#229 - Alison's Near Death Experience at Age 11
What Researchers Found
The Story
Allison Bryan was an 11-year-old girl with superventricular tachycardia, a heart condition that caused her heart to race at 280-300 beats per minute. The NDE happened in 1999 during band practice when she bent over to pick up drumsticks, triggering an episode. She went to the nurse's office, but maneuvers failed. An ambulance took her to the hospital, and an EMT gave her adenosine through an IV, which stopped her heart to restart it. During the NDE, Allison felt her legs grow heavy like paint cans. She floated up and saw herself lying on the stretcher in a purple t-shirt and jeans. She was one inch from the ambulance clock. She heard loud screaming and looked down to see her mom holding her hand and the EMT working on her. Her view was clear but fuzzy at the edges. Moments later, she returned to her body and asked her mom why she screamed so loud. After the NDE, Allison gained strong belief in an afterlife and the soul's existence outside the body. She became more sensitive and empathetic, feeling emotions deeply. She values interactions, tells people she loves them, and sees no coincidences in life. The experience reduced her fear of death and drives her to live intensely. It influences her writing, creativity, and ability to comfort others, like a friend's family after a loss. She pursued big goals and helps people feel included.
The account features high medical severity with a confirmed flatline from adenosine administration during tachycardia crisis, and an immediate report to her mother upon revival. However, veridical claims are limited to a basic out-of-body view of her own body, mom, and EMT with no specific, verified, or unpredictable details confirmed independently. Lack of verified perceptions and only moderate specificity/pre-access impossibility cap the evidential strength.
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.
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What Researchers Found
The account features high medical severity with a confirmed flatline from adenosine administration during tachycardia crisis, and an immediate report to her mother upon revival. However, veridical claims are limited to a basic out-of-body view of her own body, mom, and EMT with no specific, verified, or unpredictable details confirmed independently. Lack of verified perceptions and only moderate specificity/pre-access impossibility cap the evidential strength.
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.