Pam Reynold Lowery - Life after Death
Glimpsing Heaven, was a book that helped me a lot after my daughter Caitlin's death. One of the, life after death, experiences chronicled in the book was that of Pam Reynold Lowery. Pam was an Atlanta songwriter who was experiencing numbness in her fingers and recurring migraines. At first nobody knew what was causing the numbness. Some doctors attributed the numbness to her constant strumming of a guitar. Her migraines were initially thought to be due to her cigarette smoking habit. It would turn out that both assessments were incorrect. Pam had a basilar aneurysm located at the base of her brain. A certain death sentence if left untreated.
If you caught a glimpse of heaven, would you choose to come back to life? Investigative journalist Judy Bachrach has collected accounts of those who died and then returned to life with lucid, vivid memories of what occurred while they were dead, and the conclusions are astonishing. Clinical death—the moment when the heart stops beating and brain stem activity ceases—is not necessarily the end of consciousness, as a number of doctors are now beginning to concede. Hundreds of thousands of fascinating post-death experiences have been documented, and for many who have died and returned, life is forever changed. These days, an increasing number of scientific researchers are turning their studies to people who have experienced what the author calls death travels -- putting stock and credence in the sights, encounters, and exciting experiences reported by those who return from the dead. Through interviews with scores of these “death travelers,” and with physicians, nurses, and scientists unraveling the mysteries of the afterlife, Bachrach redefines the meaning of both life and death. Glimpsing Heaven reveals both the uncertainty and the surprising joys of life after death.
The procedure
The young songwriter, 35 years old at the time of diagnosis, underwent brain surgery in a procedure called cardiac standstill, combined with hypothermia. Effectively the procedures meant that Pam would be dead during the surgery. Her blood would be pumped out of her body via machines and drugs would be infused to shut down brain activity and prevent coagulation. Tubes were inserted down her throat and machines did the breathing for her as well as introducing more drugs to keep the brain inactive. Small audio clicking devices were inserted into her ears so doctors could monitor brain stem activity. As if all of the above wasn’t enough her body temperature was lowered to 58 degrees Fahrenheit.
My skepticism
I must admit prior to my daughter’s death I questioned near death experiences with a certain skepticism. It was not that I thought people were making those experiences up though. Until recently, I simply thought their experience was the product of a dying brain. Seeing a light having emotional feelings could all easily be summarized as a reaction of chemicals, reduced blood flow and fading electrical activity. Lately though I’ve dove into the subject even deeper looking for evidence of life after death. When a person has an experience that can be validated by the living, that is not as easy to chalk up to a chemical reaction within the brain. When they hear conversations taking place miles away while being dead that’s not due to chemicals. Is it proof of the afterlife? I’m starting to think it is.
The beginning of an incredible journey
The beginning of life after death? Pam recalled a discussion the doctor and nurses had about the artery in her leg being too small, while she was clinically dead with zero brain activity. She recalled being angry over one particular song choice in the operating room, Hotel California. The song goes “you can check out but never leave”. After pondering those lyrics she remembers thinking is that suppose to mean I can’t leave? Pam jokingly said afterwards that was terribly insensitive. She went on to described the surgical tools that were used to open her skull and the case they were stored in. Pam was never conscious in the operating room she stated that she observed all of this from above her body looking down on the procedure.
Heaven revealed ~ Life after death
Heaven revealed, Pam didn’t simply float above her body and remain in the operating room. She was transported and experienced a light, nothing like she had ever seen before or anything that she could even explain in words. For lack of better words a bright but not blinding, warm and embracing light more beautiful than anything she had ever seen. Proof of life after death? The more I watch and read about her experiences the more I believe it is. Another aspect of her voyage was an overwhelming feeling of unrelenting love that completely enveloped you. She saw departed loved ones in heaven, her grandmother and uncle. Pam asked if the light was GOD and was told that the light is what happens when GOD breathes.
Validation
The best part of all of this is it has all been verified. She was right on everything. Dr. Spetzler a renowned brain surgeon verified all of Pam’s statements. They were indeed listening to Hotel California and they did have a discussion about the artery in her leg being too small. Apparently there is life after death. A consciousness continues when our body is dead. Pam’s brain never heard the clicking of the devices placed in her ears but she recalled entire conversations. She viewed the surgery commenting about the tools used and what they sounded like all while clinically dead.