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According to the Gallup Organization and near-death research studies, more than 13 million adults in the United States have had near-death experiences. Add children’s encounters and the figure is much higher.

The 8-year-old boy had just undergone open-heart surgery and, for one brief instant, his heart stopped beating.

The boy later claimed he had a near-death experience. He told his family and caregivers about the beautiful journey he had taken toward a bright light.

Even more startling were his vivid descriptions of relatives long deceased. He recited the names of relatives he had met during his encounter who had died long before he was born. He recounted how they died and where they were buried.

“It’s hard to dispute such incredible claims from a child,” Diane Corcoran, Ph.D., RN, of Durham, N.C., said. “How can an 8-year-old provide such comprehensive information about deceased relatives, revealing details unknown even to his family?”

Corcoran is one of several nurses around the world studying the phenomenon of near-death experiences. Over the years, many medical professionals have tried to discount these encounters as hallucinations brought on by changes in the dying brain or side effects from anesthesia, yet questions remain. How can a patient who has flat-lined hallucinate? How does a patient undergoing open-heart surgery recount verbatim the conversations and actions that took place in the operating room?

According to the Gallup Organization and near-death research studies, more than 13 million adults in the United States have experienced NDEs. Add children’s encounters and all experiences worldwide, and the figure is much higher. Although each experience is unique, many commonalities have been recorded. Patients report out-of-body experiences, traveling toward a bright light, seeing and communicating with deceased family and friends, and feeling unconditional love. After their encounters, they no longer are afraid to die.

“These experiences have a profound, life-changing effect on patients,” Corcoran said. “Patients who have these encounters need to share this knowledge with their caregivers and family members without fearing that others will label them as crazy.”

Corcoran’s interest in near-death encounters began almost 30 years ago while she was serving as a nurse in Vietnam.

“I remember one soldier in particular who had his arm blown off in combat and had a near-death experience,” Corcoran said. “At the time, we didn’t have the knowledge we have today about these encounters, so I could only offer him someone to talk with.”

Another patient, who had a NDE during the Cuban missile crisis, told Corcoran that he tried to talk to nurses about his experience, but was sedated and sent to see a psychiatrist.

According to Corcoran, NDEs are common among soldiers in combat. She fears for the troops in Iraq, and worries that the after-effects of their encounters could prove problematic if they aren’t appropriately addressed.

“One of the common side effects among soldiers who experience NDEs is they abhor violence after their experience,” Corcoran said. “I worry about the service members who are thousands of miles from home, have an NDE and don’t have access to health care professionals who can understand or validate their experience.”

Corcoran’s interest led to her affiliation with the International Association for Near-Death Studies, where she served on the board of directors for many years and just completed a six-year term as president. Founded in 1978 to research and address NDEs, the association provides education and support to patients who have had near-death experiences, as well as to medical professionals.

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