I was placed in an induced coma in March 2011 after suffering 3 heart attacks and 2 cardiac arrests over a period of about 4 hours. Luckily for me I was sitting in A&E at the time after being taken there by my husband after complaining of feeling unwell. I went into cardiac arrest and they had to spend around 40 minutes resuscitating me and trying to keep my heart going. I was taken to ICU where I was placed in a coma. The initial outlook /prognosis was not good and my family were told to expect the worst. They didn't know if I'd survive the next few hours or not. I could hear my husband’s mother and the children’s voices encouraging me to stay with them and fight.

At this point a huge calmness engulfed my very soul and the need to go to this bright light was just overwhelming. I was floating into it and had no wish for it to stop. I just had to get there. I suddenly found myself in a hospital ward setting. I still had this calmness and serenity surrounding me and there was nowhere else I wanted to be.

A young nurse in an old-fashioned nurse’s uniform came to the side of my bed and spoke to me. She said, “Hello, Vanessa. I want you to know that the doctors and nurses are working very hard to make you well again. Try not to worry, but know I will leave you for a little while with your family and I will come back to see you soon.” 

I was aware of others around me but cannot recall actually seeing anyone else’s face. My family came to visit and I was aware of them being there but not of any communication. Just feeling so very content and peaceful.

The next thing I knew the young nurse was back at the side of my bed. She touched my hand and said, “I'm sorry, Vanessa, but you can't stay. You have to go back, but don't worry, I'll accompany you. It will be fine.” 

My next feelings were all ones of not being well. I immediately felt anxious and knew I had to fight. Very vivid strange dreams then occurred involving  my fight to get there. These dreams made no sense whatsoever and I would find it difficult to even explain them. I had many dreams thereafter, some nightmarish ones too, all very frightening. 

Which leads me to believe that my NDE was and did happen. No one will ever convince me that it wasn't or didn't happen to me.