When I was a high school junior on August 29, 2017, my 14-year-old friend fell critically ill suddenly and passed away in the hospital. I did not know she was sick until I received news that she had passed, and the last picture I had seen of her was in a hospital bed on a ventilator and with multiple lines and monitors hooked up to her, along with a dressing on her head from emergency brain surgery. About eight or so months later, I had a dream I was with her and I was completely aware of what was going on around me. We were hanging out in the rural K-12 school we attended together, and we were having a conversation. All I remember from this experience was telling her “I miss you very much and I wish you didn’t have to leave” and she told me “Don’t be sad, I am free from my pain and I will always be with you even though I am gone”. She appeared completely healthy, with none of the medical devices I mentioned before. We lost contact after she transferred to another school, and I regret not keeping in touch with her. But I felt solace and comfort knowing that she still cared about me from Heaven.

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?      As I was asleep, I was not at my highest level of consciousness.

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   Usually when I dream, it is about nonsensical things and I can’t remember them. This felt like I was awake and aware of everything that was going on.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   It felt the same as when I am awake

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   It felt the same as when I was awake

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?   Uncertain   I was asleep, but this dream felt like I was awake

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   Comfort, joy  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   No  

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?   No

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.)?   No  

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?   Yes   Friend, already knew she was deceased

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   Yes   We were both on the golf team one year, and I dreamed that were both in the school gymnasium where we both had indoor practice at.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?   No

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?   Uncertain
It felt like we were inside the school

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   Since my friend looked healthy and told me she wasn’t experiencing any pain and that she was watching over me, it made me believe Heaven exists

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   Yes   If my friend suggested she is in Heaven, then I believe God exists as well

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?   Yes   That death doesn’t mean the end of your spirit, and they are still with us

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?   Yes   My friend knew she had passed away, as she told me that she knew she was gone.

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?   No  

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   I didn’t believe Heaven existed at the time of my experience.

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   I remembered this experience as well as other things that happened in my life five years ago.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   To appreciate people while they are with us on Earth, and to not fear death because it’s not the end.

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   Even after death, our friends and loved ones are still with us

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

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     When my friend looked completely healthy and told me she was in no pain and will always be with me.

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  I have shared it with several people over the years. First, with her mother who was happy to hear that her daughter is thriving after death, and then some acquaintances in my class who likely didn’t care or didn’t understand what I saw.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   Yes   That only clinically dead or actively dying people can have visions such as seeing the deceased.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was definitely real   It felt like an average day at school

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   Felt like an average day I had in high school.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   I became closer to my friend’s mother

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   I believe God exists, but I find it hard to go to church because I don’t agree with some religious practices.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   Yes   Almost two months ago, my grandma passed away after a long battle with kidney failure and other health problems. It felt real, like I was in her house. She was sitting at her dining table and looked healthy, but she didn’t speak to me. I like to think she was thanking me for all the years we spent together and for giving her compassionate hospice care in her last week of life. I experienced this in a dream while napping on April 18, 2023, exactly a month after she had passed away.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?   There is nothing else I would like to add.

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes   As accurate as I can get it, as this experience occurred over five years ago and my life has been busy so it is hard to remember everything.