, I turned on the TV. to the news and saw that tornadoes had hit Indiana and several people had been killed. Much of my family lives in Indiana, so I grabbed by cell phone to call and check on them. My phone rang before I was able to call anyone, it was 11:47 and the caller on the other end said "your mother is dead!". She had not been sick and I had spoken with her at 1:02 in the morning and she was fine. My mother did not die from the tornadoes but rather from cardiac/respiratory arrest. According to reports her death would have occurred at around the same time I had my experience. I no longer feel that I was losing my mind, what happened to me was as real as anything I have ever experienced- in fact it was more real.

Since this experience I feel like I have become a totally different person, one with  more understanding and empathy. The message I got was definitely about love and god and a universal connection between everything. Although I do not believe that I was ever actually near death I experienced all of this at around the same time my mother passed away, I was fully awake, not on alcohol or drugs, and not suffering from any mental impairment.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes     There are not words to completely describe the feelings or features of the event

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Uncertain      To my mother 1300 miles away, not to me

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    I was conscious the whole time

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    More consciousness and alertness than normal

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:            Everything seemed more real than reality

Did your vision differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any aspect, such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?  Yes     I could see all around me , it was like using another set of eyes

Did your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?            No      

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            initially frightened, then peace , comfort, love, and connectedness.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          Yes     dark like a starless night sky, the "tunnel's" walls were not solid.

Did you see a light?           Yes     but it was very vague and far off in the distance. The experience ended before I had a clear view of the light.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No      

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    No      

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          Uncertain      When I woke up I felt as though something awful had happened to someone, and it turned out my mother had passed

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?           No           

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     Time did not exist

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Uncertain            oneness

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Uncertain      was pulled back by something

Did you become aware of future events?       Uncertain
            I was having a NDE at the time of my mother's death

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     Uncertain      too soon to tell

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Shared it immediately. Different reactions from different people

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    No      

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    It happened- no doubt

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real    it was real.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Uncertain      too soon to tell

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Yes            Feel more spiritual

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No      

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