I was working at a fast food restaurant and it was time for my break. Me and my work colleague were rushing to get our lunch ready. As my colleague put his lunch in the microwave he accidently slammed the microwave door in to the side of my head. The attachment that connected the door to the microwave was a very large, metal, and pointed shape and it was very luck that it didn't penetrate my head. My head was throbbing and I had a severe headache but my boss wouldn't send me home and so I carried working my shift. Later that night my headache got much worse. I took some painkillers and my mum encouraged me to go to bed. I knew however that I could have concussion and it was best I didn't sleep so I got my cassette player and headphones and tried to stay awake whilst laying in bed but I must have drifted off to sleep.

I have a strong belief that I lost consciousness that night and I had a very strange dream that was much more than just a dream. My Gran, who had passed away a few years prior was a nurse and appeared to me in a dream. I had dreamt about her many times before but this was different. In the dream, I was standing in what I can only describe and as empty atmosphere. There was no floor or ground, no ceiling, walls or objects. It was as if I was standing in the sky, only there was no clouds and I could see nothing except white. Imagine a piece of plain white paper, and in it I was standing. My Gran was there too, standing a few meters away from me. I was happy to see her and so I wanted to go towards her to hug her but she wouldn't let me and told me to stay where I was. I ignored her and went to walk towards her. As I did this she put her arms out and said no and I came out of my sleep for a few seconds and gasping for breath, like when your under water, holding your breath and then get to the surface again. It happed three times, my gran holding her arms out saying no and then me gasping for air each time coming out of the dream only she got angry with me saying this is not a dream and if you want to wake up again you need to listen to me and stay where you are. She told me that she loved us all, my mum, brother and aunty and to tell my mum that she loves her. She said it wasn't my time and I needed to go back.

When I woke up the next morning I was dumbfounded and just felt that it wasn't a dream and it was very very real. There were other parts to the dream too that I cant make sense of or describe very well where my Gran was holding a baby at a different time to when it was me and her. It was quite disturbing though and the baby had no legs. The baby was crying and wanted me to hold her. She was floating towards me holding its arms out and my gran was saying no come to grannie, come to grannie. I don't know who this baby could have been. My only reasoning could be that it was a baby that my mum had lost several years before I don't know. But I did not recognize the baby only that it was mixed race and looked a little like me. In other parts of the dream I was wandering around the empty white and endless space looking for God and saying where are you God I cant see you but I felt like I was in the presence of God but could not see him.

Upon reflection I have concluded that my Gran who was a nurse in life, came to save me. I believe I died in my sleep and she brought me back. I consulted a psychic and they said that if I had have hugged her and gone towards her I would have died and gone with her.

My experience has left me comforted in the knowledge that there is life after death and that loved ones are there watching over us. I gained a strengthened faith n God.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?         Yes     I banged my head whilst at work

Was the experience difficult to express in words?   Yes    

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    Less consciousness and alertness than normal    when I awoke from my sleep three times when I gasped for air although it was only for seconds and I then lost consciousness again.     

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.    normal

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.    normal

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?    No  

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            sadness and joy at seeing my gran again, I was upset that she wouldn't let me hug her or touch her.  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?           No      

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes    

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?            I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin    there was a presence but I could not see anything but could just feel its brilliance.

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?         Yes    my Gran who had passed away some years before

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?    No      

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?          A clearly mystical or unearthly realm           

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?     Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning           

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?            No      

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No      

Did you come to a border or point of no return?       I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was "sent back" against my will

Did scenes from the future come to you?       No      

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?        Yes     That there is life after death. That loved ones carry on and are still here with us, watching over us and that god does exist, that there is a heaven and one day when its my time I will go there.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   Slight changes in my life             

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?    Yes     that there is life after death.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?    Yes     I do not consider my self to be psychic but I do believe my experience has developed a slight sixth sense in me. I have had dreams where I have predicted things that happen in reality, I have seen and sensed spirits before also. This is not apart of my everyday life though and only happens once in a long while.

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes   I told my mum but she didn't believe me and said it was just a dream, and others just think I'm a little crazy or a fantasist while others believe me and have had similar experiences.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    No    

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:    Experience was definitely real   

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time: Experience was definitely real          

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           No      

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience? Yes   

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?  No