In December 1979 I awoke and found a male assailant beside my bed, and unfortunately I did not have my glasses on. When I sat up, the assailant put his hands around my throat and as I struggled, his grip became harder until I passed out.

I drowned when I was five years old. I choked on water at first, then stopped fighting it and felt fine. I marveled at the beauty of the green water and colors of the fish, and watched calmly as their mouths opened and shut as they swam by or bumped into me. Then I rose to the top of the water. I could either look beneath or over it, or go up. I went up in the sky and hovered over the pond. I saw my mom and sister on a blanket sunbathing and talking. I saw my brother at the edge of the pond; he was on my board that I had been floating on. That’s what caused me to drown. I could only dog paddle, and I used the board to get out in the middle of the pond, when he took it I sunk. As I hovered and watched them, I was angry that I had died and no one even noticed.

While in a coma, I remember being sent through a tube. It felt like I was on a roller coaster except this ride was much faster. I say “sent” because it was a surprise; I didn't feel like I made a choice to enter the ride. It was as real as any amusement park ride I've ever been on. I never felt like I was in danger. I remember that it took me through various events of my past, such as times I spent at my grandparents’ house during my youth. I remembered going to the corner store to buy wrestling magazines and then walking back to their house.