I was a troubled young adult. At 19 years old, I married my boyfriend. However by 21, I was divorced. From then until I was 27 years old, I was living a life of partying and living in sin. I had many “friends,” and I thought that I was doing just fine.
It was around the summer of my 27th year, I realized that my then-boyfriend had been cheating on me and my life would never be the same. I confronted him and an argument ensued. I saw a bottle of Wellbutrin he had, and considered taking it. A thought came to my mind: Go ahead, you’ll be fine. (Guardian angel or demon? I didn’t know.) I swallowed the entire bottle in his apartment while he was in the kitchen.
It took a while, but eventually he came in and saw the pill bottle open and empty.
“What did you do with my pills?”
I told him that I took them.
Of course he thought that I was lying for attention. So he told me that I wasn’t going to die at his place and told me to leave. After another heated argument, and me not wanting anyone BUT HIM to see me die, I agreed to force myself to vomit up the pills. He came to the bathroom and watched me.
But it was too late, the pills had dissolved into my system, and nothing came up but some black tar-looking substance. I believe at that moment he realized that I did ingest the pills. He went to the kitchen and made ice water, and threw it on me. I crawled on the floor like a punished dog trying to get away from the ice bath.
He repeated throwing ice water on me. Every time he did, I would try to avoid being hit by crawling away to another corner. I refused to leave. I endured it. Then I remembered reading some of the possible side-effects of Wellbutrin. One was seizures. So I pretended to start shaking. Then I blacked out.
Apparently, the true seizure was going to happen anyway. I truly seized. It was more than enough evidence for him. He called an ambulance. I remember a little bit of being put into the ambulance and him requesting to ride with me. He was denied.
My next memory was me floating on the ceiling of the ICU. I saw my mother and my sister sitting at the foot of the bed. When I woke, I saw mom and sis sitting exactly that way at the foot of my bed. Knowing that I left my body, I wanted to tell them about how cool it was… to be floating on the ceiling without a care in the world. However, I did not want to freak them out. They were obviously concerned about my physical wellbeing. I didn’t want to make them think I was mentally unstable as well. So my first words to them were “I just had the craziest dream…I was floating above my body!”
They both gave each other a very odd look. This puzzled me then, but I had no idea at that time that I had flatlined and had to be shocked back to life. Apparently, my sister dropped to her knees right there in ICU and screamed for God to save my life.
Her request was granted. I love her! I love God!
After a mandated stay in the mental ward for three days, I was released. Physically I was just fine, however mentally I had changed. I knew without a doubt that we still exist after our body dies. I also realized without a doubt that God exists.
I don’t remember seeing a tunnel, Heaven or Hell. However, I can still remember seeing my body, my mom and my sister in the ICU room as I was flatlining. I am grateful that the Lord didn’t show me Hell. Or did He and I blocked it out?
I knew then that I had to change my ways. I did! After my time in the hospital. I sent my resume all over the country and moved to the first state that asked for an interview. Luckily, I got the job. I left my home state and all my “friends.” I wanted to change completely.
My life progressively got better. I read my Bible. I send money to a church every month. I don’t go out to bars, and I give to a local food bank now. I am not a social type of person; I enjoy time to myself. I have a great man in my life and one dear friend.
I am all about the Good Lord, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
The one thing I have been dragging my feet on…I am in my 50’s now…the one thing that our Heavenly Father asked me to do was give my testimony…I am giving it to you.
Side note: The sister that begged for my life in the ICU that day, was killed in an auto accident. I was not there to return the favor. I wasn’t even told until hours later when I returned from work that day. I truly regret not being there for her.
Sheri Witherspoon is a scientist working in the healthcare industry. She lived and worked at many hospitals and a private company over the years, from Long Island to Miami. Sheri never thought that she would accomplish supporting herself. But after her experience, God helped her so much, because she would ask. Sheri also developed a thankfulness that she did not have before. She is always thanking God, for everything!
Heart of Flesh Literary Journal 