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5094
qualitative
book
Carter, Chris. Science and the Near-Death Experience: How Consciousness Survives Death. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 2010. Chapter 13, p. 210. Case: Ben Bray
Science and the Near-Death Experience - Ben Bray - Chapter 13, p. 210 - 2010
2010
6
M
Six-year-old Ben Bray required a heart transplant for an inherited heart defect that had already claimed the life of his older brother. During his medical crisis and coma, Ben had a profound near-death experience that was initially reported in the tabloid newspaper The Globe with the headline "I Went to Heaven and Talked to God... Boy, 6, snaps out of coma and bares startling proof." While the tabloid sensationalized the story, researcher Dr. Serdahely contacted Ben's mother directly to verify the account.
During his experience, Ben described journeying to a beautiful, light and happy place with angels in white robes and a "big, bright, yellow light far ahead, down a long, long, white room." In this realm, he encountered his deceased brother Matthew and his two deceased grandfathers. Remarkably, Ben described one grandfather as having black hair and the other as having brown hair. His mother was stunned by this detail because Ben had only ever seen his grandfathers - whether in real life or in photographs - with grey hair. The accuracy of identifying their youthful hair colors and correctly specifying which grandfather had which color was particularly striking. The veridical element of correctly identifying his grandfathers' hair colors from their youth, which he had never seen, provides an intriguing evidential aspect to the experience. Ben's mother confirmed this specific detail as completely accurate when Dr. Serdahely contacted her for verification. She acknowledged that while the tabloid had exaggerated many parts of the story, the core details of her son's experience, particularly the accurate description of the grandfathers' youthful appearance, were true. This case demonstrates how even young children can have profound near-death experiences with evidential components that suggest access to information they could not have known through normal means, supporting the reality of consciousness during clinical crisis.
4
Hospital
7
10
25
Suggestive Evidence
8
Coma during heart transplant crisis for inherited defect. Life-threatening condition requiring transplant.
Correctly identified grandfathers' youthful hair colors never seen before. Specific and accurate details unknown to child.
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Dr. Serdahely
8/6/2025
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