A sign???

LPN1974, LPN · Mar 9, 2005

So I just hear from my supervisor an interesting story! Okay...I don't watch the news, I find it depressing on a daily basis anymore...I may watch a bit on the weekends to keep up, but generally...I belong to a news forum to keep things up to date...if it is important I hear about it eventually! LOL!
But she told me of a story just recently, that occured not more than 40 miles from me! A gent who was going to do assisted suicide prepared himself and had his family gathered, the organization to help him there (I really didn't realize there was one...silly me!), and he did the task as it was to be done..word for word. Guess it was a serious SERIOUS overdose on barbituates...like 200 caps dumped into pudding or applesauce and eaten.
The man went into a deep coma, and stayed there for a week and ....well...WOKE UP! He said "first, I am very thirsty can I have a drink (I would suppose the endotrachial tube was removed..LOL!)..and then said "I can't believe it...I saw GOD and Jesus..they told me it wasn't my time, and that this was not the way to go...they would help me to go soon and naturally...and forgave me for my sin of suicide".
He died a week later from complications of his lung cancer in his home with the help of our WONDERFUL hospice services in my county....
Now, this isn't a debate on assisted suicide..no that would actually be a waste of time because so many people differ on so many different levels..there is no right or wrong essentially (although many could disagree with me right then and there)...but wow huh?
There was just a question on one of the threadlines about 'do you think people have a soal'...my question would be...
Do you really think what the patient said happened? Can you believe in it? Does it give you hope, or make you think "the guy was looney!"....
Discuss (but be kind...all opinions are valid ones...and may just make you think!)
My opinion, I find it extremly interesting and wonderful too...I am not a religious person, but still...kind of makes me sigh to think...hey, in my time of death I may just see something more beautiful and amazing than in my entire life...that is a refreshing thing to think about...but I am in NO hurry to get there..LOL!

Well, I personally believe in the afterlife, and believe that there is a choice of 2 places that we go to, according to whether we have accepted Jesus as Saviour or not.

{I'm not trying to preach here, just stating my beliefs on the subject you brought up.}

I just can't say, however, whether I believe what this particular man says.

I DO believe that some people do have valid experiences like that, but I believe that there has to be some clinical evidence that the person has actually died, because I believe that the soul has to separate from the body for this experience to occur. But, yes, I do believe that some people have experienced this.

And again, I'm NOT trying to preach, but you asked if his story gives hope...I can only tell you that my hope comes from Jesus himself.

He said in John 3:16 that whoever believes in him, would not perish but have everlasting life. That's where my hope comes from.

Who knows whether he actually experienced it? Only he knows.

Interesting subject for sure.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Mar 9, 2005

Have no problem believing this whatsoever. :)

James Huffman · Mar 9, 2005

So I just hear from my supervisor an interesting story! Okay...I don't watch the news, I find it depressing on a daily basis anymore...I may watch a bit on the weekends to keep up, but generally...I belong to a news forum to keep things up to date...if it is important I hear about it eventually! LOL!
But she told me of a story just recently, that occured not more than 40 miles from me! A gent who was going to do assisted suicide prepared himself and had his family gathered, the organization to help him there (I really didn't realize there was one...silly me!), and he did the task as it was to be done..word for word. Guess it was a serious SERIOUS overdose on barbituates...like 200 caps dumped into pudding or applesauce and eaten.
The man went into a deep coma, and stayed there for a week and ....well...WOKE UP! He said "first, I am very thirsty can I have a drink (I would suppose the endotrachial tube was removed..LOL!)..and then said "I can't believe it...I saw GOD and Jesus..they told me it wasn't my time, and that this was not the way to go...they would help me to go soon and naturally...and forgave me for my sin of suicide".
My opinion, I find it extremly interesting and wonderful too...I am not a religious person, but still...kind of makes me sigh to think...hey, in my time of death I may just see something more beautiful and amazing than in my entire life...that is a refreshing thing to think about...but I am in NO hurry to get there..LOL!

Urban myth. Virtually guaranteed.

Jim Huffman, RN

NurseFirst · Mar 9, 2005

I consider myself to be a Christian (whether God argrees...well, that's different matter :) In my faith, Orthodox Christian, funerals are very affirming. In fact, it is this very belief that that what lies beyond is extraordinary, such that "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard" the things that God has in store for those who love Him.

Life is but a brief moment in eternity; we'll be spending much more time dead than alive, so I certainly hope it's better than this life!!!

NurseFirst

weetziebat · Mar 9, 2005

Being in Oregon also, I'd heard a version of that story, but it differed significantly from the version you heard. I'd heard that when the man woke up he was quite angry and wanted to know why the heck he wasn't dead. Hmmm...

I like your version better. :) If the version you heard is correct it would be reassuring to me I guess, but to be honest it sounds more a story concocted by the anti-assisted suicide league who are trying to scare people away from it.

I'd just like to know the truth. Also hope that the poor man is finally at peace.

hypnotic_nurse · Mar 9, 2005

The news story I read went right along with weetziebat's version (he was mad when he woke up). But he did have terminal cancer, and did die shortly thereafter.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 9, 2005

I wonder what the unabridged truth is here. I have heard several differing accounts on this ONE story, so much so, I believe none of it at this point.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Mar 9, 2005

Heh.... guess I'd be pizzed too, if I woke up from such an awesome peace just to find myself back on the table, still sick.. still having the #*&^*@ cancer... :stone

TAKE ME BACK !!!

Fiona59 · Mar 9, 2005

I actually had a patient once who was a DNR but a helpful stranger did CPR. My patient never reported an out of body, going to the light experience. I remember his anger at being alive, he honestly felt it was his time to go. He lived for another three months and was miserable the entire time to his family and staff.

I just know that when its time, its time. There is a reason for why things happen and although we might not know what it is, somebody somewhere benefits from our existance and death.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 9, 2005

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7090928/

I don't usually attach links so I hope it works. There was a thread on current events discussing this which is how I remembered "hearing" about it. I'm usually the first one to declare something an urban legend, but this one is partially true, except the patient awoke wondering why he wasn't dead. I believe in the afterlife but I don't believe there was any mention in this article of the patient discussing it.