My firstborn son had been born with a genetic disorder. He had suffered much pain and difficulty due to surgeries and other complications during the almost 5 years he lived.  He was never able to speak, and due to severe brain damage he could not voluntarily move his body when needed.  In spite of all he went through, he was such a joy to be around.  I somehow was the one who was uplifted when I spent time with him, even though I was trying to help uplift his spirits.  I have never met anyone, before or since, who emanated such a Heavenly feeling as he did.   

The first experience I had with him after his death occurred about a week after his death.  My parents were visiting and were in the living room.  I left the room and walked into the kitchen to make a call to someone about the death of my son.  I picked up the phone and was interrupted by this wonderfully joyous feeling.   I sensed immediately that this was the spirit of my son.  I had a feeling that he was "saying" to me, "HI, MOM!!!!", and he was letting me know he was so very happy to be released from his body which was for him a prison.  I felt a feeling that he was so happy --that now he was "jumping up and down" with happiness and joy.  I felt also a strong sense of his love for me.

Was this experience difficult to express in words?  No

Did you ONLY sense an awareness of presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them?            Yes

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?          No

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?            No

Did you see the deceased?         No

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

How long did the experience last?        For only a moment.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         It was a very quick experience.  Nothing gradual.

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

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  Yes.  I knew that he was very happy and joyful and free of pain.

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:           I know it was real because everything in my soul feels it was.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           The experience distracted me from the grief I had been experiencing.  I felt so excited, happy and joyful for him.

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

I began to deal better with the grieving part.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      It was all good

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         No                 

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?            Yes     It assured me of my belief that he lives on.

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?        No

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No
What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I felt peaceful.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           No

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

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?     No

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 shared it with my family.  They smiled and felt happy.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?   No

 Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience?       I would like to share 3 other experiences I had.  Several weeks after James' death, I found myself spending hours at a time reading scriptures.  It seemed to be the only way to overcome the emptiness I felt.  One day as I was doing this, I felt his presence again, a few feet away from me.  I felt him communicate that what I was doing (reading scripture) is something God would have me continue to always do.  I always find that doing this provides an anchor to my soul. 

3rd experience:  Within a month after his death, I felt his presence again.  I was preparing to go run errands.  I felt him greeting me with a joyful, happy "Hello" again.  Then I felt prompted by him to kneel down and pray for safety before I left.  I immediately kneeled down and did so.  After I left to run errands, I began slowly driving past the elementary school.  The children were just getting out and several were crossing.  I passed the crosswalk, and carefully continued onward.  Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw some children darting in a diagonal direction from behind the left rear of my car.  They were laughing, as if they were having fun racing to show they could beat me.  As I stopped, the panicked expression on my face showed them how fearful I was that they could have lost their life, or wound up with severe brain damage, such as my son had.  I felt my son was the reason I was more careful and able to see the children running. 

Final experience:  Within the month after James' death, I noticed a neighbor's car had not been home for a few days.  I felt prompted to call and ask if everything was okay.  I found out by her Mother-in-law that she was in the hospital and had come close to death a few times.  I went to visit her.  She did not know of my son's death because she had been out of town.  I did not mention it to her because of what she and her family were going though.  Afterward, she was able to return home.  I had the distinct impression that James wanted me to know that reaching out to others and helping them was important.  I don't think I would have been thoughtful enough to wonder why her car had not been home if I had not been prompted, and I believe James prompted me.  I told my neighbor about my son's death after she was healed and returned home.  I think that my neighbor was touched by the fact that I didn't mention it to her at the time she was sick, but I came and visited her even during my time of grief.  I was grateful for the opportunity reach out to her in her time of need.  I was even more grateful for the lesson James taught me.