|
5136
qualitative
book
Pim van Lommel, Consciousness Beyond Life, HarperOne, Chapter 2, Vicki, Pages 31-34, 2010
Consciousness Beyond Life, Vicki, Chapter 2, Pages 31-34, 2010
1973
2010
22
F
Vicki was born extremely premature in 1951 at only twenty-two weeks gestation and was immediately placed in a primitive incubator with 100% oxygen. This high oxygen concentration caused complete atrophy of her eyeball and optic nerve, leaving her totally blind from birth. The visual cortex in her brain also failed to develop properly due to receiving no light stimuli. She had never seen anything - no light, no shadows, nothing - and her dreams contained only taste, touch, sound, and smell sensations.
In 1973, at age twenty-two, Vicki was hurled from her car in a traffic accident. She suffered a basal skull fracture, severe concussion resulting in coma, fractured neck and back vertebrae, and a broken leg. During this life-threatening crisis, she suddenly found herself above the accident scene where she could see and recognize the smashed Volkswagen van - her first visual experience ever. In the emergency room, she observed from above a body on a metal gurney with two people present, hearing their concerned discussions. Only when she recognized her wedding ring, which she had only known by touch, did she realize it was her own body. Vicki then went up through the ceiling and saw the roof of the hospital and trees. She heard incredible wind chime sounds ranging from lowest to highest tones. She approached an area with trees, birds, and many people made of light. She reported being overwhelmed because she couldn't imagine what light was like before this experience. She was welcomed by five deceased individuals she recognized: two blind schoolmates who had died years earlier (Debby and Diane), two childhood caretakers (Mr. and Mrs. Zilk), and her grandmother. The experience concluded with a forced reentry into her body, which was excruciatingly painful and heavy. She felt very sick upon return. This case is extraordinary because a person blind from birth with an atrophied eyeball, optic nerve, and undeveloped visual cortex was able to see and accurately describe her surroundings during her NDE.
5
Hospital
5
27
38
Moderate Evidence
6
Life-threatening injuries from car accident including skull fracture and coma
Blind from birth person had detailed visual perceptions including car wreck, hospital room, and deceased individuals
written_account
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Blind from birth
8/7/2025
3
1
|