Posted: 8/28/2023 3:23:28 PM EDT
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I've studied more than 5,000 near death experiences. My research has convinced me without a doubt that there's life after death. Kelly Burch Jeffrey Long is a radiation oncologist in Kentucky. He's also founder of the Near-Death Experience Research Foundation. He says studying near-death experiences has made him a better cancer doctor. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jeffrey Long. It has been edited for length and clarity. Thirty-seven years ago I was an oncologist resident, learning about how best to treat cancer using radiation. These were the pre-internet days, so I did my research in the library. One day I was flipping through a large volume of the Journal of American Medical Association when I came across an article describing near-death experiences. It stopped me in my tracks. All my medical training told me you were either alive or dead. There was no in-between. But suddenly, I was reading from a cardiologist describing patients who had died, then come back to life, reporting very distinct, almost unbelievable experiences. From that moment, I was fascinated with near-death experiences or NDEs. I define a near-death experience as someone who is either comatose or clinically dead, without a heartbeat, having a lucid experience where they see, hear, feel emotions, and interact with other beings. Learning more about these experiences has fundamentally changed my view of the universe. Near-death experiences have common threads When I finished my residency, I started the Near-Death Experience Research Foundation. I started collecting stories from people who had NDEs and evaluating them with the mind of a scientist and doctor. I make opinions based on evidence and came into this as a skeptic. But in the face of overwhelming evidence, I've come to believe there's certainly an afterlife. No two NDEs are the same. But as I studied thousands of them, I saw a consistent pattern of events, emerging in a predictable order. About 45% of people who have an NDE report an out-of-body experience. When this happens, their consciousness separates from their physical body, usually hovering above the body. The person can see and hear what's happening around them, which usually includes frantic attempts to revive them. One woman even reported a doctor throwing a tool on the floor when he picked up the wrong one—something the doctor later confirmed. After the out-of-body experience, people say they're transported into another realm. Many pass through a tunnel and experience a bright light. Then they're greeted by deceased loved ones, including pets, who are in the prime of their lives. Most people report an overwhelming sense of love and peace. They feel like this other realm is their real home. I haven't found any scientific explanation for these experiences These experiences may sound cliche: the bright light, the tunnel, the loved ones. But over twenty-five years of studying NDEs, I've come to believe that these descriptions have become cultural tropes because they're true. I even worked with a group of children under five who had NDEs. They reported the same experiences that adults did—and at that age, you're unlikely to have heard about bright lights or tunnels after you die. Other people report seemingly unbelievable events, which we can later confirm. One woman lost consciousness while riding her horse on a trail. Her body stayed on the trail while her consciousness traveled with her horse as he galloped back to the barn. Later, she was able to describe exactly what happened at the barn because she had seen it despite her body not being there. Others, who hadn't spoken to her, confirmed her account. I'm a medical doctor. I've read brain research and considered every possible explanation for NDEs. The bottom line is that none of them hold water. There isn't even a remotely plausible physical explanation for this phenomenon. I've also studied fear-death experiences, like near-miss car accidents I take a particular definition for NDEs. The person must be unconscious. But there's another type of phenomenon that fascinates me too: what I call fear-death experiences. These are situations where you feel your life is in imminent danger. It might be a near-miss car accident or a sudden fall. These people generally don't experience the tunnel and light, but they often report their life "flashing before their eyes." While some people with NDEs report these life reviews, they're more common with fear-death experiences. People even recall events from toddlerhood that they can't consciously remember but that we can later confirm by talking with family members and others. Studying NDEs has made me a better cancer doctor While I'm passionate about NDEs, my day job still revolves around helping patients fight cancer. I don't tell my patients about my NDE research. And yet, my work with NDEs has made me a more compassionate and loving doctor. I'm able to help my patients face life-threatening diseases with increased courage and passion. My goal is to help them have more healthy days here on Earth. But I firmly believe that if and when they pass, they will be at peace. Read the original article on Insider https://www.insider.com/near-death-experiences-research-doctor-life-after-death-afterlife-2023-8 |
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“These are situations where you feel your life is in imminent danger. It might be a near-miss car accident or a sudden fall. These people generally don't experience the tunnel and light, but they often report their life "flashing before their eyes." When my brother and I were teens we were driving to work one Sunday morning and were forced into oncoming traffic. I cannot explain it but my whole life flashed before my eyes when we narrowly avoided an oncoming car. I can still see the driver of that vehicle panicking and swerving to avoid us. The car that caused it (late lane shift to avoid an on ramp) continued to drive as if nothing happened. I think about that from time to time. |
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You live long enough you will have an NDE. In mine I saw myself from birth to the present (at the time) in fast forward and then my friends and family popped into my head as the very last thing before the accident. I was thinking of them individually and wishing I had a chance to say all the things I have wanted to say but was too scared or proud or ashamed to tell them. After the fact it amazed me how much time slowed down and how much I was able to think about huge amounts of information in the span of a few seconds. |
| When I was a young man I got really high once and had an out of body experience. I don’t think I was dead though. That said, I believe in life after death and that we are created beings and not an accident of the universe. Intelligent design, intelligent designer. |
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Here's a real pisser: I had a heart attack and died, was successfully resuscitated, and don't remember a single thing about it. I remember heading home from the hardware store... two weeks later I woke up in the hospital in St. Louis. In a way the memory hole has been one of the hardest parts of the ordeal to overcome; I had no way of associating the things I'd heard and read about what happened with how I felt and what I remembered. It's quite disorienting. It's also very frustrating to go that far and not really learn anything about what does or doesn't await us on the other side. 
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Quoted: You live long enough you will have an NDE. In mine I saw myself from birth to the present (at the time) in fast forward and then my friends and family popped into my head as the very last thing before the accident. I was thinking of them individually and wishing I had a chance to say all the things I have wanted to say but was too scared or proud or ashamed to tell them. After the fact it amazed me how much time slowed down and how much I was able to think about huge amounts of information in the span of a few seconds. |
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I met a person who had one...attractive young black lady who described herself as "not religious." She was a nurse who smoked and had a stroke event at work (when I found out smoking was a risk factor if you take birth control.) I don't know what she experienced, but it obviously changed her. She might have been acting, or it might of all been in her head, but I distinctly remember thinking "no one is this good an actress." |
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I was in first grade at a pool party and did not know how to swim besides the couple swim lessons I had when I was younger. All the kids lined up to jump in the pool so I did too. I remember being submerged and looking up wondering why no one was helping me. The next thing I recall is seeing my body, from above, on the side of the pool with people looking down at me while someone did cpr. I want to believe. |
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I've been leaning more towards "you get recycled into another person" from experiences I've read in the last few years. It seems whatever religion you are accomodates the experience with those beliefs and primary figures whether you are Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc... I've also read a way out there eyebrow raising story from someone claiming that "going towards the light" is not something you should do as it allows aliens to re-allocate your soul in their best interest, vs. just getting recycled. While this is way out there, it made me think if aliens are directing our souls for whatever purpose they believe, whether benign or not- it means "going towards the light" is like we are a fish seeing a hook dangling in the water with a worm on it as we die and we get caught when our soul is departing. Would make for a great Sci-Fi story at least. |
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Quoted: I've been leaning more towards "you get recycled into another person" from experiences I've read in the last few years. It seems whatever religion you are accomodates the experience with those beliefs and primary figures whether you are Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc... I've also read a way out there eyebrow raising story from someone claiming that "going towards the light" is not something you should do as it allows aliens to re-allocate your soul in their best interest, vs. just getting recycled. While this is way out there, it made me think if aliens are directing our souls for whatever purpose they believe, whether benign or not- it means "going towards the light" is like we are a fish seeing a hook dangling in the water with a worm on it as we die and we get caught when our soul is departing. Would make for a great Sci-Fi story at least. Tom Delonge thinks there’s a connection to our supposed immortality and alien visitation. Certainly entertaining for the twilight of our minds. |
| My grandmother had a heart attack and died or was really close to death. She told me she came out of her body saw the people in the room and then lived her life again at the same speed. It wasn't like it flashed by, she said it all happened again in detail. She never told anyone else because she said people would think she was crazy. |
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Quoted: Here's a real pisser: I had a heart attack and died, was successfully resuscitated, and don't remember a single thing about it. I remember heading home from the hardware store... two weeks later I woke up in the hospital in St. Louis. In a way the memory hole has been one of the hardest parts of the ordeal to overcome; I had no way of associating the things I'd heard and read about what happened with how I felt and what I remembered. It's quite disorienting. It's also very frustrating to go that far and not really learn anything about what does or doesn't await us on the other side. Yeah, I’ve had 3-4 legit NDE’s and never once had the “whole life flashed before me” moment.  Maybe we don’t have souls. IDK. I feel cheated.
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Quoted: Yeah, I’ve had 3-4 legit NDE’s and never once had the “whole life flashed before me” moment. Maybe we don’t have souls. IDK. I feel cheated.Quoted: Quoted: Here's a real pisser: I had a heart attack and died, was successfully resuscitated, and don't remember a single thing about it. I remember heading home from the hardware store... two weeks later I woke up in the hospital in St. Louis. In a way the memory hole has been one of the hardest parts of the ordeal to overcome; I had no way of associating the things I'd heard and read about what happened with how I felt and what I remembered. It's quite disorienting. It's also very frustrating to go that far and not really learn anything about what does or doesn't await us on the other side. Yeah, I’ve had 3-4 legit NDE’s and never once had the “whole life flashed before me” moment. Maybe we don’t have souls. IDK. I feel cheated.I wonder about how much of my memory issues might be fallout from the week-long Propofol/Fentanyl/Versed nap.  My head didn't work right for many long weeks after I was discharged, with some pretty weird semi-hallucinations and missing associations we just normally take for granted, like where kitchen utensils belong. |
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Quoted: Weird, you mean strange things happen to the brain when dying? Oh, that must be super duper proof of an afterlife. I had a dream last night, that also proves alternate realities and Astral projection. I get your skepticism. I’m undecided on their cause myself. Apologies if this is obtuse but what is the evolutionary benefit of a NDE? Wouldn’t it be counterproductive if the instinct to survive were the only thing governing consciousness? |
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Quoted: Here's a real pisser: I had a heart attack and died, was successfully resuscitated, and don't remember a single thing about it. I remember heading home from the hardware store... two weeks later I woke up in the hospital in St. Louis. In a way the memory hole has been one of the hardest parts of the ordeal to overcome; I had no way of associating the things I'd heard and read about what happened with how I felt and what I remembered. It's quite disorienting. It's also very frustrating to go that far and not really learn anything about what does or doesn't await us on the other side. Maybe you weren’t meant to bring that information back because it would have biased your decision making? |
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I have told my story here close to 20 times on my anniversary- February 28, 1998. I was crushed my my Mustang attempting to change the clutch and knocked the car off my jackstands. 5 day coma, last rites, so blue I was black. Virtually no hope and Dr were talking about harvesting my organs with my wife. I have also been on that NDE site to leave a testimonial. Doubt all you want, but I KNOW there is something else and it's beautiful! |
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Quoted: I've been leaning more towards "you get recycled into another person" from experiences I've read in the last few years. It seems whatever religion you are accomodates the experience with those beliefs and primary figures whether you are Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc... I've also read a way out there eyebrow raising story from someone claiming that "going towards the light" is not something you should do as it allows aliens to re-allocate your soul in their best interest, vs. just getting recycled. While this is way out there, it made me think if aliens are directing our souls for whatever purpose they believe, whether benign or not- it means "going towards the light" is like we are a fish seeing a hook dangling in the water with a worm on it as we die and we get caught when our soul is departing. Would make for a great Sci-Fi story at least. Pretty sure it’s already been done. |
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Quoted: I get your skepticism. I’m undecided on their cause myself. Apologies if this is obtuse but what is the evolutionary benefit of a NDE? Wouldn’t it be counterproductive if the instinct to survive were the only thing governing consciousness? I wondered the same. I would like to see more documentation of folks seeing things happen that were out of line of sight. Also, perhaps probably unrelated the stories of people being under sedation and yet being able to experience what is happening freak me the hell out. For example, one of my Dad's buddies claims he was actually awake during part of his coronary bypass. Couldn't talk or move, but awake, trapped. 
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Not my experience, but my father’s. Early 70s timeframe. He was a cop and got shot in the chest twice, pre body armor days. His partner used fingers and hands to try to reduce bleeding. He was conscious until he went into surgery. He coded twice in the ER for several minutes each time. He came to and was looking down at his body in the surgical theatre. One of the surgeons asked for a tool or thread of some type and the nurse gave him the wrong thing and he threw it behind him and called her a stupid cunt. Then held out his hand and repeated his initial request and got the correct item this time (this little detail is important). Then he was moved through a tunnel towards a warm bright light. He saw dead relatives and felt he was at complete peace. He doesn’t know how long he was there but it did not seem like a long time. Medically it was touch and go. He woke up after two days. He said he was almost disappointed when he did. The surgeon came in to check on him after he woke up. My father told the doctor he should apologize to the nurse. At first the doctor was mad at my father thinking the nursing staff put him up to saying that. When my father explained why he should apologize the doctor still wasn’t sure. My father told him the time on the clock when this happened and it lined up with his first code. The doctor still was unsure but told my father this was not the first time he heard similar stories. Not that it matters to the story but apparently this doctor sometimes spoke down to or insulted his nurses (this was the 70s though). My father recovered quickly and went back to work in the same department until he retired. Fast forward to when my father passed away in 2014, I got more details from his partner who filled me in on just how bad the situation was after he was shot. I believe my father’s story. |
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Quoted: I have told my story here close to 20 times on my anniversary- February 28, 1998. I was crushed my my Mustang attempting to change the clutch and knocked the car off my jackstands. 5 day coma, last rites, so blue I was black. Virtually no hope and Dr were talking about harvesting my organs with my wife. I have also been on that NDE site to leave a testimonial. Doubt all you want, but I KNOW there is something else and it's beautiful! There you are. We have been waiting for you. |
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Quoted: Tom Delonge thinks there’s a connection to our supposed immortality and alien visitation. Certainly entertaining for the twilight of our minds. Quoted: Quoted: I've been leaning more towards "you get recycled into another person" from experiences I've read in the last few years. It seems whatever religion you are accomodates the experience with those beliefs and primary figures whether you are Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc... I've also read a way out there eyebrow raising story from someone claiming that "going towards the light" is not something you should do as it allows aliens to re-allocate your soul in their best interest, vs. just getting recycled. While this is way out there, it made me think if aliens are directing our souls for whatever purpose they believe, whether benign or not- it means "going towards the light" is like we are a fish seeing a hook dangling in the water with a worm on it as we die and we get caught when our soul is departing. Would make for a great Sci-Fi story at least. Tom Delonge thinks there’s a connection to our supposed immortality and alien visitation. Certainly entertaining for the twilight of our minds. Tom Robbins thinks shroom spores traveled through space to connect us with our higher dimensional ancestors |
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Quoted: Weird, you mean strange things happen to the brain when dying? Oh, that must be super duper proof of an afterlife. I had a dream last night, that also proves alternate realities and Astral projection. If you read it, there were a few interesting ones, like folks knowing things they weren't physically present for, and children stating experiences beyond their normal maturity level. Of course you'd have to believe that there are people who have no reason to embellish or lie. Tough sell, I know. |
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Quoted: I have told my story here close to 20 times on my anniversary- February 28, 1998. I was crushed my my Mustang attempting to change the clutch and knocked the car off my jackstands. 5 day coma, last rites, so blue I was black. Virtually no hope and Dr were talking about harvesting my organs with my wife. I have also been on that NDE site to leave a testimonial. Doubt all you want, but I KNOW there is something else and it's beautiful! #Respect |
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Quoted: I have told my story here close to 20 times on my anniversary- February 28, 1998. I was crushed my my Mustang attempting to change the clutch and knocked the car off my jackstands. 5 day coma, last rites, so blue I was black. Virtually no hope and Dr were talking about harvesting my organs with my wife. I have also been on that NDE site to leave a testimonial. Doubt all you want, but I KNOW there is something else and it's beautiful! thanks |
| I had a FDE 39 years ago while skydiving. I had a malfunction on my main, cut it away, then had bag lock on my reserve. I said out loud while starting to do terminal velocity again, “I’m going to die.” The most peaceful, calm feeling I’ve ever experienced came over me. It was going to be alright. Death wasn’t something I needed to fear. |
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Quoted: Maybe you weren’t meant to bring that information back because it would have biased your decision making? Quoted: Quoted: Here's a real pisser: I had a heart attack and died, was successfully resuscitated, and don't remember a single thing about it. I remember heading home from the hardware store... two weeks later I woke up in the hospital in St. Louis. In a way the memory hole has been one of the hardest parts of the ordeal to overcome; I had no way of associating the things I'd heard and read about what happened with how I felt and what I remembered. It's quite disorienting. It's also very frustrating to go that far and not really learn anything about what does or doesn't await us on the other side. Maybe you weren’t meant to bring that information back because it would have biased your decision making? It might also have just been so sudden that everything in me - nerves, brainwaves, everything - just instantly stopped, kaput. I know it happened quick, because it was less than a quarter mile from the entry ramp to the highway I would have taken (presumably conscious) to the point where they found me crashed off the road. In other circumstances, one of those 'dead before he hit the floor' things. It really bugs me a lot more than it should that I can't remember anything about it. Hell, I was life-flighted out during a thunderstorm by a fixed-wing aircraft they called in from South Dakota, because all of the air ambulance helicopters around here were all grounded. I kinda wish I'd been conscious for that part of it... wife said that crew really had their shit together. 
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