My NDE occurred in 1973 during childbirth while I was living in Madras, India. After the experience, I wrote down everything I could remember, but it was years before I shared the account with anyone, and then it was only with a few family members. For many months preceding the birth, I had had a prolonged illness that was eventually diagnosed as a rare tropical parasite. I had dwindled to some 90 pounds and was quite weak when I went into labor. After many hours in labor, fatigue had begun to set in. 

In Dec of 2008 I went in for a check up because I had been feeling low energy and my periods had increased to almost three times a month. After running some tests, my doctor was shocked that I could even function. My blood count was down at a level where most people needed dialysis. I knew my periods had been more frequent and extremely
heavy, but I didn’t think anything of it. In reality, I had been bleeding to death. Without immediate attention, I would require a blood transfusion every few days to survive.

I had Hodgkin's disease and was on chemotherapy. I had bad pulmonary toxicity, severe anemia, and fluid around my lungs and heart. I went into respiratory failure while lying alone on the sofa one Saturday morning. Everything, including me, dissipated-- became like mist-- and I could see beyond the mist, although I wasn't really seeing anymore.