Eben Alexander, Norway, and the Experiences of Health-Care Givers

*** The incredible near-death experience of Eben Alexander, M.D. was first announced by Newsweek Magazine, with cover and feature article, in mid-October. Please, if you can, buy his book Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife. Skeptics who pooh-poohed his story had only read the magazine version. His book gives you "the rest of the story," things that he experienced that were absolutely impossible for him to know anything about, that there is third-party verification that proves they were real - including about his dead sister, a sister he never knew he had.

*** I just returned from Norway, keynoting a near-death conference at Sola Helsefarm, near Stavanger, Norway. The three-day affair was very successful, drawing a large crowd and exciting a lot of people. Naturally, I told them about Eben and his book. For more information about this, please read my November Newsletter. If you don't subscribe to it ('tis free), then just get on my website and do so - www.pmhatwater.com. Don't forget there is an archive of previous issues. You'll want to read them all. While in Norway, Jannecke Oinaes conducted a one-hour interview that you can now view: http://wisdomfromnorth.com/pmh-atwater-about-her-research-on-near-death-experiences/.

*** In the November Newsletter I carried a letter from a nurse about her own experience, what happened to her, when a patient died - she HEARD the woman making her transition. I don't know if anyone is reaching out to the experiences of nurses, but they should. If you are a professional health-care giver, please send your story to IANDS (International Association for Near-Death Studies) at services@iands.org, or send them to me and I'll pass them on to the right person. I want to encourage this type of testimonial for I know all health-care providers will benefit.

September IANDS, New Books, DVDs, and Interviews

*** The International Association For Near-Death Studies (IANDS) celebrates their 30th Anniversary with an incredible conference, September 2-4 in Durham, NC (come a day early, there are activities then, too). Raymond E. Moody, Jr., M.D. and Bruce Greyson, M.D. will be the keynote speakers. It will be held at the Millennium Hotel, right across the street from IANDS headquarters on Campus Walk Avenue. Register as soon as possible. Contact: http://www.iands.org; (919) 383-7940; services@iands.org. You will need to register separately for the Hotel. I will be presenting my last research paper at this conference, entitled “The NDE as a Threshold Experience.” The theme is “Lives Changed Forever.”


*** To hear a radio show with me (as the researcher) and Eben Alexander, M.D. (as the experiencer), access www.jennifertill.com, scroll down to the show on 4-23-11. Dr. Alexander was brain dead for a week after a deadly attack of bacterial meningitis. During this time of no neocortex activity, he had a long and detailed near-death experience that completely changed his life and his idea of neurosurgery. The radio show is “Real Life with Jennifer Till.”


*** Out of the blue, as a complete surprise, Brian Hardin, the film maker, called me and said, “Do you remember in late 2007 when I filmed a two-hour interview with you? Well, I just put it on YouTube.” I had completely forgotten the whole thing. The two-parter is basically “Atwater Unplugged.” Yup, it’s a little embarrassing, as I said a few things I wish I hadn’t, but, it’s all true.”


*** Nancy E. Bush has a blog now and is inviting people to climb aboard and participate in the discussion. She calls it “Dancing Past The Dark.” Nancy’s goal is to discuss and explore the deeper issues in near-death experiences, especially those that are unpleasant or frightening. Access: http://dancingpastthedark.wordpress


*** Diane Corcoran was interviewed by “News Line for Nurses.” Nurses are an important link with near-death cases. Access: http://www.news-line.com/online/20110L/1103NLnsF/ .


*** News is starting to trickle out from the huge study concentrating on near-death experiences. Called AWARE (Awareness through Resuscitation), it involves over 1,000 cases of cardiac arrest. Early report from Sam Parnia, M.D.: “Near-death experiences are real and we have the proof.” Access: http://horizonresearch.org/main_page.php?cat_id=253. Also access http://ht.ly/4NvXG.


*** On April 23, 2011, Drs. Sam Parnia, Bruce Greyson, and Melvin Morse were guests on NPR - The People’s Pharmacy radio show. Consciousness is one of the great puzzles of modern neuroscience. As well is the question, what happens when we die? To hear this show, here are two access portals: http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/siteassets/pp-713B.mp3 , and http://ht.ly/4Nw1Y .


*** Three new books: There Is More...18 Near-Death Experiences, put out by Sharon Lund and available through http://www.SacredLife.com ; (619) 692-9507. Glimpses of Eternity: Sharing A Loved One’s Passage From This Life To The Next, Raymond E. Moody, Jr., M.D., with Paul Perry (Guideposts; Harlan, IA, 2010). Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back, Colton and Todd Burpo (Thomas Nelson Publishing; Nashville, TN 2010).


*** There is a DVD available now called The Afterlife Investigations: Has Science Proven the Afterlife? Tim Coleman is the producer, and it comes out of England. The best way to get a copy is through http://www.theafterlifeinvestigations.com and use PayPal.