I was under anesthesia for an appendectomy. During the operation I suddenly experienced a very disturbing feeling of not being able to take a breath. I remember trying with all my force for a while, maybe six or eight times, but I couldn't. Somehow there was no connection between my brain and lungs. I knew I was dying, and I was aware of all circumstances (being operated on). I instinctively waited to be afraid, but I wasn't. This was a pleasant surprise. Then, I was not trying to breathe anymore. Rather, I just let go and became very aware that it was the end. I was not afraid.

In an instant, I was high above the operating table and I saw everyone rushing around my body. I saw that they were talking fast, but I couldn't hear anything. I remember feeling very clear, having access to all my consciousness from the whole life and feeling the ability of pulling any thought or information if I needed to, but I did not need to do that. I remember thinking, "Why are they freaking out like this? Everything will be fine!" In an instant I felt a few strong, very cold blows of forced air into my lungs. I was not above the table anymore. I had another thought, "They did it!" After that thought I did not experience anything until I woke up from the anesthesia. I asked what had happened. They said I had a cardiac arrest. They were very surprised to find out that I knew.

My life has not changed significantly after this experience, and I have talked about it to only a few people. However, I have experienced some increased sensitivity and an ability to instinctively "know" things. It is not an ability to foresee things. It is a discovery, an awareness of knowledge that something is going to happen a certain way. Usually I'm not aware until it has already happened. Then after a while I discover that I had known about it earlier.