Brianna Lafferty experienced something that challenges everything we think we know about death. The 33-year-old woman was declared clinically dead for eight minutes, but what felt like months to her changed her life forever. When doctors brought her back, she delivered a stunning message: “Death is an illusion because our soul never dies.” Her near-death experience (NDE) raises questions about consciousness, the afterlife, and what truthfully happens when we die. While Brianna believes she visited another realm entirely, scientists offer different explanations for these extraordinary experiences. Her journey shows us how these experiences can transform people’s lives completely, even as researchers work to understand what causes them.
A Rare Disease Pushed Her to the Brink
Brianna had been battling myoclonus dystonia, a rare neurological disorder that causes sudden, uncontrollable muscle jerks and contractions. She had tried every available medication, but nothing could stop her condition from worsening. The disease was slowly destroying her quality of life. The final moment came after four days of severe insomnia. Brianna could barely sleep for more than a minute at a time across those four days. Her exhausted body had reached its breaking point. “My body had already given up,” she explained. She sensed her time was running out, and she was right. Her body was about to shut down completely.
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Eight Minutes Between Life and Death
When Brianna’s body finally gave out, something incredible happened. “I was suddenly separated from my physical body,” she recalled. Her consciousness seemed to detach completely. “I didn’t see or remember my human self. I was completely still, yet I felt fully alive, aware and more myself than ever before.” Her consciousness floated above her physical form before she passed into complete darkness. In this void, she heard a voice asking if she was ready to continue. When she agreed, her journey began. For eight clinical minutes, doctors worked frantically to revive her while her consciousness traveled somewhere else entirely.
What Her Near-Death Experience Felt Like
In this otherworldly realm, Brianna discovered that normal rules didn’t apply. “Everything happens at once there, as if time doesn’t exist, yet there was perfect order,” she explained. The eight minutes she was clinically dead felt like months of experience in this strange dimension. She encountered beings that felt familiar but might not have been human. Most remarkably, she learned that “our universe is made up of a bunch of numbers” and experienced what she described as “the beginning of everything.” This wasn’t a dream or hallucination to her. It felt more real than everyday life.
The Truth About Death She Claims to Have Learned
Brianna returned with a revolutionary understanding of death and consciousness. “Death is an illusion because our soul never dies,” she insists. “Our consciousness remains alive. And our very being only transforms.” In the afterlife, she discovered that thoughts have the power to create reality, though it takes time to manifest. “My thoughts instantly manifested into the afterlife. I noticed that our thoughts create a reality there,” she said. This experience completely shifted her perspective on life’s challenges. Fear no longer controlled her. The things she once chased seemed unimportant. She now lives with deep gratitude instead of anger.
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The Brutal Return to Physical Life
Coming back to her body was more difficult than dying had been. Brianna spent four days in the hospital trying to process what had happened to her. The eight minutes without oxygen had caused serious damage. She had to relearn basic functions like walking and talking. The experience severely damaged her pituitary gland, which controls vital bodily functions. She underwent experimental brain surgery to repair the damage, which has been successful so far. While she no longer fears death, she admits to being scared of having another near-death experience because the recovery process is so challenging.
What Science Says Happened
Scientists have studied thousands of people who report NDEs. About one in 10 heart attack patients in hospitals have these experiences. They all share similar features: no more pain, seeing bright lights, and feeling like they’re floating above their body. Researchers think they know what causes these experiences. When the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen, different parts shut down one by one. The brain cells that are still working create stories based on a person’s memories and what they expect to happen. Some scientists think the body might release chemicals like DMT that cause hallucinations when someone is dying, but this hasn’t been proven.
Why Near-Death Experiences Feel ‘Realer Than Real’
Despite scientific explanations, NDEs remain mysterious. A 2017 University of Virginia study found that people recalled their NDEs “with greater vividness and detail than either real or imagined situations.” The experiences were remembered as being “realer than real.” Researchers estimate that 10 to 20 percent of people declared dead have NDEs. These encounters create lasting changes. People report increased purpose, greater appreciation for life, reduced fear of death, and becoming more open and loving. Whether these experiences reveal a real afterlife or demonstrate the brain’s remarkable capabilities, they impact those who have them.
A New Mission Born from Her Near-Death Experience
Today, Brianna uses her NDE to help others facing chronic illness, death, and spiritual awakenings. She believes she survived because she has a purpose on Earth. “I’m able to help others going through chronic illness, dying and spiritual awakenings using my own experience,” she says. Her story offers comfort to those facing death and reminds us that consciousness holds mysteries science is still workingto understand. Whether her experience reveals the truth about the afterlife or showcases the incredible power of human consciousness, Brianna’s journey continues to inspire others to live with less fear and more gratitude.
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