My story happened in 1975, and has only been repeated to (2) people; my wife and the subject’s husband. In 1975 I was Manager and Paramedic for Madison County EMS in Richmond, Kentucky. I had at that time been there for (4) years. Needless to say I was around death and injuries on a daily basis.

I don’t recall the date but I was on duty and working a non-emergency call. I was in the emergency room of the hospital waiting for our stretcher to be released so we could leave. On the walkie talkie we heard another unit in route to the ER with a cardiac arrest of a (48) year old male. We went to the entrance to assist the other EMT’s. I was surprised to see that I knew the patient very well. He was our family minister that had only (3) years earlier, performed my wedding ceremony. I went to the room with him and was assisting with IV’s and other equipment. Within only a couple of minutes Rev. Ashton went into cardiac arrest. Adrenalin and a defibrillator shock were administered! Rev. Ashton opened his eyes and looked at the nurse and said, “You have made me angry, I saw the gates of heaven and you brought me back.” Within a few minutes he passed away.

This was a moment in time I will never forget! I debated for a long time as to whether I should let his wife know what I heard him say. After a few months I told her and she said that the nurse had already contacted her and informed her. The nurse had been very touched also! I felt that this was a private moment and only told my wife about it.

The reason I am writing is because my wife is now in the terminal stages of pulmonary fibrosis and without a lung transplant she only has a few months to live. This moment in time has given me comfort in a time of grief as to what my wife is facing. I know there is something after death. I am not very religious but I have been assured by this incident that there is something awaiting us after our life is over here. I pray I don’t have to be without my wife, but; I am now sure I will be with her again.

I hope you understand that I always felt this was a private and personal moment that I heard. What I didn’t know was that it would give me comfort some (32) years later in my life. Feel free to use this information. I hope it will comfort someone else as much as it has me!