I walked into a room where a physician colleague supervised the resuscitation of a young woman. I looked at her cardiac monitor. The line was flat except for artifacts caused by ongoing CPR.

I sensed her soul almost immediately as I entered the room. I felt her curiosity and wonder as she oriented to life outside her physical body. Then she was gone.

I wondered about her abrupt departure. I looked at her monitor. Her rhythm had returned. She wasn’t gone at all. She’d simply returned to her body. She was again behind her veil.

I don’t know what happened to her after she left my department. I regret not following up to hear her view of the event.

Someone you know has had a brush with eternity, but they may not share it spontaneously.. They may be waiting for a safe space.

When they’re well enough, if it feels right, try compassionately asking, “Did anything unusual happen while you were unconscious?”

Then listen. Don’t correct, judge, scoff, interpret, or interrupt. Just listen.