NDE

I am out of surgery, and thank God am alive.  I thought for sure I was going to die.  In fact, I think I did die.

I saw a bright light and a tunnel.  There was elevator music playing.  There were voices all around me.  I saw the faces of people who are no longer alive.  There was Grandpa Fletcher and numerous relatives I have only seen in pictures.  I was floating.  I felt both hot and cold at the same time.

Finally, someone told me it was not my time to go and that it was time to return to the recovery room.  When I woke up, I was in my hospital bed and nurses were around me.

I told them I had had a near-death experience.  They didn't believe me.  They said a NDE was impossible because I didn't come remotely close to dying.  The procedure had gone quickly and with no complications.

But I know what I experienced.  You believe me, right?

The Pain, The Pain

I've had a persistent pain for days, on my right side.  I was convinced it was nothing but a pulled muscle but it continued.

This morning the pain was intense but I went to work anyway because I was afraid what would happen if I didn't.  But I was also concerned about this pain.  Some of the women at work had heard or saw I was in pain and stopped by to give me their diagnosis:  tumors, cysts, intestinal blockages, ectopic pregnancy.  No matter what their suggestion was I was dying.

At lunch, I promised Bill to see the doctor if the pain persisted to the weekend.

About a half hour later, though, the pain was very intense.  Finally, it was so bad I couldn't walk.  I let my co-workers convince me to allow an ambulance to be called.

They took me to the hospital where it seemed several thousand uncomfortable and invasive tests were taken.  Finally, a diagnosis came back.  I have appendicitis and will need to have surgery.  The surgery is schedule for, well, forty-five minutes from now.

I'm scared.  I don't want to be cut open.  Help.  I don't want to die!