I was on an early morning flight to Florida.  My dad had called around 9:30 PM the night before saying my mom was failing and for my brothers and me to come.  Mom had no emergent medical condition, at least none that we were aware of.  He blood work over the past few weeks showed reduced platelets, but other than that no reason to be particularly concerned about her health.  I really didn't think her condition was that dire until my dad called me around 9:30 PM the night before and said that she fell at home and was weak so went to the ER, and that she coded! 

I didn't sleep a wink that night and was on a 7 AM flight to Florida.  Even thought I didn't sleep, I was not tired.  I just wanted to land, get a rental car and drive to my mom. 

About halfway through the flight I closed my eyes - still not tired - and saw her - she looked beautiful.  There were hundreds of people around her, and she was raised on a platform - at the time I described it as looking like the marble steps at the Lincoln memorial, but now I don't remember seeing the steps.  She was raised up, sun shining on her, hair blowing in a slight breeze.  There were colors more spectacular than I've ever seen, and the people around (below) her were loving and peaceful.  She smiled at me and waved with both hands raised about as high as her head.  Then I woke up.  I wish I looked at my watch, then I'd know if that happened at the exact moment that she died.

Was this experience difficult to express in words?  No

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?          No

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?            No

Did you see the deceased?         Yes

happy and healthy

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            solid

            How much of the deceased did you see?       full or most of her body

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?       same age as when she died

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            very healthy.  She had been on a ventilator for about 11 hours prior to her death.  other than that she always looked healthy.

            Is there any possibility what you saw was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           no

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

How long did the experience last?        few seconds

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         sudden

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

very happy and peaceful

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  probably that she had passed.

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 didn't know she had died yet, and in this experience I definitely knew she died.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   Yes

Only in that I probably fell asleep but definitely different than any dream I ever had.

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           I guess I was a little worried about my mom, but I really didn't think she was going to die.  She had suffered worse medical conditions and always pulled through.

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

No emotional healing, hurts like heck to live without mom.  I do feel very lucky that she came to say good-bye to me.  How many people can say that?  I didn't even know she was gone and she came to me!

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      Gives me faith that she thought of me and made the effort to come see me.  Worst part was not being able to find out if she had died for over an hour.

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            Just confirmation that there is life after death

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?          Uncertain Only that she had passed away.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I was sad and anxious to land.  I think I knew that she was gone after the experience, but couldn't get confirmation for another hour or so, until we landed.

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?    Uncertain

I felt special that mom said good bye to me and not to my brothers.  Probably b/c she and I were very close and she knew I'd be open to her contact, she knew I wouldn't think it was just a dream

Did you become aware of future events?       Yes

I knew she had probably died.

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

seemed like a separation of consciousness, but not sure.  Could have simply fallen asleep, although not likely.

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?            Uncertain

Many beings, but I couldn't identify them.

Did you see a light?           Uncertain

I remember beautiful colors, unearthly colors, but no particular "light".

Have you shared this experience with others?        

Yes     People just say "wow, lucky you.  Mom stopped to say goodbye on her way to heaven."

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?   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 the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes