Maryland Woman Shares Insights from Three Near-Death Experiences

A Maryland woman, Norma Edwards, 80, is sharing profound insights from her experiences of dying and being revived on three separate occasions. As a spiritual therapist and life coach, Edwards believes these near-death experiences have imparted significant lessons about the nature of life and death.

Edwards, originally from Guyana, first encountered death in 1971 while living in London. At the age of 26, she suffered complications from an undiagnosed pregnancy. After collapsing, she was rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered she had experienced a stillbirth. During an emergency surgery, her heart stopped, and she claims to have left her body, entering what she describes as a “pitch-black tunnel” that led to stunning colors and a brilliant light.

In this otherworldly experience, Edwards reported seeing a replay of her life, divided into segments depicting what she had planned, what she lived, and the outcomes of her choices. This experience marked the beginning of her belief that life continues beyond physical existence.

Most recently, in November 2024, Edwards experienced another cardiac arrest at her home in Maryland. Recognizing the familiar sensations of dying, she felt a guiding presence and was reminded of her initial message about life’s continuity. Upon being revived, she expressed that re-entering her body was intensely painful, likening it to “trying to pour a galaxy into a teacup.”

Edwards detailed how, after her experiences, her sensory perceptions changed dramatically. “My senses were heightened,” she explained. “Color appeared as music, with radios pulsing with light.” Initially overwhelmed, she struggled to understand these new abilities, which included a perception of seeing inside people’s bodies.

After these transformative incidents, Edwards dedicated herself to a career in chaplaincy, spending 27 years providing spiritual guidance to incarcerated individuals. She aimed to help them prepare for reintegration into society, focusing on the importance of confronting fear and understanding the nature of existence.

In her current work with senior communities, Edwards emphasizes that death should not be feared but regarded as a transition. “The soul doesn’t die,” she states. “You’re simply stepping out of the body into something larger.” She encourages individuals to embrace life fully, stating, “As long as you have breath, you have the greatest gift.”

Despite the lingering grief from her first near-death experience and the loss of her child, Edwards finds purpose in aiding others. She believes that humanity’s greatest challenge is fear, advocating for a perspective of love and growth throughout one’s life journey. “We come here to learn, to love and to grow,” she remarked. “There’s nothing to fear but fear itself.”

Edwards’ experiences have profoundly shaped her worldview, reinforcing her conviction about the continuity of existence and the importance of helping others navigate the complexities of life and death.