Original subtitles

Dean: I FELT LIKE I WAS SHOOTING UP LIKE A ROCKET.

I COULD JUST REMEMBER SAYING TO MYSELF, "I AM DYING."

THAT DARKNESS, IT LOOKED LIKE A THICK OIL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO GO NOWHERE NEAR THIS DARKNESS

WHERE THE DEMONS WERE.

BABY, IT'S OKAY. I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S THE LAST THING THAT I REMEMBER BEFORE I DIED.

SOMETHING BAD HAS HAPPENED.

HAVE I BEEN IN A BAD CAR ACCIDENT?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

Narrator: THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY

THEY HAVE VISITED THE AFTERLIFE,

CHALLENGING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF DEATH.

MOTIVATED BY THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES

PULLING VICTIMS BACK FROM THE GRAVE,

FOUR INVESTIGATORS NOW SEEK TO SOLVE

THE MYSTERIES OF RESURRECTION.

Johnny: THIS IS GONNA HELP UNLOCK SOMETHING

THAT HASN'T BEEN KNOWN FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

REGARDLESS OF RELIGION, THE PERSON WAS DEAD,

AND THEY CAME BACK TO LIFE.

Jesse: WE'RE PURSUING THIS TO SHOW

THAT THE IMPOSSIBLE IS, IN FACT, POSSIBLE.

Sam: DEATH DOESN'T REALLY HAVE THE FINAL SAY-SO.

WHY DID YOU DEFY THE ODDS?

Narrator: THIS IS "PROJECT AFTERLIFE."

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

**

IT SEEMS EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVE

OF WHAT HAPPENS IN THE AFTERLIFE.

MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S REPEATABLE.

THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GRAB HOLD OF

AND SAY, "THIS SEEMS --

THIS SEEMS REAL, OR THIS SEEMS VERIFIABLE."

ALL RIGHT, SO WE GOT A GUY BY THE NAME OF DEAN BRAXTON.

DEAN IS HAVING A PRETTY ROUTINE PROCEDURE

DONE FOR KIDNEY STONES, WHICH IS USUALLY PRETTY TAME.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A LOT THAT GOES WRONG WITH

THESE KIDNEY STONE PROCEDURES,

BUT HE EXPERIENCED SOME COMPLICATIONS

AND ENDED UP DYING.

HE ENDED UP GOING TO HEAVEN

AND HAD A PRETTY REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE.

AND IT'S A VERY INTERESTING CASE.

HOW LONG IS THE REPORT THAT HE WAS DEAD?

THEY WERE DOING CPR FOR OVER 90 MINUTES.

SO, I'M GONNA GO ASK SOME QUESTIONS

AND FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY IT WAS THAT KEPT THEM GOING,

WHY THEY WORKED FOR SO LONG,

AND JUST UNCOVER -- MAYBE THEY HAD HOPE.

MAYBE THEY FELT SOMETHING.

HERE'S A CASE ABOUT SHARON ABBOTT,

THIS YOUNG LADY WHO ACTUALLY DIED RIGHT AFTER CHILDBIRTH.

EVERYTHING SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING WELL,

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE JUST DIED.

SAM, ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT THIS

IS THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING COMING TO LIFE

AND SOMETHING GOING INTO DEATH.

ONE MINUTE, SHE'S HOLDING HER BABY,

AND THEN THE NEXT MINUTE

SHE'S GOT BLOOD COMING OUT OF HER EYES.

CRITICAL CARE DOCTORS GAVE HER A ZERO CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

ZERO CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

SO IT SAYS HERE SHE WENT TO WHAT SHE WOULD CALL HEAVEN.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.

WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN DRAW PARALLELS

TO ANY OF THE OTHER CASES THAT WE'VE SEEN.

THEY'RE DESCRIBING THAT EXPERIENCE, THAT SENSATION.

**

Sam: I'M ON MY WAY TO JASPER, ALABAMA,

TO SPEAK WITH 40-YEAR-OLD SHARON ABBOTT.

WE'RE MEETING AT THE HOSPITAL

WHERE SHE SUFFERED FATAL COMPLICATIONS

DURING THE DELIVERY OF HER THIRD CHILD.

HELLO, SHARON.

HEY. HOW YOU DOIN'?

-I'M GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? -GOOD TO SEE YOU.

SO, SHARON, I UNDERSTAND YOU DIED SHORTLY AFTER CHILDBIRTH.

TAKE ME BACK TO THAT DAY.

I CAME IN TO BE INDUCED WITH MY THIRD CHILD, JAKE.

AND HAD A VERY NORMAL PREGNANCY.

THEY JUST THOUGHT THAT JAKE WAS GETTING TOO BIG

AND DECIDED TO INDUCE HIM A WEEK EARLY.

I'M READY.

Man: WELL, THIS SHOULD BE A ROUTINE PROCEDURE.

Sharon: THERE WAS NO SIGN THAT ANYTHING WAS GOING WRONG.

GONNA HAVE THE NURSE COME IN AND START A PITOCIN DRIP,

AND YOU'LL BE READY TO GO VERY SOON, OKAY?

OKAY. OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD.

THE DELIVERY WAS NORMAL.

DEEP BREATH AND PUSH, HARD, HARD, HARD.

COME ON. COME ON. [ SCREAMING ]

KEEP ON, KEEP ON. YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

STAY WITH ME, PUSH.

GREAT. VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD.

HEY, JAKE'S HERE. LOOK.

THE NURSES CLEANED JAKE UP AND HANDED HIM RIGHT TO ME.

I WAS JUST HOLDING HIM AND LOVING ON HIM LIKE MAMAS DO.

OH, LOOK AT HIM. LOOK AT BABY JAKE.

HE'S HERE. GOT YOUR EYES.

AND I JUST BEGAN TO FEEL SICK AT MY STOMACH.

AND I LOOKED AT MY HUSBAND, WAYNE,

AND I SAID, "I NEED YOU TO TAKE THE BABY

BECAUSE I'M GETTING SICK."

IT'S PROBABLY JUST NORMAL.

Sharon: I FELT LIKE I WAS GONNA PASS OUT.

AND SO I JUST SAT BACK IN THE BED.

AND AT THAT TIME, THE NURSES WERE ALREADY WORKING

BECAUSE MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS DROPPING.

NURSE, I NEED YOU TO HANG A BOLUS OF FLUIDS.

SHE'S HEMORRHAGING. DRAW UP SOME VITAMIN K.

GO AHEAD AND CALL CT, HAVE THEM READY.

LET'S GET AN O.R. SUITE, AS WELL.

I COULDN'T SEE ANY BLOOD COMING OUT OF ME AT THIS POINT.

BUT I COULD HEAR THINGS.

CAN WE GET A LARGE BORE NEEDLE ON THIS SIDE?

I WAS KIND OF PASSING OUT AND COMING TO.

IT'S LIKE I WOULD LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS AND COME TO.

AND IT JUST SOUNDED LIKE WATER WAS RUNNING.

I VAGUELY REMEMBER A NURSE,

AND THEY WERE TALKING TO ME.

AND THEY WERE SAYING...

YOU'RE JUST BLEEDING A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WE WANT YOU TO.

EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

THERE YOU WERE, LOSING BLOOD.

DID YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO YOU?

WHEN IT FIRST STARTED,

I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

I KNEW THAT MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS DROPPING

AND THAT THAT WAS THE REASON I WAS BEING SICK.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT WAS AS SERIOUS AS IT WAS.

WE NEED A TYPE AND CROSS FOR FOUR UNITS RIGHT NOW.

I VAGUELY REMEMBER THE DOCTOR COMING BACK IN.

I WAS LOSING SO MUCH BLOOD,

AND I WAS SO TIRED,

BUT A CALM COVERED ME.

I WILL NEVER FORGET THE LOOK ON HIS FACE.

SHARON, YOU'VE LOST A LOT OF BLOOD.

I NEED YOU TO STAY WITH ME.

IT WAS THE LOOK OF,

"I'M DOING EVERYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO HELP HER,

AND IT'S NOT HELPING."

HER BLOOD PRESSURE IS VERY LOW.

HOW LOW IS IT? 65/40.

EVERY HUMAN PART OF ME WANTS TO LIVE

AND WANTS TO SEE MY CHILDREN GROW

AND WANTS TO BE WITH MY FAMILY.

BUT IT WAS GETTING BAD, AND IT WAS GETTING BAD FAST.

SHE'S HEMORRHAGING! I NEED THAT BLOOD NOW!

I WAS BLEEDING FROM EVERYWHERE.

I EVEN HAD TEARS THAT WERE BLOOD.

MS. ABBOTT, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

WAYNE HAD MADE HIS WAY TO THE CORNER OF THE ROOM.

AND I KEPT TRYING TO TELL HIM...

BABY, IT'S OKAY. I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY TO HIM.

AND THEN I JUST SAW HIM CRUMBLE IN THAT CORNER.

THAT'S THE LAST THING THAT I REMEMBER BEFORE I DIED.

[ MONITOR FLATLINES ]

**

Jesse: WHILE SAM CONTINUES INTERVIEWING SHARON IN ALABAMA,

I'M HEADING TO QUINCY, ILLINOIS,

TO SPEAK WITH 58-YEAR-OLD RETIRED CIVIL SERVANT,

DEAN BRAXTON.

ACCORDING TO OUR RECORDS,

DEAN SHOULD NOT BE ALIVE TODAY.

HOW ARE YA? I'M DOING FINE.

YEAH? GREAT TO MEET YOU. YOU, TOO.

I UNDERSTAND YOU GOT A FASCINATING STORY.

YEAH. YOU DIED.

YEAH, YEAH.

I WAS CLINICALLY DEAD FOR AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES.

SO, DEAN, TAKE ME BACK TO THAT DAY THAT YOU DIED.

WELL, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ABOUT 2006, MAY 5th.

I HAD A SIMPLE KIDNEY STONE,

AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A REALLY BAD DEAL.

Dean: FIRST OF ALL, I WOKE UP WITH PAIN.

AND I KNEW WHAT IT WAS RIGHT OFF THE BAT

BECAUSE I'VE HAD KIDNEY STONES BEFORE.

WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK.

THE PAIN SEEMED TO GET WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE.

IT FEELS LIKE YOUR SIDE IS BURSTING.

AND I JUST REMEMBER MY STOMACH STARTING TO TURN.

AND I THOUGHT I COULD MAKE IT HOME,

BUT I DIDN'T MAKE IT HOME.

AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW, I'M PUKING IN THE CAR.

I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS NOT GOING AWAY

AND I NEEDED TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, TOLD THEM I HAVE A KIDNEY STONE.

THIS IS A KIDNEY PAIN.

Man: HE SEEMS THAT YOU HAVE MULTIPLE KIDNEY STONES,

AND ONE THAT WE'RE VERY CONCERNED WITH

ACCORDING TO YOUR LAB WORK.

THE DOCTOR CONFIRMED THAT I HAD KIDNEY STONES.

MATTER OF FACT, NOT JUST A KIDNEY STONE,

BUT KIDNEY STONES.

THE X-RAYS, THEY FOUND A NUMBER OF KIDNEY STONES.

AND EVERYTHING WAS BACKING UP AND ENDED UP

WITH A KIDNEY INFECTION BECAUSE OF THAT.

SO THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD KEEP ME OVERNIGHT,

GIVE ME A LOT OF ANTIBIOTICS.

AND THEN IN THE MORNING THEY SET ME UP

TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MY KIDNEY STONES BLASTED.

THE PROCEDURE TO BREAK UP THE KIDNEY STONE,

HOW WERE THEY GONNA DO THAT?

WELL, THEY WERE GONNA DO IT WITH THIS ULTRASOUND MACHINE.

-I'VE HAD IT ONCE BEFORE. -OKAY.

AND I CAN REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I EVER HAD IT,

WHICH WAS ABOUT 4 YEARS EARLIER.

I WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL IN THE MORNING,

AND I WAS OUT BY THE AFTERNOON.

I ENCOUNTER A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH KIDNEY STONES.

AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE EXTREMELY PAINFUL.

BUT TYPICALLY, IN MY EXPERIENCE,

THEY'VE BEEN PRETTY MANAGEABLE.

THIS TIME WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.

OKAY.

THAT NIGHT, I CAN REMEMBER

THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE GIVING ME MEDICATION,

I COULD STILL FEEL THE PAIN

OFF AND ON THROUGH THE EVENING.

I HAD CHILLS.

I WAS COLD. I WAS HOT.

IT WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AT THE TIME

IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE INFECTION I HAD IN MY BODY.

AFTER THE OPERATION, THEY PUT ME IN RECOVERY ROOM.

AND I CAN REMEMBER MY WIFE BEING THERE.

SLOW BREATHS RIGHT NOW. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

YES.

AND I'M WAKING UP, YOU KNOW, COMING OUT

OF ALL THE MEDICATION THAT THEY'VE GIVEN ME.

BUT I ALSO AM REALIZING I CAN'T BREATHE THAT WELL.

[ GASPING ] MY GOD, WHERE'S THE DOCTOR?

DOCTOR!

WHERE'S THE DOCTOR? DOCTOR!

THAT'S WHEN I STARTED THINKING, "SOMETHING'S GONE WRONG HERE,"

BECAUSE AT THAT MOMENT, I'M REALIZING

THAT I'M IN THE MODE OF DYING.

I COULD JUST REMEMBER SAYING TO MYSELF, "I AM DYING."

AND IT WAS LIKE, "WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?"

I CAME IN FOR A SIMPLE KIDNEY STONE.

THIS IS A SIMPLE OPERATION.

WHY AM I NOW AT THE MOMENT WHERE I CANNOT CATCH MY BREATH?

NURSE, I NEED HIM INTUBATED RIGHT NOW

AND DOWN TO ICU, STAT.

WHEN THEY BLASTED THE STONES,

THEY PUSHED THE POISON INTO MY BLOODSTREAM.

THE DOCTOR SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO INTUBATE ME,

OR PUT A TUBE DOWN MY THROAT.

Woman: WE'RE LOSING HIM. PREP FOR SURGERY.

YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T GO INTO THE HOSPITAL TO DIE.

I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GONNA DIE THAT DAY.

ALL I KNEW IS THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING TO ME.

WE HAVE A CODE BLUE.

Jesse: DOCTORS WORKED DESPERATELY,

BUT FAILED TO KEEP THE INFECTION

FROM STRIPPING DEAN'S BODY OF LIFE.

Dean: MY LUNGS HAD STOPPED OPERATING.

AT THAT POINT, I WAS CLINICALLY DEAD.

AND FROM THERE, I STEPPED INTO THE AFTERLIFE.

Sam: I'VE BEEN INVESTIGATING THE DEATH

AND RESURRECTION OF SHARON ABBOTT.

SHARON'S THIRD CHILD WAS BORN A HEALTHY BABY.

AND SHE WAS EAGER FOR HIM TO MEET HIS TWO OLDER SIBLINGS

OUT IN THE WAITING ROOM.

BUT NOT LONG AFTER, SHARON BEGAN TO HEMORRHAGE BLOOD

FASTER THAN THE DOCTORS COULD REPLACE IT.

WE NEED A TYPE AND CROSS FOR FOUR UNITS RIGHT NOW.

AND THIS NEW LIFE LEFT A MOTHER OF THREE ON THE BRINK OF DEATH.

SO WHEN YOU WERE LAYING THERE IN THE BED,

WHAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND?

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU WERE ACTUALLY GETTING READY TO DIE?

I KNEW THAT THINGS WEREN'T GOING LIKE THEY HAD PLANNED.

I KNEW THAT I WAS BLEEDING MORE THAN THEY WANTED ME TO.

Man: WE'RE LOSING MORE BLOOD. WE NEED AN IV ON THIS ARM.

Sharon: I COULDN'T SEE AT THIS POINT.

EVERYTHING WAS DARK FOR ME.

BUT I COULD HEAR SOME THINGS,

AND IT WAS REALLY LOUD.

IT WAS LOUD, AND IT WAS JUST CHAOS.

WE NEED TWO MORE UNITS. SHARON...

ALL OF THE SUDDEN, IT WENT FROM LOUD CHAOS

TO COMPLETE AND TOTAL PEACE... AND LOVE AND CALM.

I BELIEVE I WENT TO HEAVEN.

IT WAS, LIKE, A GREEN GARDEN SETTING.

I WAS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD,

AND I KNEW IT WAS HIM.

I WAS WALKING SO CLOSE THAT I COULD SMELL HIM.

IT'S LIKE THE FRAGRANCE AFTER THE RAIN.

IT COULD TAKE MY BREATH JUST FOR A MOMENT.

I COULD LITERALLY FEEL THE LOVE AND PEACE SURROUND ME

LIKE A BLANKET WOULD SURROUND YOU.

WE WALKED ON FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE A LONG TIME TO ME.

THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE ALONG THE PATH

THAT WE WERE WALKING ON.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WALKING THE SAME DIRECTION

THAT WE WERE GOING, AND PEOPLE WALKING TOWARD US.

I WASN'T FOCUSED ON THE SCENERY AND WHERE I WAS.

I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON,

AND THEN I REMEMBERED.

I HAD BABY JAKE,

AND HE'S FINE, BUT I'M NOT.

I'M DYING, AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

SO WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU WERE?

I THINK I WENT TO HEAVEN.

I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S WHERE I WAS.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF I COULD OR SHOULD STAY THERE.

I TALKED TO HIM, AND I SAID,

"YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT THIS BRAND-NEW BABY

AND MY FAMILY THAT I LOVE SO MUCH.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO LIVE.

MY WILL IS TO LIVE."

BUT IF IT'S YOUR WILL,

I'LL STAY HERE WITH YOU.

"PLEASE JUST MAKE SURE MY FAMILY'S TAKEN CARE OF."

NOBODY WANTS TO DIE,

BUT I WAS READY TO GO.

I DON'T REMEMBER HIM EVER SPEAKING TO ME.

BUT I DIDN'T REALLY EXPECT HIM TO.

IT WASN'T LIKE I WAS WAITING ON HIM TO SAY SOMETHING TO ME.

IF HE'D HAVE SAID, "I'M TAKING YOU ON,"

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL RIGHT.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY.

THERE WAS THAT MUCH PEACE AND LOVE,

THAT IF HE'D HAVE TAKEN ME ON, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL RIGHT.

Sam: WHILE SHARON WALKED THROUGH THE HEAVENLY GARDENS,

MEDICAL RECORDS SHOWED

DOCTORS WERE ABLE TO STABILIZE HER

IN A MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA.

THE LORD DID GRANT MY REQUEST BECAUSE I CAME BACK.

I OPENED MY EYES.

I LOOKED AROUND ME.

THERE WERE PICTURES OF MY CHILDREN AROUND

ON SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY HAD WITH ME.

I WAS ON A VENTILATOR AT THAT POINT.

YOU'RE AWAKE?

AND MY HUSBAND SAYS THAT I SAT UP IN THE BED

AND THAT I WAS SWOLLEN TO THE POINT

THAT I COULDN'T HOLD ANYTHING IN MY HAND.

SO I WAS ABLE TO WRITE OUT IN THE AIR

THAT I HAD BEEN TO HEAVEN.

YOU WENT TO HEAVEN, BABY?

AFTER I RECOVERED, THE DOCTOR SAID

THAT IT WAS JUST A MIRACLE THAT I WAS ALIVE.

Sam: WHILE SHARON AND HER FAMILY CELEBRATED,

HER DOCTORS WERE BAFFLED.

SHE HAD BEEN IN THE ICU FOR 3 DAYS

AND WAS NOT EXPECTED TO RECOVER.

DID YOU EVER ACTUALLY FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF YOUR DEATH?

WELL, THERE WERE SEVERAL THEORIES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

MY OB DOCTOR FEELS LIKE

IT WAS AN AMNIOTIC FLUID EMBOLISM.

THEY HAD SOME THAT THOUGHT THAT I WAS SEPTIC.

THEY NEVER REALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE AGREEMENT.

SHARON, WAS THERE ANYBODY HERE ON EARTH, WHILE YOU WERE DEAD,

TRYING TO WORK A SPIRITUAL INTERVENTION TO BRING YOU BACK?

MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, J.D., DURING THIS TIME,

HAD A VERY INTERESTING EXPERIENCE

WHEN HE CAME IN TO SEE ME.

NOW I'M CURIOUS WHAT SHARON'S BROTHER-IN-LAW

EXPERIENCED WHEN HE WENT TO SEE HER.

I NEED TO SPEAK WITH J.D.

TO SEE IF HE CONTRIBUTED TO HER RESURRECTION.

HOW YOU DOING, J.D.? DOING GOOD, BROTHER SAM.

YOU DOING ALL RIGHT TODAY? GREAT.

GOOD TO MEET YOU.

JUST GOT THROUGH MEETING WITH SHARON.

SHE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT HER STORY.

I TELL YOU, IT'S AN AMAZING STORY.

WHAT TRANSPIRED?

AS I REMEMBER, GOING BACK TO THAT DAY,

I GOT TO THE HOSPITAL ABOUT 30 MINUTES

PRIOR TO JAKE BEING BORN.

WELL, DID WE HAVE THE BABY YET?

AND I HAD JUST MADE IT TO THE HOSPITAL.

AND THEY CAME OUT AND, YOU KNOW, HAD TOLD EVERYBODY

IN THE WAITING ROOM THAT JAKE HAD BEEN BORN.

5 MINUTES LATER, ONE OF THE NURSES TOLD ME,

"WE'VE GOT A MAJOR PROBLEM. SHARON IS BLEEDING PROFUSELY."

THE MOOD WENT IMMEDIATELY FROM JOY, YOU KNOW, AND ELATION

TO YOUR HEART DROPPING INTO YOUR ANKLE.

AND EVERYTHING WAS JUST STOPPED.

IT'S LIKE TIME JUST STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AT THAT POINT.

Sam: DR. KEEHN HOSIER WAS ATTENDING TO SHARON THAT DAY.

DR. HOSIER TOLD US THAT SHE HAD ZERO PERCENT CHANCE OF SURVIVAL,

THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO...

THERE'S NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT SHE'LL SURVIVE THIS.

...THAT IT WAS BASICALLY OVER.

THIS WAS THE SADDEST MOMENT

I'VE EVER HAD IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER

WAS TALKING TO HER FAMILY.

YOU HAVE SUCH A HAPPY MOMENT FOR THEIR CHILD,

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO TELL SOMEBODY

THAT THE CHILD IS GOING TO GROW UP WITHOUT A MOTHER.

WE KNEW AT THAT MOMENT THAT WE HAD TO GET A PRAYER CHAIN GOING.

EVERYONE WAS KIND OF CALLING, YOU KNOW,

EVERYBODY THAT THEY COULD THINK OF TO BEGIN TO PRAY.

AND WE HAD DROVES OF PEOPLE THAT CAME TO THE HOSPITAL

FROM, YOU KNOW, CHURCHES THAT WERE REPRESENTED

AMONGST OUR FAMILY THAT WE ATTEND TO

THAT CAME AND BEGAN TO PRAY THERE AT THE HOSPITAL.

Sam: WHILE THE FAMILY PRAYED, DR. HOSIER REJOINED THE ER TEAM.

THEY FOUND A FAINT HEARTBEAT,

AND PUT SHARON INTO A MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA.

DR. HOSIER HAD HIS FINAL CHECKLIST

TO GO OVER CONCERNING SHARON'S FUTURE.

Keehn: I TRIED TO SEE HOW RESPONSIVE SHE WAS.

I SHONE THE LIGHT IN HER EYES

AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ANY SORT OF PUPILLARY RESPONSE.

WHEN THE PUPILS ARE FIXED AND DILATED,

THAT'S GENERALLY A SIGN THAT

HIGHER BRAIN FUNCTION HAS CEASED.

IN LAYMAN'S TERMS,

THE PATIENT IS ESSENTIALLY BRAIN-DEAD.

SHE HAD A VENTILATOR BREATHING FOR HER,

AND SHE WAS KEPT ALIVE BY MACHINES.

SO AFTER HEARING THAT DEVASTATING NEWS

OF ZERO PERCENT PROBABILITY OF HER LIVING,

EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT.

MY ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF MY CHURCH CAME.

HE SAID, "WE'VE GOT TO GO PRAY NOW FOR SHARON."

J.D.: MYSELF, ALONG WITH MY ASSOCIATE PASTOR,

WENT INTO THE ROOM WHERE SHARON WAS AT.

AT THAT POINT, I LAID MY HAND UPON SHARON'S FOOT,

AND IT WAS THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT I'VE EVER SEEN THAT CAME IN.

AND I KNEW THEN EVEN THOUGH MY BODY WAS STANDING THERE,

WHERE SHE WAS AT, I WAS NO LONGER THERE.

Jesse: ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR KIDNEY STONES,

DEAN BRAXTON'S ROUTINE SURGERY TURNED FATAL

WHEN A BLOOD INFECTION SHUT DOWN ALL OF HIS ORGANS.

YOU'RE GONNA STAY WITH ME HERE, SIR.

DEAN DIED ON THE OPERATING TABLE.

FOR NEARLY 2 HOURS,

DEAN'S BRAIN RECEIVED NO OXYGEN OR BLOOD FLOW...

NURSE, I NEED THAT CRASH CART.

UNTIL THE DOCTORS WERE ABLE TO REGAIN HIS PULSE

AND PLACE HIM ON LIFE SUPPORT.

THE INFECTION THAT YOU HAD, IT SHUTS DOWN YOUR LUNGS,

AND IT SHUTS DOWN YOUR HEART.

CORRECT. AND YOU DIED.

YES.

SO TELL ME, WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING

THAT YOU EXPERIENCED AFTER YOU DIED?

THE FIRST THING I REMEMBER WAS LEAVING THE HOSPITAL ROOM.

Dean: I FELT LIKE I WAS SHOOTING UP LIKE A ROCKET,

BURSTING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

AND IT WAS A BLUE SKY.

I REMEMBER ENTERING INTO OUTER SPACE...

THEN HEADING TO DARKNESS.

AT THE OTHER END OF THIS DARKNESS

WAS, LIKE, A WINDOW OF LIGHT.

I COULD ALWAYS SEE THAT LIGHT, THAT WINDOW.

AND I WAS GONNA ENTER INTO THAT WINDOW.

IN THIS PITCH DARKNESS,

THERE WERE LIGHTS THAT WERE SHOOTING PAST ME.

SINCE MY SENSES WERE SO HEIGHTENED AT THIS TIME,

I KNEW THESE LIGHTS THAT WERE PASSING ME BY WERE PRAYERS.

AND THEY LOOKED LIKE SHOOTING STARS SHOOTING PAST ME.

SO THEY WERE MOVING FASTER THAN I WAS,

AND I WAS MOVING AT AN INCREDIBLE SPEED.

WOW. THAT'S AMAZING.

[ Laughing ] YEAH, IT WAS AMAZING TO ME, TOO.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU REALIZE LOOKING BACK?

OR DID YOU KNOW IN THAT MOMENT

THAT THOSE WERE PRAYERS SHOOTING PAST YOU?

I KNEW THAT IN THAT MOMENT.

I COULDN'T TELL YOU HOW I KNOW,

BUT I JUST KNEW THAT THEY WERE PRAYERS PASSING ME BY.

BUT WHAT REALLY GOT ME IS WHEN I ENTERED INTO THIS LIGHT.

WHEN I WENT THROUGH INTO THE LIGHT,

IT WAS BRIGHTER THAN ANYTHING I'VE EVER IMAGINED.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HAD JOY AND PEACE AND COMFORT.

THERE'S FLOWERS. THERE'S MEADOWS. THERE'S LANDSCAPE.

EVERYTHING IS RIGHT.

THERE'S NOTHING DECAY, SO THERE'S NO DEATH.

THE COLORS WERE MORE BRILLIANT THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE.

AND IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY MOMENT, THERE WAS A NEW COLOR.

BUT THERE WAS NO DARKNESS TO IT AT ALL.

I HAD SEEN THINGS THERE IN HEAVEN THAT I'D SEEN ON EARTH,

BUT NEVER LIKE I SAW THEM THERE.

I MOVED TOWARD THIS FOREST THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME.

AND IT HAD ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL TREES.

AND I COULD REMEMBER AS I MOVED FORWARD TOWARD IT,

IT SEEMED LIKE THE GROUND RAISED UP BEFORE ME

AND MADE A PATH.

AND THEN THE TREES MOVED OUT OF THE WAY.

WOW.

SEEMED LIKE ALL OF THE CREATION THERE

WAS SAYING, "HE'S GOING TO SEE THE KING.

HE'S GOING TO SEE THE KING. HE'S GOING TO SEE THE KING."

ONCE I GOT THROUGH THE FOREST, JESUS WAS STANDING UP.

AND HE WAS ADDRESSING BEFORE HIM A NUMBER OF HIS CREATIONS.

SOME OF THEM WERE ANGELS.

SOME OF THEM WERE PEOPLE THAT HAD GONE ON BEFORE ME.

HE WAS TALKING TO THEM FROM THOUGHT TO THOUGHT.

I CAME UP TO HIM,

AND I JUST BOWED BEFORE HIM, AND I HIT THE GROUND.

AND WHEN I HIT THE GROUND ALL I COULD SAY WAS...

THANK YOU. YOU DID THIS FOR ME.

THE NEXT WORDS THAT CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH

AFTER THAT WAS, "THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU,

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU."

AFTER MOMENTS THERE, HE SAID,

"NO, IT'S NOT YOUR TIME.

GO BACK."

I WAS OKAY WITH IT.

I JUST KIND OF WENT FLYING OVER THE TREES.

WENT BACK TO WHAT I CALL THE EDGE OF HEAVEN.

I KNEW THAT I HAD ENTERED INTO THIS AREA

THAT, ONCE I MOVED ONE MORE STEP,

THAT I WOULD BE OUT OF HEAVEN.

THAT DARKNESS, IT LOOKED LIKE A THICK OIL.

IN THAT DARKNESS AREA WAS ALL THESE DEMONS.

IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE TRAPPED THERE.

AND I KNEW THAT THEY WERE DETERIORATING.

THEY WERE FALLING APART.

SO THEY WERE GETTING UGLIER EVERY MOMENT.

SO, DEAN, STANDING AT WHAT YOU CALL THE EDGE OF HEAVEN,

LOOKING AT THIS DARKNESS FILLED WITH DEMONS AND CREATURES,

YOU MUST HAVE BEEN FRIGHTENED

OR AT LEAST KNEW THAT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GO THERE.

WELL, YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, JESSE,

YES, ANYBODY WOULD PROBABLY BE FRIGHTENED.

YOU KNOW, WHAT I MEAN?

LOOKING AT WHAT I WAS SEEING AND SAYING,

"I DON'T WANT TO END UP THERE AT ALL."

AND THEN I WAS COMING BACK TO THIS PLANET.

I REENTERED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

I REENTERED INTO THAT BUILDING,

AND I SAW THE CHAOS.

Man: NURSE, I NEED THAT CRASH CART.

COME ON, MR. BRAXTON. I NEED YOU TO FIGHT FOR US.

WE'RE NOT GONNA LOSE YOU TODAY.

I SAW THEM RUNNING AROUND.

I SAW THEM TRYING TO DO ALL THIS STUFF.

AND THEN I JUST REMEMBERED SETTLING BACK DOWN INTO MY BODY.

BLOOD PRESSURE'S COMING UP. HEART RATE?

STEADY AT 82.

[ MONITOR BEEPING STEADILY ]

YOU CAME BACK TO LIFE AT THAT MOMENT?

-YOU RECONNECTED WITH YOUR BODY? -I RECONNECTED WITH MY BODY.

-THAT'S WHEN YOU CAME BACK TO LIFE? -YES, YES, YES.

WOW. DEAN, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THERE WAS ANYBODY

THAT STICKS OUT IN YOUR MIND THAT PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE,

OR INTERVENED

THAT BROUGHT YOU BACK FROM THE DEAD?

YES, JESSE. THAT WOULD BE MY WIFE, MARILYN.

SHE DID A LOT OF THINGS TO MAKE SURE

THAT I WOULD BE ALIVE ON THIS PLANET.

Jesse: IF DEAN'S WIFE DID A LOT TO BRING HIM BACK,

I NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT.

WERE THOSE HER PRAYERS FLYING PAST HIM?

MARILYN.

HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MEETING ME OUT HERE.

I JUST CAME FROM YOUR HUSBAND, DEAN.

-RIGHT. -AND HE WAS TELLING ME

THAT YOU PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN HIS BEING RESURRECTED.

I JUST WAS NOT GOING TO LET GO.

MARILYN JOINED HER HUSBAND AS HE RECOVERED

FROM A ROUTINE KIDNEY STONE PROCEDURE.

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY. THE DOCTOR'S ON HIS WAY.

Marilyn: WHEN I SAW DEAN IN RECOVERY,

I NOTICED THAT HIS LIPS LOOKED ALMOST,

LIKE, KIND OF ASH COLOR.

AND THAT'S WHEN I KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

[ GASPING ]

I COULD TELL THAT HE WAS

HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING AT THE TIME.

AND THAT'S WHEN THE DOCTOR SAID,

"WE NEED TO INTUBATE YOUR HUSBAND RIGHT NOW

OR ELSE HE COULD DIE."

STARTING TO FLAT LINE, CODE BLUE.

DEAN'S IN THE ICU RIGHT NOW.

I NEED SOME PRAYER WARRIORS THAT CAN GET A PRAYER THROUGH.

Sam: SHARON ABBOTT'S FATAL COMPLICATION AFTER CHILDBIRTH

LEFT DOCTORS TRYING TO REVIVE HER FOR OVER 35 MINUTES.

SHE WAS STABILIZED AND PUT INTO A MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA,

BUT THE DOCTORS OBSERVED NO SIGNS OF HIGHER BRAIN FUNCTION.

THERE'S NOTHING MORE THAT WE CAN DO.

AS A BAPTIST MINISTER,

SHARON'S BROTHER-IN-LAW, J.D.,

FELT COMPELLED TO LEAD A PRAYER VIGIL.

YOU SAID YOU WERE STANDING OVER SHARON'S BODY.

AND YOU SAID YOU HAD AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

J.D.: I WENT INTO THE ROOM

WITH MY ASSOCIATE PASTOR TO SEE SHARON.

AT THAT POINT, I LAID MY HAND UPON SHARON'S FOOT,

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED,

I WAS NO LONGER IN THE ROOM.

WHEN I OPENED MY EYES, IT WAS LIKE --

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THE COLORS.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE WHAT I SAW.

IT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE I'D EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.

THE LOVE THAT'S THERE CANNOT BE EXPRESSED.

IT CANNOT.

IT MELTS THROUGH YOU

LIKE THERE IS NOTHING ON THIS EARTH.

PEOPLE CAME TO ME

EVEN THOUGH I HAD NEVER LAID EYES ON ANY OF THEM.

BUT I KNEW EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.

AND IT WAS A PLACE THAT I KNEW THAT --

I COULD SPEND FOREVER HERE.

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT CAME TO ME WHY I WAS THERE.

AND I BEGAN TO CRY OUT FOR SHARON'S BEHALF,

BEGGING HIM, "LORD..."

PLEASE DON'T TAKE HER.

"SHE'S GOT TO STAY.

THERE'S THREE BABIES INVOLVED IN THIS."

THE GREAT LIGHT CAME OVER ME.

THE LIGHT WAS SO BRIGHT.

IT WAS SO GLORIOUS, I COULDN'T LOOK UPON IT.

I IMMEDIATELY FELL ON MY FACE,

AND I LOST THE ABILITY TO SPEAK.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE LORD SPOKE TO ME,

AND HE SAID, "SON, LOOK UP."

SHARON WAS KNEELING, COMPLETELY DRESSED IN WHITE.

THAT'S WHEN I GAINED THE ABILITY TO SPEAK.

PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU.

SEND HER BACK.

SHARON LOOKED UP AT ME,

TURNED HER HEAD TO THE LEFT AT ME,

AND SHOOK HER HEAD YES.

AND I KNEW INSTANTLY, I KNEW IT, THAT IT WAS ALL RIGHT.

SO WHEN YOU CAME BACK FROM HEAVEN INTO THE ROOM THERE...

I IMMEDIATELY WOKE BACK UP.

I HAD TO TAKE MY LEFT HAND AND HOLD ON TO THE BED

'CAUSE I COULD NOT STAND.

AND I HAD TO HOLD MYSELF THERE AS TIGHT AS I COULD

TO BE ABLE TO GATHER MYSELF

SO I COULD THEN LEAVE HURRIEDLY AND GET TO THE PRAYER ROOM.

COULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THE ATMOSPHERE WAS LIKE WHEN YOU CAME BACK?

GLOOM AND DOOM WHEN I WALKED IN THE DOOR, STILL.

AND EVERYBODY STILL IN A PLACE OF SHOCK.

AND I TOLD MY MOTHER-IN-LAW SHARON'S MOM,

I SAID, "LOOK, IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW. I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.

BUT I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY."

Sam: WHILE J.D. CONTINUED TO PRAY WITH SHARON'S FAMILY,

KEEHN HOSIER, SHARON'S DOCTOR,

RETURNED TO HER BEDSIDE IN THE ICU

WHERE SHE HAD BEEN LEFT ON LIFE SUPPORT

FOR THE LAST THREE DAYS.

I DIDN'T THINK SHE WAS GONNA BE ALIVE

WHEN I GOT TO THE HOSPITAL THE NEXT DAY.

I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN I GOT THERE

AND SAW THAT SHE WAS STILL HANGING ON.

I THOUGHT SHE'D BE

VERY SIGNIFICANTLY BRAIN DAMAGED AT THAT POINT

BECAUSE SHE WAS SO CRITICALLY ILL,

AND SHE HAD SHOWN NO SIGNS OF HIGHER BRAIN FUNCTION

IN THE FIRST COUPLE DAYS THAT SHE WAS THERE.

Sam: AFTER ANOTHER DAY OF OBSERVATION,

SHARON WAS TAKEN OFF LIFE SUPPORT

DUE TO HER RAPID RECOVERY.

SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE SHE WAS.

SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHO ANY OF US WERE.

SHE WAS DISORIENTED, BUT SHE WAS ALIVE.

AND THE MACHINES WERE NOT KEEPING HER ALIVE AT THAT POINT.

Sam: SHARON REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS,

AND HER FAMILY WAS INFORMED

OF THE UNEXPLAINABLE CHANGE IN HER STATE.

I WALKED INTO THE ROOM, AND SHE'S SETTING UP,

AND WAYNE'S FEEDING HER.

AND SHE JUST KIND OF LOOKED UP AT ME,

AND I LOOKED AT HER.

AND THERE AGAIN I JUST KIND OF BROKE AND CRIED.

I STILL DIDN'T HAVE THE FULL UNDERSTANDING

OF WHAT I HAD SEEN AND WHAT I HAD BEEN THROUGH.

AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

Keehn: I DON'T KNOW WHAT KEPT SHARON ALIVE.

IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT I DID.

AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS ANYTHING

ANY OF THE OTHER DOCTORS DID.

WE SIMPLY WERE BYSTANDERS IN THE PROCESS.

THERE'S NO MEDICAL REASON FOR HER TO BE ALIVE.

THIS IS A MIRACLE.

OUT OF THE 18 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS,

SHE IS THE ONE THAT I CAN POINT TO AND SAY,

"THIS WAS A MIRACLE."

I HAVE NO FACTS TO BACK THAT UP.

I HAVE NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS TO SAY THE MIRACLE TOOK PLACE.

BUT I HAVE A SCIENTIFIC BASIS TO SAY

THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE DID SPECTACULAR

THAT ALLOWED HER TO COME THROUGH THIS

THE WAY THAT SHE DID.

Sam: SHARON'S RECOVERY IS A MEDICAL PHENOMENON.

BUT WAS HER RESURRECTION AND J.D.'S VISION

ALL PART OF A BIGGER PLAN?

SO, SHARON, WHAT LESSON DID YOU LEARN

FROM THIS WHOLE, ENTIRE EXPERIENCE?

GOD IS FAITHFUL.

HE HAS A PLAN.

HE DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT I UNDERSTAND IT

NOR THAT I EVEN LIKE IT, JUST THAT I TRUST HIM.

WHEN YOU HEARD YOUR SISTER-IN-LAW TALK

ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE IN HEAVEN AND YOU SEEING THE SIMILARITIES,

WHAT DID IT DO TO YOUR FAITH?

IT STRENGTHENED MY FAITH AND MY FAMILY'S FAITH

TO LET US KNOW THAT HEAVEN

IS A PLACE THAT IS AS REAL AS ANY PLACE ON THIS EARTH.

SO BOTH OF YOU DO BELIEVE

THAT SHARON WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD?

YES, BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT.

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER.

ABSOLUTELY. I BELIEVE IT.

Marilyn: I KEPT NEGATIVE PEOPLE FROM BEING AROUND DEAN

WHILE WE WERE AT THE HOSPITAL.

THIS WAS A TIME OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE.

YES, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M HERE TO SEE MY HUSBAND, DEAN BRAXTON.

Jesse: MARILYN BRAXTON HAS JUST BEEN INFORMED

THAT HER HUSBAND HAS DIED DURING A ROUTINE SURGERY.

WHILE DEAN WAS EXPERIENCING THE AFTERLIFE,

MARILYN WOULD BEGIN A FIGHT TO BRING HIM BACK.

I'M RIGHT HERE IN THE WAITING ROOM.

PLEASE COME NOW. THANK YOU.

WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN YOU FOUND OUT

THAT YOUR HUSBAND WAS CLINICALLY DEAD?

WELL, RIGHT THEN AND THERE,

I BEGAN TO CALL UP MY SON, MY DAUGHTER,

FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

AND STARTED TO JUST ASK EVERYONE,

"PRAY FOR DEAN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING CPR ON HIM.

SO PRAY."

DEAN IS IN THE ICU RIGHT NOW,

AND THEY'RE WORKING ON HIM.

I NEED YOU TO COME TO THE WAITING ROOM

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, PLEASE.

I NEED SOME PRAYER PARTNERS

AND PRAYER WARRIORS THAT CAN GET A PRAYER THROUGH.

FRIENDS BEGAN TO SHOW UP,

AND WE ALL WERE IN THE WAITING AREA JUST PRAYING.

I WAS NOT FEARFUL BECAUSE I HAD, ON THE INSIDE OF ME, FIGHT.

I FELT I HAD, LIKE, THIS WARRING SPIRIT ON THE INSIDE OF ME

BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL THAT IT WAS DEAN'S TIME TO GO.

I FELT THAT THIS WAS A TIME OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE.

IN WARFARE, YOU HAVE TO RALLY THE TROOPS.

YOU HAVE TO GET PEOPLE PRAYING AND STANDING IN THE GAP.

AND, GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD USE THE DOCTORS RIGHT NOW.

EVERYBODY JUST KIND OF SEEMED TO HAVE LIKE

A QUIET SPIRIT ON THE INSIDE.

NO ONE WAS FULL OF ANXIETY OR UNREST AT ALL.

NOT ONE OF US PRAYED A NEGATIVE PRAYER,

OR HAD ANY NEGATIVE WORDS.

POSITIVE IS BETTER THAN BEING NEGATIVE.

OH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

I KEPT NEGATIVE PEOPLE FROM BEING AROUND DEAN

WHILE WE WERE AT THE HOSPITAL.

I FELT IF THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE,

I DIDN'T WANT THEM EVEN GOING INTO THE ROOM.

THE DOCTOR CAME IN TO TELL US THE NEWS

THAT HE WOULDN'T KNOW ANY MORE UNTIL THE MORNING.

BUT THIS IS WHAT HIS WORDS WERE --

"ALL I CAN SAY TO YOU ALL IS TO JUST KEEP PRAYING."

THOSE WERE THE DOCTOR'S WORDS. "JUST KEEP PRAYING."

WOW. "JUST KEEP UP THE PRAYERS."

-OKAY. -YOU'LL NEED THEM.

-ALL RIGHT. -[ LAUGHS ]

-SO ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE PRAYING. -SURE.

SO WHAT DID YOU DO NEXT?

WE PRAYED TOGETHER. WE JOINED HANDS IN UNITY.

AND THEN I SANG A SONG, JUST A SONG THAT...

BASICALLY, THE WORDS IN THE SONG

WERE GIVING GOD GLORY AND THANKSGIVING.

NOT FEARFUL AT ALL.

* AMAZING *

IT JUST CAME UP ON THE INSIDE OF ME.

JUST ROSE UP ON THE INSIDE OF ME TO SING THIS SONG.

AND THE REASON I JUST FELT IN MY SPIRIT TO DO THAT

WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK THAT I HAD IN ME TO BLAME GOD

BECAUSE I KNEW THAT WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO DEAN

WAS NOT GOD'S FAULT,

BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN HEALING AND HEALTH.

I BELIEVE THAT SICKNESS DOESN'T COME FROM GOD.

THERE'S NOT ANY IN HEAVEN.

SO HOW COULD HE GIVE IT TO YOU?

I WAS NOT GIVING UP,

AND I KNEW THAT THIS WAS NOT A BATTLE FOR ME

TO GO BEATING UP ON THE DOCTORS AND THE NURSES.

BUT IT WAS A BATTLE THAT I HAD TO GO TO IN PRAYER

AND TO TELL -- AND TO SPEAK LIFE INTO DEAN'S BODY.

THE DOCTOR CAME IN A LITTLE BIT LATER

TO TELL US THE NEWS...

WE'VE GOT YOUR HUSBAND BACK.

-THANK GOD. -HIS HEART'S BEATING AGAIN.

HIS VITAL SIGNS ARE LOOKING GOOD.

AND IT WAS JUST GREAT NEWS.

WERE YOU EVER ABLE TO DETERMINE AT WHAT POINT

THAT DEAN'S HEARTBEAT ACTUALLY CAME BACK?

WAS IT DURING THE SONG? WAS IT DURING SOME PRAYERS?

WERE YOU EVER ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT?

YOU KNOW, I JUST FELT, AFTER I SANG THAT SONG,

I JUST FELT A RELEASE.

WOW.

AND I JUST FELT JUST A PEACE COME OVER ME.

WOW, OKAY.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY GETTING THE HEART RATE BACK,

YOU PROBABLY FELT LIKE YOU'D TURNED A CORNER AT THAT POINT.

WELL, I WAS SUPER EXCITED. YOU KNOW?

BUT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS STILL, YOU KNOW,

HAVING TO BE ON THE OXYGEN.

WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.

OKAY.

Marilyn: DESPITE HIS RESUSCITATION,

THE DOCTOR SAID THINGS WERE KIND OF TOUCH AND GO.

IT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT DEAN COULD HAVE BRAIN DAMAGE,

THAT HE MIGHT NOT MAKE IT, PERIOD,

OR THAT HE COULD BE A VEGETABLE IF HE DID MAKE IT.

AND HE WAS NOW ON LIFE SUPPORT.

WITH ALL THAT THE DOCTORS HAD SAID,

I DECIDED TO GO BACK HOME

AND TO PRAY FOR DEAN LONG, HARD, AND LOUD.

YOU HAVE TO SURRENDER TO THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD.

I WANTED TO SEE THE END RESULTS.

AND I WASN'T GONNA GIVE UP UNTIL I SAW THE END RESULTS.

THANK YOU, GOD. THANK YOU.

I BELIEVE, ABOUT THE THIRD DAY,

HE STARTED TO HAVE A TURNAROUND IN HIS HEALTH.

AND HIS NEW KIDNEY SPECIALIST TOLD ME THAT HE HAD IMPROVED

200 TO 300 PERCENT IN SUCH A SHORT TIME.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN HIS KIDNEYS BEGAN TO FUNCTION.

I MEAN, HE WAS DEAD, AND NOW HE'S NOT.

TO HEAR HIS VOICE, HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?

IT WAS REAL EXCITING TO HEAR HIS VOICE.

YOU KNOW, AND I TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

AND AS THE STORY UNFOLDED

AND I TOLD HIM ABOUT ALL THE LOVE AND THE SUPPORT

AND THE PRAYERS THAT HE HAD,

TEARS JUST STREAMED DOWN HIS FACE.

HE WAS SO, SO GRATEFUL AND SO EXCITED.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR SONG AND YOUR PRAYERS

PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN DEAN COMING BACK TO LIFE?

YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT MY SONG AND MY PRAYERS,

AND ESPECIALLY THE PRAYERS OF OTHERS,

BROUGHT DEAN BACK TO LIFE.

WHAT MIGHT YOU SAY FOR SOMEBODY WHO COMES

FROM A DIFFERENT BELIEF SYSTEM?

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU FEEL LIKE

EVERYBODY COULD BENEFIT FROM NO MATTER WHAT THEY BELIEVE

FROM YOUR STORY?

DON'T GIVE UP.

JUST DON'T EVER GIVE UP.

AND KEEP JUST LOVING THEM.

STAY POSITIVE.

STAY AFFIRMATIVE. YEAH.

AND BE STEADY.

WE'RE STARTING TO GET EVIDENCE THAT PRAYER IS SPIRITUAL ENERGY.

AND WE'VE GOT ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY SEEING

THIS SPIRITUAL ENERGY IN THIS AFTERLIFE EXPERIENCE.

Jesse: FOR MORE "PROJECT AFTERLIFE," GO TO...

Jesse: IN THE AFTERLIFE, DEAN BRAXTON SAW ACTUAL PRAYERS PASS BY HIM.

WERE THESE THE PRAYERS OF HIS WIFE?

DID DEAN'S VISION AND HIS WIFE'S PRAYERS BRING HIM BACK?

DEAN AND HIS WIFE, MARILYN, HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR OVER 25 YEARS.

AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT IMPACT THIS BRUSH WITH DEATH

HAS HAD ON THEIR MARRIAGE.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAS CHANGED

FROM BEFORE THEN TO AFTER THEN?

IF YOU COULD POINT TO SOMETHING IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP,

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAS CHANGED?

I THINK WHAT REALLY GREW

WAS JUST MY WHOLE OUTLOOK ON FAMILY.

AND THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS I CAN HAVE

WITH MARILYN AND MY CHILDREN AND ALL MY EXTENDED FAMILY

ARE ETERNAL RELATIONSHIPS.

AND THEY DON'T END JUST ON THIS PLANET,

BUT THEY'RE ETERNAL,

AND THAT WE NEED TO TREAT EACH OTHER AS ETERNAL BEINGS

AND NOT TEMPORAL BEINGS.

MARILYN, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAS CHANGED --

THE BIGGEST THING THAT HAS CHANGED INSIDE OF DEAN?

I THINK THAT HE'S CHANGED

IN THE SENSE THAT HE'S SO POSITIVE.

HE SEES JUST GOOD IN EVERYBODY.

AND I JUST LOVE THAT ABOUT HIM.

THE BOTH OF YOU, WOULD YOU SAY

THAT NO MATTER WHAT SOMEBODY BELIEVES,

NO MATTER WHAT BACKGROUND THEY HAVE,

NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE, THAT POSITIVITY IS EFFECTIVE?

WHEN YOU START TALKING A LOT OF NEGATIVE,

YOU KIND OF, LIKE, START LIVING THAT NEGATIVE.

AND WE TALK VERY POSITIVE TO EACH OTHER,

TO OTHER PEOPLE WE COME IN CONTACT WITH.

WE WANT OUR WORDS TO BE OF LIFE, NOT DEATH.

**

Jesse: DEAN AND MARILYN DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY

OF DEAN SEEING HER PRAYERS SHOOT PAST HIM IN THE AFTERLIFE.

DID DEAN ACTUALLY WITNESS

HIS WIFE'S EFFORTS TO BRING HIM BACK?

WERE THOSE EFFORTS THE REASON IT WASN'T HIS TIME YET?

SO, JESSE, WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM DEAN BRAXTON?

YEAH, SO I THINK THERE'S TWO THINGS RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

ALL RIGHT, HIS WIFE, MARILYN, SHE STARTED A PRAYER CHAIN.

BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE DOCTORS

WHO SHOWED PERSEVERANCE AND DIDN'T GIVE UP.

THEY WORKED ON DEAN FOR OVER 90 MINUTES.

THEY DID CPR FOR 90 MINUTES.

SO WE HAVE THIS CONTINUED THREAD OF PERSEVERANCE,

PEOPLE TAKING GREAT COURAGE AND NOT WANTING TO GIVE UP.

AND THEN THE PRAYER CHAIN.

IN ADDITION TO THOSE TWO KEYS,

WE ALSO HAVE THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW KEY.

AND THAT IS THE POWER OF POSITIVITY.

WE SAW MARILYN, THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY

TO SPEAK NEGATIVE THINGS OVER DEAN.

SHE WANTED POSITIVE THINGS. SHE WANTED TO SPEAK LIFE.

SHE WANTED TO SPEAK THE GOOD THINGS.

IN THESE TIMES WHEN YOU'RE FACED WITH THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE,

IT CAN BE REALLY HARD TO STAY POSITIVE.

BUT WE STILL HAVE THAT CHOICE.

AND WE CAN FLIP THAT SWITCH.

WE CAN CHOOSE TO REMAIN POSITIVE.

JESSE, WHAT WAS IT THAT WAS SO SIGNIFICANT

ABOUT DEAN SEEING THESE PRAYERS SHOOTING PAST HIM?

I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE.

IT GOES BACK TO THE POWER OF PRAYER, I THINK.

AND I THINK IT EVEN RELATES AND TIES BACK

TO THE PRAYER CHAIN SCENARIO

BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE PRAYING,

BUT SO OFTEN WE DON'T GET A PICTURE

OF WHAT THE POWER OF PRAYER LOOKS LIKE.

WELL, DEAN DID.

DEAN SAW THOSE PRAYERS SHOOTING PAST HIM.

AND THERE WASN'T JUST ONE. THERE WERE MULTIPLE PRAYERS.

HE'S ACTUALLY SEEING SPIRITUAL ENERGY.

WE'RE STARTING TO GET EVIDENCE THAT PRAYER IS SPIRITUAL ENERGY.

AND WE'VE GOT ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE

ACTUALLY SEEING THIS SPIRITUAL ENERGY IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM.

ALL RIGHT, SAM, SO TELL ME ABOUT SHARON ABBOTT.

YOU KNOW, WHAT I FOUND AMAZING,

THAT AFTER SHARON HAD DIED AFTER CHILDBIRTH,

YOU KNOW, SHE DIED, GO OVER INTO HEAVEN,

AND HAD THIS OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE

OF HOW PEACEFUL HEAVEN WAS.

BUT I REALLY BELIEVE HER BROTHER-IN-LAW

PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN IT.

HE WENT IN THERE AND PRAYED FOR HER.

AND HE HAD, ACTUALLY, A TRANCE,

AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE

TO WHERE HE ACTUALLY SAW SHARON IN HEAVEN.

J.D. DID SEE HER IN THIS GARDEN-LIKE SETTING

THAT ALSO KIND OF LINES UP

WITH WHAT SHARON SAW IN THAT SAME SETTING.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIG TAKEAWAY FOR YOU IN THIS CASE?

HER BROTHER-IN-LAW'S PERSISTENT FAITH

AND SHARON'S WANTING TO COME BACK

WAS BOTH, AS A COMBINATION, USED

TO RESURRECT HER BACK FROM THE DEAD.

WE HAVE, YET AGAIN

THE OCCURRENCE OF MANY PEOPLE PRAYING.

YOU KNOW, THERE WERE MULTIPLE PEOPLE PRAYING FOR HER.

YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE THAT CLEARED THE WAY

FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE CHOICE.

BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE SHE HAD THE CHOICE

OF WHETHER TO COME BACK OR WHETHER TO STAY UP THERE.

JUST LIKE THE CASES THAT HAVE COME BEFORE,

YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE

IS SOMETHING THAT IS REMAINING AND BEING A COMMON THREAD

THROUGH EACH ONE OF THESE CASES.

YEAH, AS YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THESE CASES

THAT WE'VE BEEN INVESTIGATING,

THERE'S NOT ONE THAT DIDN'T HAVE

THE INGREDIENT OF PRAYER.

MM-HMM. SO WE DO KNOW PRAYER...

YEAH. ...IS AN ACTIVE PART

THAT HAS TO BE INITIATED IN ORDER FOR THE OUTCOME

THAT WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE COMING BACK FROM THE AFTERLIFE.

SHARON AND DEAN BOTH WERE WITH JESUS.

THEY BOTH SAW HIM AS GLOWING,

YOU KNOW, A PEACEFULNESS IN HIS PRESENCE.

BOTH OF THEM EXPERIENCED HEAVEN AS A NATURAL EARTH STATE.

IT WAS SIMILAR.

IN THIS CASE,

THEY DID EXPERIENCE SOMETHING THAT WAS EARTHLIKE.

TWO FASCINATING CASES.

WE HAVE THE EMERGENCE OF KEYS THAT BROUGHT THEM BACK TO LIFE.

WE HAVE SUPERNATURAL RESURRECTION.

I CAN'T WAIT TO DIG INTO MORE.