Read more
Zusatztext New York Times bestseller CBA bestseller ECPA bestseller LA Times bestseller Publisher Weekly bestseller USA Today bestseller Wall Street Journal bestseller Informationen zum Autor Mary C. Neal, M.D., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, former director of spine surgery at the University of Southern California, and a founding partner of the Orthopedic Associates of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She received her medical degree from the School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she also trained in general surgery before completing an orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Southern California. She has served as an elder in the Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole, is a member of the board of directors for several nonprofit organizations, and created the Willie Neal Environmental Awareness Fund (wnealenvirofund.org). Klappentext NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A kayak accident during a South American adventure takes one woman to heaven-where she experienced God's peace! joy! and angels-and back to life again. In 1999 in the Los Rios region of southern Chile! orthopedic surgeon! devoted wife! and loving mother Dr. Mary Neal drowned in a kayak accident. While cascading down a waterfall! her kayak became pinned at the bottom and she was immediately and completely submerged. Despite the rescue efforts of her companions! Mary was underwater for too long! and as a result! died. To Heaven and Back is Mary's remarkable story of her life's spiritual journey and what happened as she moved from life to death to eternal life! and back again. Detailing her feelings and surroundings in heaven! her communication with angels! and her deep sense of sadness when she realized it wasn't her time! Mary shares the captivating experience of her modern-day miracle. Mary's life has been forever changed by her newfound understanding of her purpose on earth! her awareness of God! her closer relationship with Jesus! and her personal spiritual journey suddenly enhanced by a first-hand experience in heaven. To Heaven and Back will reacquaint you with the hope! wonder! and promise of heaven! while enriching you own faith and walk with God. Prologue “The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.” —Helen Keller God and His angelic messengers are present and active in our world today and this involvement and intervention is both ordinary in its frequency and extraordinary in its occurrence. Despite leading what I would consider a very ordinary life, I have had the privilege of being touched by God in visible and very tangible ways. One of these experiences began on January 14, 1999, when I was vacationing in South America with my husband. While boating, I was pinned underwater in my kayak and drowned. I died and went to heaven. After a brief stay, I was returned to my body. I returned to my earthly life with two shattered legs and severe pulmonary problems. I was hospitalized for more than a month, wheelchair bound for even longer, and did not return to my orthopaedic surgery practice for more than six months. Many have described my accident as terrible and tragic. I describe it as one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. The series of events surrounding my accident and recovery were nothing short of miraculous. Not only did I have the privilege of experiencing heaven, but I continued to experience the intensity of God’s world and conversed with Jesus several times in the weeks after my return. Through this experience and conversation, I gained an understanding of many of life’s important questions, such as “What happens when we die?”, “Why are we here?”, and “Why do bad things happen to good people?” I also gained an understanding of the ...
