Dr. Mary Neal, a highly respected spinal surgeon and devoted mother of four, was a woman grounded in science, logic, and discipline. But everything changed in 1999 on a kayaking trip in Chile — a moment that would shatter her understanding of life and death forever.
Her kayak capsized and became trapped beneath a powerful waterfall. For nearly 30 harrowing minutes, Mary was pinned underwater. Her heart stopped beating. Yet, what happened next defied all reason.
Instead of terror, Mary felt an overwhelming peace. As her lifeless body was pulled from the river by her friends, she found herself floating above, held in a divine embrace. She was greeted by radiant, loving beings in a breathtaking forest. There, she experienced a profound “life review” filled with compassion and clarity. Just as she approached a glowing dome teeming with souls, they gently stopped her. “It’s not your time,” they said — but then came a chilling warning: her oldest son, Willie, would not live to see adulthood.
Mary survived, but the weight of that vision stayed with her. Years later, on the very day she finished writing her memoir To Heaven and Back, the unimaginable happened: a call informing her that Willie had died in a tragic accident, just after turning 18.
Despite the crushing grief, Mary found an unexpected peace. She had witnessed this moment before — and in that vision, Willie was not lost; he was welcomed into a realm of love and light.
Mary’s extraordinary experience has inspired worldwide conversations about near-death encounters. Renowned researchers like Dr. Bruce Greyson confirm that such events are not hallucinations but powerful glimpses into consciousness beyond the physical.
What began as a devastating accident transformed into a timeless message of love, faith, and eternity — one Mary now courageously shares with the world.