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4618
qualitative
book
Titus Rivas et al., The Self Does Not Die: Verified Paranormal Phenomena from Near-Death Experiences, 2nd edition, ed. Janice Holden (International Association for Near-Death Studies, 2023). Case 1.4: A Heart Shaped Like Africa, , pp. 11-13.
The Self Does Not Die - Case 1.4 - pp. 11-13 - Copyright 2023
1978
2023
52
M
A 52-year-old night watchman from North Florida underwent open-heart surgery at the University of Florida medical center in January 1978. During the operation, he experienced an out-of-body state where he observed his own body, medical procedures, and instruments used from above. He was surprised to see his heart was shaped like the continent of Africa and noted less blood loss than expected. He observed specific details including one doctor wearing white shoes without green scrub covers (unlike all others), surgical instruments, and procedures. Dr. Sabom compared the patient's observations with the medical report and found exact correspondence in multiple specific details: body draping, sternum sawing, self-retaining retractor use, ventricular aneurysm dissection, heart manipulation, air evacuation with needle/syringe, and layer-by-layer wound closure. These technical details matched the operative report precisely, including aspects the patient could not have known beforehand.
1
Hospital
15
15
40
Moderate Evidence
10
Open-heart surgery with documented procedures, cardiac monitoring present
Multiple specific surgical details verified against medical report, unexpected observations like heart shape
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