On July 3, 2009 my older brother committed suicide in my basement by hanging.  I had already lost my other brother 7 years earlier to brain cancer.  When we found my brother I had to call my parents and let them know.  Hardest phone call I've ever made.  After first responders etc. arrived and did what they do, they took my brother's body away. 

The next day, the 4th of July, my family and I went to mass at our church.  Of all songs they played, they played Amazing Grace and I cried heavily during the whole song.  Who knew Amazing Grace would be on chosen for that day?

After mass, we met with the priest and asked him to come and bless our home.  He arrived around 6pm and we proceeded to go through every room with prayer and holy water.  It was a very comforting experience for us.

After our priest departed, it was time for the neighborhood block party.  There were a lot of fireworks being lit and I decided to join in on the festivities.  I had a smoke bomb to light.  I lit it and the fuse was short.  It started burning right away and burned my left thumb badly.  It became a big blister fairly quickly.  Needless to say, I was done lighting off anything the rest of the night.

After the party and fireworks, it was time to go home.  I was ready for bed, but my thumb was burning and it I had a huge blister.  I took two Tylenol, put a band aid on it and went to sleep.

The next morning July 5th.  I woke up and went to the bathroom.  I took the band aid off and there was NO blister!  It wasn't there!  It was as if I was burned at all by the smoke bomb!  I didn't understand and then I remembered our priest.  Something happened.  I wasn't injured anymore. 

So I sat down on the commode and put my head in my hands and closed my eyes.  Immediately I started getting a vision.  A vision of distress, anxiety and desperation.  I was in a dark forested area and I heard people yelling for my brother.  Then I saw my great uncle and my godfather (who passed when I was 6 years old) running through the forest. 

As they came closer a very bright light came from above and descended onto a lagoon like area and everything was lit up immediately.  It was then that I first saw my brother.  He was crouched down by a tree, breathing very heavily and sobbing uncontrollably. He saw the light come down and stood up and literally sprinted to the light.  He fell to his knees at the light and hugged it like he was never letting go.

As soon as he hugged the light, I felt a gush of water over my head and down my back.  It was surreal!  The last thing I saw was my great uncle with a smile on his face and then I ‘came to’.

I had no idea how long this was, but it didn't take me long to know that this ‘vision’ wasn't for me, but it was for my mom.  She was devastated over this tragedy. 

I called her up and told her I had to come see her.  About 20 minutes later, I am sitting with my mom explaining everything I've written above.

It was for her.  I know it was.  And I know my mom and my dad received some solace from my experience.

I'll never forget what happened and you may share my story as you wish.

Thanks for doing all the research you are engaged in with NDE.  I believe it to be very important.

Best Regards,

Jon W

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   No 

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  No    

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?      See my story

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      More consciousness and alertness than normal   The vision wasn't of this world.  It was like a movie from another dimension for me to see.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   same

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   same

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   No  

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   Angst and then relief.  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   Yes   A lighted being of some sort.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?   I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin
I knew the voices I heard, but I didn't know the light entity.

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)?   Uncertain   Was Jesus the light I saw?  I think so, but I can't be sure.

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?   Yes   My great uncle and his son, my godfather.

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   No  

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?   Some unfamiliar and strange place
A dark forested area that was completely lit up by a lighted being, spirit etc.

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   No

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   No

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   No

Did scenes from the future come to you?  No 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)?   Yes   I think my brother went through Hell and then somehow got to Heaven because he took his own life.  He had to pay first before being rewarded.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   Uncertain   I'm not sure.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   No  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   Yes   I am certain my vision was to be passed on to my parents, especially my mom.

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience   We, as humans, don't have full knowledge of where we go from here.  We hope there is after life, but it is never a certainty in our existence while alive.

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience?   I remember the experience as accurately as other life events that occurred around the time of the experience     

My experience directly resulted in:   Slight changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   Yes   Since I've lost my entire nuclear family now, as I type this, I know life is precious and we need to do everything we can to help ourselves and others as best we can.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   No       

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  A day.  I shared it with many family and friends and I guess I was given a gift to be shared with others.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   Yes   I've seen documentaries and books on the subject.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was definitely real   The water rushing down my head and back was so so real!

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   Same as above

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   No    

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes   It's exactly what happened to me.