This past year has been a very difficult one for me.  First, I lost my mother, which is the reason for my writing.  Secondly, I have had two knee surgeries, both of which did not turn out as expected, and Ive been in a great deal of pain.  During this time, I cared for my mother, who was diagnosed with lung cancer.  This was her second bought of cancerher first was with tongue/neck cancer ten years earlier, which she overcame. 

My mother and I have always had a special connection.  As she grew more ill from her terminal cancer, I felt more and more like I had been her mother in a past life, as I was nursing her now and it felt so natural and familiar.  There is no way I can confirm this feeling, howeverI just know weve been together in life before. 

My mother was a brilliant woman.  Even at 81, she had a glint in her eyesshe actually sparkled.  She was so intelligentshe has written two books, she had a beautiful voice and sang opera; she had various careers, designed house plans, sewed clothes and built houses.  She was an amazing person and I miss her terribly. 

I was her favorite out of four daughters.  I know that parents are supposed to never say thatand parents probably tell each child that they are their favorite when they have got them each alone, but it was pretty well understood in the family, since I was the baby of the family.  We always had a special relationship, even when we were having knock-down, drag out fights.  I wasnt always a good daughter to herbusy family life, ill health and stress took its toll on me, and I often neglected her.  However, she always forgave me, even without my asking for forgiveness. 

God was amazing to us during her illness, which was, at times, a nightmare.  When we really needed something, he would send it in the form of friends, family and resources.  My sisters were amazing through this ordeal.  It made me realize how much we are bound together by love, and that this love continues from this life to the next. 

After my mother died (she died in my house), I was overcome with grief.  I would actually pine for her.  The only comfort I found was sitting in her chair or lighting a candle for her near her picture.  Then I started hearing her call mefirst, she called me by my nickname, which she rarely used, but she did it in a teasing, sing-song fashion.  I thought it was my imagination.  Then, I heard her call my name, Katherine, which was what she usually called me, and this time, it was more insistent.  Again, I brushed it off as wishful thinking and/or a brain oddity.  

One night, I got up to use the rest room, and as I settled back into bed, I heard her call me again, very loud and clearly this time, KATHERINE!  She meant business!  I jumped up in bed and said, My God, my mother just called my name!  My husband was awake, and this startled him a bit.  I was just thrilled.  It was so loud, so obvious, that I knew she was trying to make contact. 

Before she passed, my sister and I asked that she send us some sign that she was safe and happy in the afterlife.  She kept her promise. 

One night, I was watching TV, and I had my foot sticking out of the blanket as I lay on the couch.  I was wide awake for a change, but it was around 9 or 10 p.m.  I wasn't thinking about Mom, just relaxing in front of the tube.  All of the sudden, I felt as if someone were pouring cold water on my foot--three large pressure points of cold, one after another, as if someone with cold fingers were placing one finger after another on my foot in three separate places.  At first I thought a cat was dripping something on my foot, but the cats were in the other room.  It wasn't scary, and it was rather a pleasant sensation.  I wasn't afraid at all--but I immediately thought of Mom.  It would be just like her to yank on my foot. 

About three weeks after her death, my husband walked out of our bedroom and asked, Have you been messing with the pictures?  I answered, "No--why?"  "Because all the pictures on two walls are tilted exactly the same."  The parallel walls facing each other did have all the pictures tilted all the same direction and in the same amount.  We thought we might have had a small earthquake, but then other pictures in the house would have moved, too.  Then we tried to make it happen again by slamming a few doors and pulling down our attic stairs.  Everything stayed put.  Then I went out into the hall and looked at our secretary, where my mothers statue of the Blessed Virgin had turned all the way to the right, facing our bedroom.  (There is a story that goes with this statue.  My mother was a very devout Catholic.  At one time in her spiritual journey, she used to say the rosary and picture the Virgin Mary in her mind.  When she would open her eyes, she would find that her statue would have turned facing her.  This happened several times, and it scared her, so she stopped praying so intently.  Since then, she had given the statue to me, because she knew I honored her experience.)  I had just looked at it the day before, and it was straight.  My sons didn't know anything about it, and I believe them. 

I've also had a strong "sense" of mom--she's really, REALLY excited, very happy, like a 16 year-old-girl.  She can't wait until we get there, but knows we have time left.  She's really happy to be with everyone she loves and had lost, and it's like a big party--she's a big party girl and she's very busy.  The biggest feeling I get from her is that she feels "young" again, and with no problems.  She is surprised at what Heaven is like--it's so much more fun than she had anticipated.  I've never had a connection like this with anyone before--it's new to me.  I figured I had zero psychic powers.  With mom, we were always connected in a way, and I received this information from her (just by 'knowing') about two weeks after she died.  I'm so happy for her, now--it has made my missing her so much easier to handle.  Now, I have a hard time feeling sorry for her--she feels so happy. 

My last experience with my mother was a little upsetting to me.  I was in a sleep state, and then found myself in sleep paralysis.  In my mind's eye, I saw my mother at the foot of my bed.  She was smiling and playfully slapping at my foot.  This scared me, because my mind was awake, but I could not move.  I remember thinking, "I have to get Donnie (my husband) to wake me up so I can tell Mom to stop because she's scaring me!"  At this point, my Mom vanished and I woke up.  I felt so depressed that I had been scared--I think she realized she was scaring me and left in a hurry. I felt like I had pushed her away.      

She is getting more distant to me, now, as time passes.  I no longer hear her call my name.  The statue stays put and the pictures are still straight.  However, I do have dreams of herand she is always very alive in the dreams as I know she is in heaven.

Was this experience difficult to express in words?  No

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?          Yes

            Describe what you heard, how clearly you heard it and what was communicated:    I heard my mother call my name three times.  Twice, I was awake and brushed the experiences off as wishful thinking.  The third time, I was getting ready for bed and heard her voice VERY LOUDLY.  It was undeniably her voice, and I was still awake when I heard her call my name.

            Did the voice or sound seem to originate externally or outside of you, inside you, or did you not hear a voice or sound, but had a sense of knowing what was communicated?  I clearly heard the words, but they seemed to come from inside my head.

            If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?           It was my mother's voice.  The first time she called my name, it was my nickname in a sing-song fashion.  The second time, she called my full name, which only she used.  It was faint, but distinct.  The third time she called my name, it was my full name in a very loud, persistent manner.  She really wanted my attention!

            Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           Doubtful.

            Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?   No.

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?            Yes

I felt a warm blanket of love from my mother when I sat in her chair in the room where she died.  I strongly felt her presence during that time.  Another time, I was watching TV, and I felt a cold pressure on my foot.  It felt like three cold fingers pressing down on my foot, one at a time.  Then I thought of my mother and knew it was her.  A third time, I was stuck in sleep paralysis, and I saw my mother (in my mind) at the foot of my bed, and she was playfully slapping at my foot.

            Was the touch familiar or unfamiliar?   The touch was familiar and would be something my mother would do (it suited her personality).

            Was anything communicated by the touch?  She was definitely trying to get my attention.

            Is there any possibility what you felt was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?  I thought the cold feeling on my foot could have been one of my cats dripping water on me--but both cats were in another room.

Did you see the deceased?         Yes

During the sleep paralysis episode, I saw my mother in my mind's eye.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            She appeared in full color, but hazy.

            How much of the deceased did you see?       I saw her head and torso to her hips (my bed blocked the rest of my view).

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?       She appeared slightly younger, happier and healthy.

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            Extremely healthy, playful and very, very happy.  My mother had been suffering for six months with her cancer.  She had been very ill and hospice was helping us with her care/

            Is there any possibility what you saw was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           Doubtful.

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?      No

How long did the experience last?        Several experiences that lasted a few moments each.  The sleep paralysis episode lasted the longest.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         Most of the experiences were sudden.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?           Yes

My mother was happy, excited, and playful.  She was very, VERY excited that she was with her loved ones and it was much more fun that she had thought it would be.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  No.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?           Experience was definitely real

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:           Before her death, my mother promised to send me a sign that she had crossed over and all was well.  The frequency of the experiences and her persistence were undeniable.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   Uncertain

The sleep paralysis episode was dreamlike in some ways.

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           When I was in my mother's room and felt her presence, I had been in extreme grief.  Her warmth soothed me and stopped me from crying.  I knew she was in the room, that she was telling me that she had been comfortable there and glad she had been with me during this time, and that all would be well.  The sleep paralysis episode actually frightened me, because I couldn't wake up.  The other experiences were surprises to me.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?           Yes

The experiences were extremely comforting.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best part was knowing how happy and excited my Mother was now in heaven.  The worst part was the regret I felt after the sleep paralysis episode.  I felt as if I pushed her away.  Her presence was much less noticeable after this experience.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes                 Describe:      It has solidified my views on the afterlife and my spiritual life.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     I am more confident in life after death.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?            Yes     I felt much more confident that there was life after death, and that my mother was happy with those that had died before her.  She was extremely excited and wanted to share her happiness with me.

Death Compacts are when two or more living people promise among themselves that whoever dies first will try to contact the other(s).  Have you ever made such a compact?        Yes

I asked my mother to send me a sign that she had crossed over, and she sent me 7 signs.  She sure kept her promise!

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          Yes The movement of her statue and our pictures on the wall were viewed by me and my husband.


What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I was overwhelmed with comfort and happiness.  Also surprise and joy.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           Yes

My husband was a witness to the sixth experience which involved the moving of pictures and a statue that belonged to my mother.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   No

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Yes

I have felt the certainty of life after death, and the happiness of what is to come.  I have become more aware of those who have died and their need for prayer (it actually lifts me up to prayer for others).

Did you become aware of future events?       No

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         No

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes

During the sleep paralysis episode.

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?            No

Did you see a light?           No

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?            No

Have you shared this experience with others?        

Yes     I have shared this experience with a few friends and family members.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?            Yes

I shared this on an Unexplained Mysteries website blog.

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?            No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No 

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?           Yes 

I have experienced the release of the Holy Spirit and some spiritual experiences while in prayer.

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes