We are pleased to announce our speaker for our November 27th IANDS meeting will be Ted Whiting. In 1981 Ted Whiting had exploratory surgery on his back due to complication from a motorcycle accident he was in. The operation was at St. Mark’s Hospital. It was scheduled for two hours, but due to the complexity, it took five hours and Ted died on the operating table.

Ted didn’t go through tunnel. He saw his father who he had only seen a few times in his life. His father had drowned many years earlier. The setting where Ted saw his father was beautiful. It was perfect. Ted will describe it in detail when he speaks. Ted spoke with his father who told him he shouldn’t be there. They took a walk and had a conversation about many things. Ted’s father told Ted he had to go back He told Ted he was going to have two sons. He said, “They are great boys, I’ve met them.” Ted was not yet married and didn’t even have a girl friend at the time, so this was somewhat of a surprise.

Ted’s father pushed him back towards this life and Ted ended up in his body, in great pain. Ted spent five days in ICU, but due to his low blood pressure, could have no medication for the severe pain. When Ted told the doctor and nurses, he knew I had died, they looked sheepishly at him as if they knew it too

Eight years later, in 1989 Ted had an industrial accident. He was a diesel mechanic at a place called Overnight Transportation, which was later bought out by UPS. Ted was on top of a truck fixing an air-horn. He slipped and fell off the tall truck, landing on the cement floor. He was knocked out for a while. The accident seriously damaged Ted’s sinuses, which would not drain properly and Ted developed a serious sinus infection.

While Ted was attending Salt Lake Community College the pain from his sinus infection increased to the point he could hardly stand it. He called his brother who took Ted to the emergency center at St. Mark’s Hospital. Ted was wheeled in on a stretcher. The pain was so severe Ted finally gave up and died. Again, he didn’t see a tunnel or a light. On the other side, Ted saw many people who knew him. His aunt told him, “You’re not supposed to be here. You have to go back. You have things to do you haven’t done yet.”

Ted remembers vividly the setting, weather and details of the surroundings where he talked to his aunt. Ted told her the pain was unbearable and he didn’t want to go back. Like with his father, Ted’s aunt pushed him back and Ted woke up in his body.

Ted learned from his experiences there is nothing to fear from dying. There are people who are waiting for us. It seems like a short time for those on the other side. Here is seems like a long time. Ted learned other insights he will share with us.

The November 27th IANDS meeting will begin at 7PM in the Salt Lake County Commission hearing Room in the north building of the County Government Center located at 2001 South State, SLC. We meet the fourth Friday of each month except December. Bring a friend as meetings are free of charge.