Julia Evans, a nurse from Canada, faced a terrifying brush with death when her heart stopped beating due to a severe allergic reaction. She had known about her allergy to lilies but had no idea how dangerous it could be until she encountered a bouquet at work in 2018. Breathing in the pollen triggered anaphylactic shock, causing her to turn blue and collapse.
Her coworkers quickly brought her to the staff room where a doctor gave her an epinephrine shot. However, Julia recalls that they both realized immediately it wasn’t the right medication. She described feeling intense forces rushing through her body as she struggled to breathe but soon lost consciousness when her heart “exploded”—a moment made worse by multiple medications causing her heart to stop.
During this time, Julia experienced something beyond words. She heard the comforting voice of her late mother telling her not to be afraid. Julia described a feeling filled with immense love and peace, as if reunited with every person who had passed before her. This light was warm and welcoming, giving her a profound sense of self-love she calls the greatest gift.
Suddenly, Julia was pulled back into her physical body. She recalled feeling completely naked, like she had been reborn, before noticing hospital equipment attached to her. When the staff announced “she’s back,” she was surrounded by the reality of recovery but forever changed by the peace she encountered near death.
