A woman who 'died' twice has shared her extraordinary experiences, including floating above her body and being asked a profound question by a divine being. Barbara Bartolome, now 69, first died as an 18-month-old toddler due to a high fever, and again at age 31 during a medical procedure.
The First Death at 18 Months
As a toddler, Barbara stopped breathing and turned 'purple and lifeless' before suddenly coming back to life. Her family witnessed this miraculous revival, but she had no conscious memory of it until her second death.
The Second Death at Age 31
In December 1987, Barbara was in a Santa Barbara hospital preparing for back surgery. During a myogram, an X-ray technician accidentally caused iodine dye to leak into her brain. She lost consciousness and her heart stopped. She found herself floating near the ceiling, watching doctors perform CPR. 'I was out of my body looking down at the whole scene,' she said. 'The panic I was feeling in my body was gone.'
She described feeling wrapped in a 'beautiful blanket of love and acceptance' and sensed a divine being beside her. 'It felt like it was God. I felt absolute acceptance and absolute love and comfort,' she recalled.
The One Question
As doctors panicked below, the being spoke to her in a beautiful voice, asking what she would do if she returned to her body. Barbara saw flashes of her life, including a troubled marriage, and realized she needed to make changes. She begged to return for her children. The moment she decided, the surgeon performed a cardiac thump, restarting her heart.
Life After the Experience
Barbara kept her vow, ending her marriage and becoming a single parent. She later met her husband Victor, who supports her story. She now believes her near-death experience was a gift to help her grow. 'I have no fear of death,' she said. 'I look forward to returning home when my soul's growth is complete.'
Barbara now shares her story to normalize near-death experiences and encourage others to connect with the divine. 'The other side is listening all the time,' she said. 'They’re here, and ready to help everybody.'
