Woman Die Encounters God in the Afterlife on the Doorstep of Heaven
What Researchers Found
The Story
Missy Appknuts, a young mother from Indianapolis, Indiana, had a near-death experience during a dental procedure when she was 6 months postpartum. The office had plumbed nitrous oxide and oxygen lines backwards, causing severe oxygen deprivation that made her pass out, turn blue, and stop breathing. She entered a dark space like outer space with pinpoints of light, feeling deep peace, happiness, and love. She thought, 'Is this heaven?' A bright white light appeared up and to her right and grew larger. She communicated with the light, saying she did not want to return if it was heaven. A thought reminded her she could not leave her son Mason with her ex-husband. Another thought noted her friend Shelly would be devastated after their recent fight. She suddenly returned to her body as the dentist and nurses revived her by screaming for her to breathe. Recovery involved memory loss and slowed brain waves, requiring many doctor visits. Missy hid the experience for 20 years until reading NDE books. It anchored her faith in a loving God, gave hope amid challenges, helped process childhood trauma, inspired a memoir, and motivated her to encourage others with a sense of purpose.
“heaven and I started to see a light it was up and to my right and a pinpoint of”
No veridical perceptions of physical events during the NDE; all details about the incident (e.g., blue lips, clamping, plumbing error) were learned post-event from staff and tests, not perceived supernaturally. The experience was purely internal (dark space, light, peace, thoughts), lacking any claims of impossible access or verifiable details from the unconscious period.
Score reflects verifiable perceptions reported. A low score indicates the experience was primarily spiritual or subjective, not that it didn't occur.
Score reflects transformation as described. Domains scored 0 indicate the topic was not discussed, not that no change occurred.
Are you here because someone you love has died?
These accounts were gathered because death may not be the end. Thousands of people have experienced something beyond — and come back to tell us about it.
What Researchers Found
No veridical perceptions of physical events during the NDE; all details about the incident (e.g., blue lips, clamping, plumbing error) were learned post-event from staff and tests, not perceived supernaturally. The experience was purely internal (dark space, light, peace, thoughts), lacking any claims of impossible access or verifiable details from the unconscious period.
Score reflects verifiable perceptions reported. A low score indicates the experience was primarily spiritual or subjective, not that it didn't occur.
Score reflects transformation as described. Domains scored 0 indicate the topic was not discussed, not that no change occurred.