The wisdom of near-death experiences : how understanding NDEs can help us live more fully

Dr. Penny Sartori is a registered nurse who began researching Near Death Experiences (NDEs) in 1995 after one of her long-term intensive care patients begged her to let him die in peace. The event shook her deeply and eventually led her to enroll in a PhD program to research NDEs. The findings, along with the profound spiritual lessons that she has gleaned from her work, are published here. During her academic work, Dr. Sartori studied three samples of ICU patients during a five year period. The first consisted of 243 patients from the first year of data collection who survived their ICU experience. Of those, two experienced an NDE, and two an out-of-body experience (OBE). The second cohort consisted of survivors of cardiac arrest during the five year period. Of those, 39 patients (or 18%) experienced an NDE. The third cohort consisted of all the patients who experienced an NDE during the five year period. Their stories are captured in her new book. One patient in particular, patient number 10, stands out for Dr. Sartori. “He was in bad condition,” she says. “When we put him into bed he was unconscious and unresponsive. Later he reported an OBE. He was accurately able to tell us which doctor was in the room and what he had said while he was unconscious. He claimed to have met his deceased father and a Jesus-like figure. But the most extraordinary part was that afterwards he was able to use his hand, which had been paralyzed since birth. There is no medical explanation for how that healing occurred.” When asked about the biggest takeaway from her research, Dr. Sartori says, “In medicine, we’re trained to believe that the brain gives rise to consciousness. My research into NDEs has made me question this prevailing paradigm, which admittedly is very widespread. The most important lesson for me has been a deeper appreciation for death and a whole lot less fear and anxiety about it.” In addition to detailing dozens of case studies, the book also discusses childhood NDEs, differences in NDEs among different cultures, and the after-effects of NDEs--one of which is the inability, in some patients, to wear a wrist-watch. Drawing on a 5-year clinical study of near-death experiences, a doctor presents riveting patient stories to explore how NDEs can empower us and society as a whole. By trying to pathologize NDEs, are we missing out on what they can tell us about life? Dr. Penny Sartori is a registered nurse who began researching Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) in 1995 after one of her long-term intensive care patients begged her to let him die in peace. Inspired by this encounter, she went on to research NDEs in a PhD program, where she learned profound spiritual lessons and made startling discoveries that she now shares in The Wisdom of Near-Death Experiences . During her academic work, Dr. Sartori studied three samples of ICU patients during a five-year period. Here, she recounts the eye-opening stories of those patients who experienced NDEs and out-of-body experiences (OBEs). In one group, as many as 18% of patients experienced an NDE—though Patient #10 stood out among the others. After being unresponsive, he awoke to report he had experienced an OBE. He was able to describe what happened in the hospital room while he was unconscious and claimed he met not only his deceased father but a Jesus-like figure. Most shocking of all, he had regained the use of his hand—which had been paralyzed since birth. When talking about the biggest takeaways from her research, Dr. Sartori shares how her findings have made her question the common belief that the brain gives rise to consciousness. Most importantly, she has gained a deeper appreciation for death—an experience she now views with less fear and anxiety. In addition to detailing dozens of case studies, The Wisdom of Near-Death Experiences also discusses childhood NDEs, the differences in NDEs among different cultures, and the after-effects of NDEs. A doctor recounts patient stories from her five-year clinical study of Near-Death Experiences, revealing how this phenomenon is more powerful than we realize Dr. Penny Sartori is a registered nurse who began researching Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) in 1995 after one of her long-term intensive care patients begged her to let him die in peace. Inspired by this encounter, she went on to research NDEs in a PhD program, where she learned profound spiritual lessons and made startling discoveries that she now shares in The Wisdom of Near-Death Experiences. During her academic work, Dr. Sartori studied three samples of ICU patients during a five-year period. Here, she recounts the eye-opening stories of those patients who experienced NDEs and out-of-body experiences (OBEs). In one group, as many as 18% of patients experienced an NDE—though Patient #10 stood out among the others. After being unresponsive, he awoke to report he had experienced an OBE. He was able to describe what happened in the hospital room while he was unconscious and claimed he met not only his deceased father but a Jesus-like figure. Most shocking of all, he had regained the use of his hand—which had been paralyzed since birth. When talking about the biggest takeaways from her research, Dr. Sartori shares how her findings have made her question the common belief that the brain gives rise to consciousness. Most importantly, she has gained a deeper appreciation for death—an experience she now views with less fear and anxiety. In addition to detailing dozens of case studies, The Wisdom of Near-Death Experiences also discusses childhood NDEs, the differences in NDEs among different cultures, and the after-effects of NDEs. This book investigates the wide range of near-death experiences (NDEs) of patients that Penny Sartori has encountered during her nursing career, as well as the hundreds of cases of people who have reached out to her over the years. Many people take NDEs at surface value and are misinformed about the full extent of this highly complex phenomenon. Dr Sartori argues that, by pathologising the NDE, we are missing out on vital insights that can empower us to live fulfilled and meaningful lives. Dr Sartori does not offer superficial physiological or psychological explanations for why these experiences take place. Rather, the crucial point of this book is that NDEs undoubtedly occur and have very real, often dramatic, and life changing aftereffects. Further to that, the wisdom gained during the NDE can be life enhancing and have hugely positive effects on those who don't have an NDE - all we have to do is take notice of and hear what these people have to say. A greater understanding of NDEs can not only enhance the way in which we care for dying patients, but also revolutionise our current worldview. This book encourages readers to take notice of and incorporate the wisdom and powerful messages of NDEs into their own lives. Cover; Title; Dedicaton; Foreword; Contents; Introduction; 1. The Near-Death Experience; 2. The After Effects of the NDE; 3. Childhood NDEs; 4. The Cultural Variations of the NDE; 5. End-of-Life Experiences and After-Death Communication; 6. Proposed Physiological and Psychological Explanations for the NDE; 7. A Five-Year Prospective Study of NDEs; 8. A Brief History of the Medicalization of Death; 9. Implications for a Greater Understanding and Acknowledgement of NDEs; 10. Conclusion; Epilogue; Notes; References; Copyright