Since 2000 I'd become increasingly ill upon developing Sjogren's auto immune disorder, which attacked my salivary glands, heart and lungs. In 2002 I needed open heart surgery for idiopathic pericarditis, and in 2005 was diagnosed with an incurable lung disease called LIP for short or lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis. By October 2008 I was dependent on supplemental oxygen, addicted to opiates and benzodiazepines, and prednisone, which brought my weight up to over 250 pounds and necessitated two cataract surgeries. I was often bedridden. I was severely depressed and slept an average of 16 hours a day. I'd given up hope of ever being healthy. Three days before I accidentally overdosed on Valium it became necessary to have my remaining teeth pulled due to damage from dry mouth associated with Sjogren's auto immune disorder. A valium drip was used to sedate me for the surgery, but posttraumatic stress kept me from completely going under. I have absolutely no memory of the gruesome dental surgery or my fighting the dentist. I also have no memory of the following three days at home recovering while I self-medicated on Valium. However, I remember one thing clearly. On October 23rd at 8:30 a.m., I heard the voice of God say, "Call 911."

I was struck in the face by a pickup truck that was being driven by a drunk driver. He was travelling at 78 miles per hour in a 25 zone. I knew I was going to be crushed in two as soon as the truck began to break my ribs.

I have several experiences to share, starting with one that occurred in February 2008. I died for 20 minutes from heart failure and was shocked five times by an ambulance crew. At the hospital, I was put in an induced coma with freezer bags for five days. During that time I was given a blessing by my LDS (Latter Day Saints) bishop. I only had a 2% chance of living with strong probability of no brain functionality and becoming a vegetable. When I awoke from the coma, my first words were that my bishop had given me a blessing.

I had a new pole barn built in January 2009 and was eager to grade around the foundation to prevent water from entering the barn. I was frustrated because it had rained for most of January and February and now that we were finally into March I had hoped for drier weather. Sure enough, we had been without rain for five days, but now it was threatening to rain again in the evening so I was trying to finish grading before dinner. I didn’t realize how important that day would be in my life. That afternoon in early March I had a Near-Death Experience.