Original subtitles

[ HORN BLARES ]

Valerie: I WAS INVOLVED IN A 17-CAR PILEUP.

IT WAS LIKE I STEPPED INTO THIS LIGHT.

THERE WAS NO PAIN.

Freddy: IT WASN'T A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE.

I WAS GRAVEYARD DEAD.

[ FLATLINE ]

Narrator: THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY

THEY HAVE VISITED THE AFTERLIFE,

CHALLENGING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF DEATH.

MOTIVATED BY THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES

PULLING VICTIMS BACK FROM THE GRAVE,

FOUR INVESTIGATORS NOW SEEK TO SOLVE

THE MYSTERIES OF RESURRECTION.

Johnny: THIS IS GONNA HELP UNLOCK SOMETHING

THAT HASN'T BEEN KNOWN FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

REGARDLESS OF RELIGION, THE PERSON WAS DEAD,

AND THEY CAME BACK TO LIFE.

Jesse: WE'RE PURSUING THIS TO SHOW

THAT THE IMPOSSIBLE IS, IN FACT, POSSIBLE.

Sam: DEATH DOESN'T REALLY HAVE THE FINAL SAY-SO.

WHY DID YOU DEFY THE ODDS?

Narrator: THIS IS "PROJECT AFTERLIFE."

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FEAR OF DEATH THAT --

THAT A LOT OF US HAVE.

YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO FEAR DEATH.

TO TRY TO GRASP WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE...

YOU KNOW, WHAT GOES ON, WHAT DO WE SEE,

WHAT IS OUT THERE,

WHAT LINES UP TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN TAUGHT, WHAT DOESN'T?

YOU KNOW, I WANT TO -- I WANT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW,

AND SO DO SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE.

I GOT A REALLY GOOD ONE HERE -- FREDDY VEST.

THIS GUY'S A COWBOY FROM TEXAS.

HE'S AT A ROPING EVENT.

HE'S ROPING CATTLE.

IN BETWEEN ROPING, HE FALLS OFF HIS HORSE,

AND HE'S DEAD BEFORE HE HITS THE GROUND.

Sam: SEEMS LIKE HIS FRIEND EDDY,

WHO WAS THERE WORKING ON HIM

IN BOTH THE PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL REALM,

HE MIGHT HAVE SOME GOOD INFO FOR US.

I WANT TO FIND OUT, HOW DID EDDY RESPOND?

WHAT -- WHAT MOTIVATED EDDY TO JUST NOT GIVE UP?

I WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE OTHER SIDE.

YOU KNOW, WHAT BROUGHT FREDDY BACK?

OKAY, JESSE, WHAT YOU GOT?

ALL RIGHT. SO WE GOT VALERIE PATERS.

SHE LIVES IN ARIZONA.

NOW, SHE DIED AS A RESULT OF A PRETTY HORRIFIC CAR ACCIDENT.

I MEAN, HER BODY WAS COMPLETELY MANGLED.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE HER OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE

WAS VERY UNIQUE.

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE HER AND HER SISTER

WERE ABLE TO MAKE SOME SORT OF CONNECTION.

IT SAYS HER SISTER, CHERYL,

HAD A VISION OF HER IN HEAVEN WHILE SHE WAS DEAD.

LET'S SEE IF THOSE VISIONS MATCH UP.

YEAH. YEAH, I'LL FIND OUT.

THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MORE UNIQUE ASPECTS

OF THIS CASE.

-ALL RIGHT. -ALL RIGHT.

-LET'S DO IT. -YEP.

Jesse: MY INVESTIGATION BRINGS ME TO PEORIA, ARIZONA,

A SUBURB OF PHOENIX NOT FAR FROM WHERE,

BACK IN MARCH 2000, TAX ACCOUNTANT VALERIE PATERS' LIFE

WAS CHANGED FOREVER BY A HORRIFIC CAR CRASH.

AND SHE WAS SENT ON AN EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY

TO THE AFTERLIFE.

-VALERIE. -HI, JESSE.

-HI. -IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO MEET YOU TOO. IT'S A PLEASURE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DIED BACK IN 2000.

-YES, I DID. -TAKE ME BACK

TO THE DAY OF YOUR ACCIDENT.

WELL, I WAS WORKING.

AND THEN, I PICKED UP MY DAUGHTER

AND GOT ON THE FREEWAY.

Valerie: I PICKED UP MY DAUGHTER, ASHLEY.

HI!

-HI, HONEY. -HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD. HOW ARE YOU DOING?

-MWAH. -GOOD.

Valerie: AND ASHLEY, SHE LOVED THIS SONG.

IT WAS ACTUALLY A CHRISTMAS SONG.

AND SHE WOULD PUT IT ON,

AND SHE'D SING TO THE TOP OF HER LUNGS.

AND I --

I NOTICED A FEW SNOWFLAKES.

AND I WANTED TO GET HOME.

I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE LAST THING I REMEMBER.

[ HORN BLARES ]

[ GLASS SHATTERS ]

[ SIRENS WAILING ]

A SEMI TRUCK HIT ME,

AND I WAS INVOLVED IN A 17-CAR PILEUP.

ASHLEY'S SEAT BELT SNAPPED,

AND SHE WAS THROWN FROM THE CAR.

MIRACULOUSLY, SHE ONLY SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.

Jesse: ASHLEY'S SMALL HIP FRACTURE

AND RUPTURED BLADDER WERE NOT A FATAL THREAT.

BUT VALERIE WOULDN'T BE SO LUCKY.

Valerie: I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON.

AND WHEN SHE GOT THROWN OUT,

IT MADE ROOM FOR ME TO GO DOWN INTO THE SEAT.

OTHERWISE, WE BOTH WOULD'VE BEEN DECAPITATED.

Jesse: VALERIE HAD SUFFERED PUNCTURED LUNGS,

A LACERATED LIVER, MULTIPLE FACIAL FRACTURES,

AND SUSTAINED TWO SEVERE STROKES WHILE UNCONSCIOUS.

THE IMPACT SEVERED THE ARTERIES IN HER NECK,

BROKE ALL OF THE RIBS ON HER RIGHT SIDE

AND PUSHED HER INTERNAL ORGANS UP INTO HER CHEST CAVITY.

Valerie: THE FIREFIGHTER THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO ME

CLIMBED INTO THE WRECKAGE.

ALL RIGHT. I.V. SECURED.

AND HE STAYED WITH ME.

AND HE WOULD TELL ME,

"WE'RE GONNA GET YOU OUT.

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY."

STAY WITH US, VALERIE.

SQUEEZE MY HAND IF YOU CAN.

BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW HE KNEW MY NAME.

Jesse: FIREMAN DAVE DOBBS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS

ON THE SCENE THAT NIGHT.

IN ALL HIS YEARS WITNESSING WRECKAGE,

THIS WAS ONE OF THE WORST.

David: WHEN I FIRST LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE,

I LOOK AT IT, AND I GO,

"THERE IS NO WAY THAT SOMEONE COULD SURVIVE THIS ACCIDENT."

YOU EXPECT THIS TO GO FATAL,

YEAH, ALMOST EVERY TIME YOU SEE A WRECK LIKE THIS.

AS I WAS WALKING UP TO THE SCENE,

I NOTICED ON THE GROUND

THAT THERE WAS A CASSETTE WITH THE NAME OF MY CHURCH ON IT.

AND AT THAT POINT,

IT CAME ACROSS TO ME THAT THERE'S SOMEONE

I COULD VERY WELL KNOW INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT.

FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE,

ALL I HAD IS A VIEW OF THEIR LEGS.

AT THE TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW MALE, FEMALE.

IT WAS JUST A PAIR OF LEGS.

Man: WE HAVE A YOUNG FEMALE, FULL TRAUMA CODE.

I ASKED, UH,

THE MEDIC ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, UH,

FOR SOME DESCRIPTION OF WHAT SHE LOOKED LIKE.

AND HE DESCRIBED VALERIE TO A "T."

Jesse: DAVE IMMEDIATELY KNEW IT WAS THE VALERIE FROM HIS CHURCH.

HE WAS ASSESSING THE DAMAGE AND CONCERNED ABOUT HOW LONG

-VALERIE WOULD BE TRAPPED. -LET'S GET A C-COLLAR IN HERE.

THERE'S KIND OF A GOLDEN HOUR RULE.

WHENEVER YOU'RE INVOLVED IN A --

IN A SERIOUS TRAUMA, WITHIN THAT FIRST HOUR,

YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT PERSON INTO THE HOSPITAL.

AND I BELIEVE WE HAD VALERIE ON SCENE OVER AN HOUR

BEFORE WE COULD EVEN GET ACCESS TO HER.

VALERIE!

STAY WITH US, VALERIE.

WE ALMOST GOT YOU OUT.

STAY AWAKE FOR US.

Valerie: I TRIED TO LISTEN TO WHAT HE WAS SAYING.

BUT THEN, I WOULD JUST PASS OUT.

WE'LL GET YOU OUT OF HERE, VALERIE.

STAY WITH US.

WHEN I PASSED OUT, I WAS IN THIS ROOM.

AND I ALWAYS CALL IT A WAITING ROOM 'CAUSE

IT WAS A VERY PEACEFUL PLACE.

EVERYTHING WAS VERY BRIGHT.

AND I WAS JUST SITTING THERE, WAITING.

AND THEN, I'D GO BACK.

VALERIE, OPEN YOUR EYES.

WAS IT EVERY TIME YOU LOST CONSCIOUSNESS,

-YOU WENT TO THIS WAITING ROOM? -I WENT TO THIS WAITING ROOM.

SO YOU WERE BACK AND FORTH?

WERE YOU FULLY ALERT AT THAT TIME?

WERE YOU CONSCIOUS?

I WAS CONSCIOUS.

BUT I WAS DRIFTING IN AND OUT.

I KNEW I WAS DYING.

I COULD FEEL IT. I WAS GETTING WEAKER AND WEAKER.

THERE'S THAT CROSS OVER THERE.

David: BY THE TIME WE FINALLY HAD VALERIE EXTRICATED

AND WE WERE MOVING HER TO THE AMBULANCE,

I HONESTLY DIDN'T THINK

THERE WAS A CHANCE SHE WAS GONNA MAKE IT.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS JUST TOO MUCH DAMAGE,

AND TOO MUCH TIME HAD GONE BY.

-COMING IN, GUYS. -OKAY, GO!

Valerie: WHEN THEY GOT ME INTO THE AMBULANCE,

THAT'S WHEN I DIED.

MY HEART HAD STOPPED...

SHE'S FLATLINING.

...AND THEY WERE TRYING TO GET IT BEATING AGAIN.

Jesse: VALERIE WAS DEAD.

THE PARAMEDICS PERFORMED CPR FOR THE DURATION

OF THE AMBULANCE TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL.

ONCE THEY ARRIVED,

THERE WAS NOTHING THE DOCTORS COULD DO.

Valerie: FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD,

THEY PUT ME ON LIFE SUPPORT TO PRESERVE MY ORGANS

FOR POSSIBLE DONATION.

Rodger: AS JESSE DIGS DEEPER INTO VALERIE'S CASE,

I'M OUTSIDE OF DALLAS, TEXAS,

DEEP IN RODEO COUNTRY,

WHERE 56-YEAR-OLD COWBOY, FATHER, AND HUSBAND

FREDDY VEST SOMEHOW CHEATED CERTAIN DEATH

BEFORE SOMETHING BROUGHT HIM BACK.

-FREDDY. -RODGER.

-HOW ARE YOU DOIN'? -GREAT.

-THANKS FOR MEETING ME HERE. -SURE.

TAKE ME BACK TO THAT DAY. WHAT HAPPENED?

IT WAS JULY -- JULY THE 26th.

IT WAS HOT -- 108 DEGREES IN THE SHADE.

WE WERE HAVING A ROPING, JUST LIKE WE'RE HAVING TODAY.

Freddy: EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT.

I FELT GOOD.

UH, I DREW GOOD.

THIS WAS A FOUR-HEAD ROPING,

WHICH MEANT YOU ROPED FOUR INDIVIDUAL CALVES.

YOU KNOW, WITH THE TEMPERATURE THAT WE HAD THAT DAY,

108, I WAS TIRED.

I WAS HOT. IT WAS HARD TO GET A BREATH.

BUT I FELT GOOD OTHER THAN THAT.

THIRD CALF, I KNEW HE WAS GONNA BE TOUGH FOR ME TO ROPE.

BUT WE HAD A LITTLE BETTER TIME WITH HIM.

AND, UH, WE STILL GOT HIM TIED DOWN.

AND I THOUGHT, "YOU KNOW,

I'VE GOT A CHANCE TO WIN ONE HERE."

AFTER I'D ROPED MY THIRD CALF,

I REMOUNTED MY HORSE AND WAS RIDING OUT OF THE ARENA.

MY FRIEND EDDY AND I EXCHANGED WORDS ABOUT A CALF

THAT I HAD ROPED IN A EVENT OF MINE THAT HE WAS THE JUDGE.

WE TOOK A LITTLE VERBAL SPAT.

AND I JUST POINTED A FINGER AT HIM.

I SAID, "YOU KNOW, EDDY..."

I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS.

AND I RODE OFF.

FOURTH CALF, I WAS GETTING READY TO GO INTO THE ROPING BOX.

I WAS SITTING THERE.

THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN I WAS VISITING WITH,

AND WE WERE JUST, UH,

HAVING A GOOD TIME LAUGHING AND TALKING.

AND RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT CONVERSATION,

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A SENTENCE...

...I JUST FELL OFF MY HORSE.

FREDDY!

I WAS DEAD BEFORE I HIT THE GROUND.

Rodger: ACCORDING TO THE MEDICAL REPORT,

FREDDY SUFFERED A SUDDEN, MASSIVE HEART ATTACK

THAT INSTANTLY CUT OFF OXYGEN TO THE BRAIN

AND LEFT HIM WITH NO VITAL SIGNS AND NO PULSE.

DOCTORS LATER CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS RELATED TO A HEART DEFECT

HE HAD BEEN BORN WITH KNOWN AS ATRIAL SEPTUM DEFECT,

OR HOLE IN THE HEART.

COME ON, FREDDY. BREATHE.

TYPICALLY, IF YOU HAVE A HOLE IN YOUR HEART,

YOU DON'T LIVE OUT OF YOUR 20s.

I MADE IT TO 56.

AND YOU HAD NO IDEA.

ABSOLUTELY NONE.

PERFECTLY HEALTHY.

PERFECTLY HEALTHY.

YOU DIE.

I DIE.

AND IT WASN'T A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE.

COME ON, FREDDY! COME ON! BREATHE!

I WAS GRAVEYARD DEAD.

I WAS GONE.

BREATHE!

Jesse: MARCH 20, 2000.

A CALM NIGHT IN THE ARIZONA DESERT

IS INTERRUPTED WHEN 41-YEAR-OLD TAX ACCOUNTANT

VALERIE PATERS IS PART OF A HORRIFIC MULTI-CAR PILEUP.

[ HORN BLARES ]

AFTER LOSING CONSCIOUSNESS REPEATEDLY

DURING A TWO-HOUR ORDEAL TO EXTRACT HER CRUSHED BODY,

SHE DIED IN THE AMBULANCE.

SHE'S FLATLINING.

BUT VALERIE HAD ALREADY BEEN CROSSING INTO THE AFTERLIFE,

SEEING HERSELF IN A BRIGHTLY LIT WAITING ROOM

EACH TIME SHE PASSED OUT.

YOU FEEL WEAKER AND WEAKER,

AND YOU'VE BEEN GOING TO THIS WAITING ROOM AREA.

AND SO THEN WHAT HAPPENS?

THEN, THE NEXT THING I KNEW,

I WAS PULLING MYSELF UP OFF THE FLOOR.

Valerie: IT WAS LIKE I STEP INTO THIS LIGHT

WHERE IT WAS BLINDING.

BUT THEN, EVERYTHING BEGAN TO COME INTO FOCUS.

I STOOD UP, AND I TOOK A DEEP BREATH.

AND IT WAS LIKE...

[ GASPS ]

IT FELT SO GOOD.

THERE WAS NO PAIN.

THERE WAS PEACE.

THERE WAS LOVE.

I SAW MYSELF, AND IT WAS THE REAL ME.

I TURNED AROUND, AND THERE WAS JESUS.

SO YOU SEE JESUS IN THE DISTANCE.

-MM-HMM. -SO WHAT'D YOU DO?

I RAN UP TO HIM.

HE WAS IN A WHITE ROBE.

IN HIS EYES, THERE WAS SUCH A FIERCENESS.

THERE WAS A SWEETNESS TO HIM, AN INNOCENCE.

I BEGAN TO TOUCH HIS FACE.

AND HE SMILED AT ME.

HE LOVED THAT I WAS JUST TOUCHING HIM.

AND I REALIZED THAT HE NEVER DREW BACK FROM ME.

THERE WERE TIMES THAT I SPOKE TO HIM.

BUT IT WAS MOSTLY IN THOUGHT.

IT WAS KIND OF A TELEPATHIC COMMUNICATION.

HE KNEW MY THOUGHTS, AND I KNEW HIS.

HE SAID, "VALERIE."

WHEN HE SAID MY NAME,

IT THREW ME BACK.

I MEAN, I KNEW THAT HE KNEW THAT.

BUT HE HAD SAID MY NAME.

IT WAS LIKE MY NAME RANG THROUGH HEAVEN.

AND SO THE NEXT THING I KNEW,

JESUS LED ME DOWN A PATH.

AS WE WALKED DOWN THE PATH, I SAW MY DECEASED GRANDFATHER.

HE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS IN HIS 30s OR EARLY 40s.

HE WAS LAUGHING WHILE WATCHING US.

THERE WAS A GARDEN-LIKE SETTING THAT I WAS IN.

IT WAS TREES AND GRASS AND FLOWERS.

AND AS WE WALKED DOWN THE PATH,

THEY ALL KIND OF FOLLOWED HIM.

THERE WERE COLORS I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

AND EVERYTHING WAS ALIVE.

JESUS TOUCHED MY HEAD,

AND HE BEGAN TO POUR THIS OIL ON ME.

HE WAS ANOINTING ME.

AND IT WAS THICK, KIND OF LIKE HONEY.

IT JUST SLOWLY JUST PENETRATED EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING.

AND BY THE TIME IT HIT MY FEET,

I WAS FINALLY TRULY AT PEACE.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANYBODY BEING ANOINTED IN HEAVEN.

TYPICALLY, PEOPLE ARE ANOINTED WHILE THEY'RE ALIVE.

SO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

THE NEXT THING I KNEW, I WAS SWIMMING.

THE WATER WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR, BLUE.

AND THEN, WHEN I BEGAN TO SWIM,

I NOTICED THAT I WAS ABLE TO BREATHE UNDERWATER.

AND IT WAS SO NATURAL.

I WAS UNDER THE WATER FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO COME UP FOR AIR.

AND I THOUGHT, "THERE ARE NO LIMITS AT ALL."

THEN, JESUS TOOK ME TO A MOUNTAIN.

I COULD SEE GOD'S PRESENCE AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.

AND I HEARD GOD'S VOICE.

AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THUNDER.

I FELT VERY SECURE, VERY SAFE, AND VERY LOVED.

BUT I SENSED MY TIME WAS COMING TO AN END.

AND I THOUGHT, "SURELY, HE WON'T SEND ME BACK."

I WAS TRYING TO WIN HIM OVER,

TO DO ANYTHING SO HE WOULDN'T SEND ME BACK.

I COULD SEE THE SMIRK ON HIS FACE

BECAUSE HE KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING.

THEN, HE SAID, "YOU HAVEN'T FULFILLED YOUR PURPOSE YET."

AND I REALIZED THAT I COULDN'T BE SELFISH.

AND I TOLD HIM...

I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO DO.

JESUS PUT ME INTO A DEEP SLEEP.

I SAW MYSELF SLEEPING.

AND THEN, WHEN I HIT MY BODY, IT WAS LIKE, "UGH."

I WAS IN PAIN.

I WAS DISORIENTED.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS.

IT FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN THERE FOR 3,000 YEARS.

HOW'D YOU FEEL BEING BACK?

I WAS NOT HAPPY.

I WENT FROM PEACE TO TRAUMA.

WERE YOU AWARE OF ANYBODY BACK HERE ON EARTH

WHO WAS FIGHTING OR DOING WHATEVER THEY COULD TO HELP YOU

BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD?

YES.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PRAYER GOING ON FOR ME.

MM-HMM.

BUT MY SISTER WAS, LIKE, THE POINT PERSON.

HER AND I ARE VERY CLOSE.

Jesse: VALERIE'S JOURNEY TO THE AFTERLIFE AND BACK

IS EVEN MORE INCREDIBLE THAN I HAD THOUGHT.

BUT TO UNDERSTAND HOW SHE WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD,

I NEED TO FIND WHAT WAS HAPPENING

BACK IN THE REALM OF THE LIVING

AND THE ROLE VALERIE'S SISTER, CHERYL,

PLAYED IN HER RESURRECTION.

CHERYL.

-HI, JESS. -HI.

-NICE TO MEET YOU. -NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE

IN YOUR SISTER, VALERIE, HER RESURRECTION.

YES.

TAKE ME BACK TO THE DAY OF THAT HORRIFIC CRASH.

HOW DID IT START FOR YOU?

WELL, I HAD A DREAM.

Cheryl: I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD,

AND I CAME UPON THIS ACCIDENT.

I COULDN'T TELL WHAT IT WAS AT FIRST.

BUT WHEN I GOT CLOSER,

I COULD SEE THAT IT WAS A MASSIVE CAR WRECK

INVOLVING SEMI TRUCKS.

I WASN'T SURPRISED 'CAUSE I'VE HAD VISIONS BEFORE.

BUT THAT DREAM SEEMED VERY REAL.

[ GASPING ]

AND I JUST BEGIN TO PRAY.

[ PRAYING INDISTINCTLY ]

I FELT DREAD.

SO THEN, I CALLED VALERIE'S PHONE NUMBER,

AND SHE DIDN'T ANSWER.

THEN, I TURNED ON THE TELEVISION TO SEE

WHAT THE NEWS REPORTS WERE.

AND THEY SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN A MULTI-PILEUP ACCIDENT

ON I-40.

HALF HOUR LATER, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL

FROM DAVE DOBBS, WHO WAS A FIREFIGHTER.

AND I KNEW THEN THAT VALERIE WAS INVOLVED IN THAT ACCIDENT.

HE SAID THAT SHE WAS UNRESPONSIVE

AND THAT THERE WAS NO BRAIN ACTIVITY.

THEY HAD DECLARED HER DEAD.

I BEGAN TO PRAY.

WHEN I BEGAN TO PRAY,

I HEARD THE LORD SAY TO ME,

"SHE'S WITH ME,

AND SHE DOESN'T WANT TO COME BACK.

AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGHT TO BRING HER BACK."

Rodger: RODEO COWBOY FREDDY VEST

DIED INSTANTLY WHEN HIS HEART STOPPED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE

OF A ROPING COMPETITION.

WITH THE NEAREST MEDICAL HELP ALMOST 45 MINUTES AWAY,

HIS FRIENDS STRUGGLED TO REVIVE HIM.

BUT FREDDY HAD ALREADY PASSED ON.

YOU'RE LAYING THERE DEAD.

DID YOU FEEL YOURSELF LEAVE YOUR BODY?

WHAT WAS GOING ON?

BEFORE I HIT THE GROUND, I WAS IN HEAVEN.

Freddy: I DON'T REMEMBER FALLING OFF MY HORSE.

I JUST REMEMBER LOOKING OUT INTO THE ARENA.

AND THEN, I WAS OVERCOME BY COMPLETE DARKNESS.

FREDDY!

BUT THERE WASN'T A FEAR OF THIS DARKNESS.

I DIDN'T FEEL ALONE.

I DIDN'T FEEL AFRAID.

THERE WAS NO SENSATION OF DYING OR ANYTHING.

EVEN THOUGH I WAS DEAD,

I WAS MORE ALIVE THAN I HAD EVER BEEN.

COME ON, FREDDY.

MY MIND AND MY BODY...

COME ON, FREDDY, BREATHE!

...STAYED IN THAT RODEO DIRT RIGHT THERE.

IT WAS MY SPIRIT THAT WENT TO HEAVEN.

AND MY SPIRIT COMMUNICATED WITH JESUS.

ONCE WITH HIM, ONCE IN HIS PRESENCE, THIS EARTH

AND THE HUMAN THOUGHTS OF EVERYTHING HERE ARE GONE.

I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I WAS SEPARATE FROM HIM.

I FELT LIKE I WAS PART OF HIM

AND THAT HE WAS PART OF ME.

IT WAS JUST LIKE

IF HE HAD WRAPPED HIS ARMS AROUND ME AND DREW ME IN.

HE WAS HOLDING ME JUST LIKE A MOTHER HOLDS A BABY.

IT WAS JUST TOTAL ACCEPTANCE.

IT WAS THE MOST LOVING FEELING THAT I'VE EVER HAD.

JESUS AND I COMMUNICATED WITHOUT SAYING A WORD.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT TELEPATHY.

IT WAS MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

I FELT AND KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTED ME TO KNOW.

AND HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED HIM TO KNOW.

I FELT THE PRESENCE OF OTHERS THERE.

BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANY.

I DIDN'T CONVERSE WITH ANYONE ELSE THERE.

MY TOTAL TIME THERE WAS JUST JESUS AND I.

I HAD NO THOUGHT OR MEMORY OF MY FAMILY THAT WAS HERE,

WHICH IF I WAS GONNA THINK OF ANYTHING,

I'D BE THINKING OF MY KIDS, MY WIFE.

BUT THERE WAS NO THOUGHT OF THAT.

IT WAS ONLY JOY AND HAPPINESS.

SO HERE YOU WERE IN THE AFTERLIFE.

BUT IT'S NOT THIS FIVE-SENSE REALITY WE HAVE HERE ON EARTH.

WHEN YOU DIE, YOUR SPIRIT GOES TO HEAVEN, NOT YOUR BODY.

YOU DON'T HAVE A MOUTH TO SPEAK WITH

OR EARS TO HEAR OR EYES TO SEE.

IT'S YOUR SPIRIT THAT'S THERE.

SO YOU NEVER REALLY GOT TO SEE ANYTHING IN HEAVEN?

I GOT TO SEE ONE THING IN HEAVEN.

AND IT WAS AMAZING.

AFTER I FELL FROM MY HORSE,

THE COWBOYS IN THE ARENA GOT ON A KNEE.

THEY TOOK OFF THEIR HATS, AND THEY BEGAN TO PRAY.

THE COWBOYS AND THEIR WIVES AND THEIR CHILDREN,

ALL THESE FOLKS, UH, WERE PRAYIN'.

AT THAT POINT, GOD ALLOWED ME TO SEE THE PRAYERS

THAT WERE COMING UP FOR ME.

IT STARTED OUT WITH ONE SINGLE BOLT OF LIGHT.

IT WAS LIKE A LIGHTNING BOLT, LIKE IN A THUNDERSTORM.

IT STARTED FROM DOWN BELOW,

AND IT CAME ALL THE WAY UP INTO GOD'S PRESENCE.

AND THEN, THERE WAS TWO AND THREE OR FIVE.

THERE WAS 10. THERE WAS 100.

AND THEN, THERE WAS 1,000.

AND ONCE THERE WERE THAT MANY,

THEY EXPLODED INTO THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE.

AND THAT'S WHEN GOD SENT ME BACK.

Woman: MR. VEST.

MR. VEST, YOU'RE OKAY. YOU'RE OKAY.

ONCE I RE-ENTERED MY BODY,

ALL THE SENSATIONS OF BEING A HUMAN AGAIN CAME BACK.

I FELT PAIN.

I FELT ANGUISH.

I WAS A LITTLE BIT FRIGHTENED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I WAS STRUGGLING TRYING TO GET UP.

I WAS TIED DOWN TO A BED.

I HAD AN I.V. IN MY NECK AND ONE IN MY HAND.

I HAD A TUBE DOWN MY THROAT.

MR. VEST, YOU'RE OKAY. YOU'RE OKAY.

I HEARD THE NURSE'S VOICE SAY, "MR. VEST, YOU'RE OKAY."

I COULDN'T SPEAK,

BUT I JUST SHOOK MY HEAD.

I'M NOT OKAY.

Rodger: WHEN FREDDY WOKE UP AT THE HOSPITAL, HE HAD NO IDEA

THAT PARAMEDICS HAD FINALLY REVIVED HIS PULSE

NEARLY TWO HOURS AFTER HE HAD DIED.

BUT ONCE STABILIZED,

DOCTORS WERE STILL CONVINCED THE DAMAGE TO FREDDY'S HEART

AND BRAIN WAS IRREVERSIBLE.

THEY HAD REPAIRED THE HEART

AS MUCH AS THEY COULD AT THAT POINT.

IT WAS STILL FLUTTERING.

I STILL DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD, SOLID HEARTBEAT.

AT THAT POINT, I KNEW I WAS NOT IN THE BEST OF SHAPE.

MY FAMILY CAME IN.

AND THEY ALL CAME IN TOGETHER.

HIS HAND'S MOVING.

BABY, CAN YOU HEAR US?

OKAY, SQUEEZE MY HAND AGAIN.

I COULD HEAR THEIR VOICES,

AND I POINTED TO MY DAUGHTER, LEIGH.

AND THEN, I POINTED BACK AT MYSELF.

AND I PUT MY HAND OVER MY HEART.

AND THEN, I POINTED BACK AT HER.

-HE KNOWS YOU'RE HERE, BABY. -I KNOW.

I WAS TELLING HER, "LEIGH, I LOVE YOU."

I LOVE YOU, FREDDY.

WE LOVE YOU.

-WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH. -WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

WERE YOU AFRAID OF DEATH BEFORE?

I WASN'T AFRAID OF DEATH. I WAS AFRAID OF DYING.

I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

I MEAN, BUT I KNOW WHEN I DO, I'M GONNA BE OKAY.

BACK HERE ON EARTH, WAS THERE ANYONE

THAT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING YOU BACK?

I WOULD HAVE TO SAY EDDY SMITH.

MY GOOD FRIEND EDDY, NOT ONLY DID HE DO CPR,

BUT HE CONTINUED TO PRAY AS HE WAS GIVING ME CPR.

AND I WOULD SAY EDDY IS THE REASON I'M BACK.

Rodger: TO TRULY UNDERSTAND HOW FREDDY RETURNED FROM THE DEAD,

I NEED TO SPEAK WITH HIS FRIEND AND FORMER RODEO JUDGE EDDY.

EDDY HAD DISQUALIFIED FREDDY FROM A RODEO COMPETITION,

AND IT STARTED A FEUD BETWEEN THE TWO.

REGARDLESS OF THE STATE OF THEIR FRIENDSHIP,

EDDY SEEMED TO INTERVENE IN SOME EXTRAORDINARY WAY

TO BRING FREDDY BACK.

EDDY.

THANKS FOR MEETING ME HERE TODAY.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

FREDDY TOLD ME YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL

IN BRINGING HIM BACK FROM THE DEAD.

I WAS A PART OF THAT.

I'D BEEN A FIREMAN FOR A LOT OF YEARS IN DALLAS.

AND NOT MANY PEOPLE

COME BACK FROM WHERE FREDDY WAS THAT DAY.

FREDDY TOLD ME YOU GUYS BUTTED HEADS A LITTLE BIT THAT DAY.

YES. IT STARTED IN TERRELL, TEXAS, TWO WEEKS EARLIER.

I FLAGGED FREDDY OUT. HE WAS MAD AT ME.

AND IT CARRIED OVER TWO WEEKS LATER.

Woman: 1364 FOR RUSSELL.

Eddy: WE WERE AT THE ROPING EVENT THAT DAY.

AND FREDDY AND I EXCHANGED A FEW WORDS.

AFTER HE ROPED A CALF AND THE HORSE DRUG THE CALF OFF,

HE WAS JUST REAL HOT.

AND HIS FACE WAS REAL RED.

AND, UH, HE REALLY DIDN'T LOOK VERY GOOD.

AND AS HE RODE BY ME, I SAID, "TOUGH LUCK, FREDDY."

LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT IT UP ON THAT ONE.

HE SAID TO ME, "WELL, YOU CAN'T PICK YOUR JUDGES,

BUT I CAN SURE PICK MY FRIENDS," AND RODE OFF.

I WAS REALLY UPSET WITH HIM.

AH.

A BIT LATER, THEY HOLLERED FOR ME.

AND I WENT RIDING BACK.

AND THERE WAS FREDDY, LAYING ON THE GROUND.

I JUMPED OFF MY HORSE AND, UH, CHECKED HIM, HIS SIGNS.

NO HEARTBEAT, NO RESPIRATIONS, NO NOTHING.

CALL 911.

ANYBODY THAT CAN PRAY, GET TO PRAYING NOW.

I WENT TO PRAYIN', MYSELF.

BUT THE FIRST PRAYER I HAD TO PRAY WAS TO ASK GOD

TO FORGIVE ME FOR BEING MAD AT MY FRIEND.

OH, FORGIVE ME, GOD, FOR BEING MAD AT MY BUDDY.

[ HORN BLARES ]

Jesse: VALERIE PATERS WAS INVOLVED IN A HORRENDOUS MULTI-CAR PILEUP

AND FOUND HERSELF TRAPPED IN HER CAR,

WITH LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.

WHILE CREWS WORKED FOR TWO HOURS TO FREE HER...

SHE'S FLATLINING.

...SHE DIED AND CROSSED OVER INTO THE AFTERLIFE.

VALERIE TELLS ME HER SISTER, CHERYL,

PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN BRINGING HER BACK TO LIFE.

SO I'M INVESTIGATING WHAT SHE DID TO HELP RESURRECT VALERIE

FROM THE DEAD.

HOW WOULD YOU EVEN HEAR ABOUT THE CRASH?

DAVE DOBBS CALLED ME.

WHO'S DAVE DOBBS?

HE WAS A FRIEND OF OURS WHO WENT TO OUR CHURCH,

WHO WAS A FIREFIGHTER.

AND ONCE HE SAID, "DAVE,"

I KNEW THAT VALERIE WAS PROBABLY INVOLVED IN THAT CAR ACCIDENT.

WOW. AND THEN, WHAT DID YOU DO?

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

WE WENT RIGHT TO THE HOSPITAL.

Cheryl: WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL,

THE GRIEF COUNSELOR TOOK US INTO A WAITING AREA FOR THE FAMILY.

AND WE WAITED FOR THE DOCTOR TO COME IN.

-YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING? -NO.

THEY HAVEN'T TOLD US ANYTHING. WE DON'T KNOW.

EVENTUALLY, THE DOCTOR CAME IN.

VALERIE PATERS' FAMILY?

YES, YES, YES.

VALERIE'S IN CRITICAL CONDITION IN THE ICU.

Cheryl: AND HE SHARED WITH US THAT...

SHE ACTUALLY CODED IN THE AMBULANCE ON THE WAY HERE.

...HER INJURIES WERE EXTENSIVE.

HER DIAPHRAGM IS RUPTURED.

NO, NO.

MOST OF HER MAJOR ORGANS

HAVE BEEN PUSHED INTO HER CHEST CAVITY.

THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING.

ALL OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER RIBS ARE BROKEN,

AND SHE HAS A LACERATED LIVER.

IT'S REALLY NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR VALERIE.

Cheryl: SHE WAS UNRESPONSIVE. AND THERE WAS NO BRAIN ACTIVITY.

THE MACHINES WERE KEEPING HER ALIVE.

HE SAID THAT IF SHE MADE IT,

THAT SHE WOULD PROBABLY BE A VEGETABLE.

AND IF SHE MAD IT, SHE WOULD PROBABLY BE IN THE HOSPITAL

AT LEAST A YEAR.

-NO. -I'M VERY SORRY.

THAT'S NOT THE NEWS WE WANTED TO HEAR.

DON'T CRY.

WHEN I WENT IN FOR THE FIRST TIME TO SEE VALERIE,

SHE HAD A PUNCTURED LUNG, LACERATED LIVER.

SHE WAS HOOKED UP TO THE HEART MACHINE.

YOU WOULDN'T THINK SHE'D BE BACK.

THEN, IT WAS LIKE MY SPIRIT ROSE UP WITHIN ME.

I WENT INTO THE CHAPEL AND BEGAN TO PRAY.

I HEARD THE LORD SAY TO ME, "SHE'S WITH ME,

AND SHE DOESN'T WANT TO COME BACK.

AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGHT TO BRING HER BACK."

DURING THE TIME I WAS PRAYING,

I WENT INTO A VISION.

AND I SAW VALERIE PLAYING IN A RIVER.

I WALKED THROUGH THE GRASS.

I SAW THE FLOWERS.

THE RIVER WAS JUST CRYSTAL AND SHINY.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

WHEN I SAW HER,

I WAS BESIDE MYSELF, FULL OF JOY JUST WATCHING HER.

SHE WAS JUST TOTALLY FREE.

AND SHE WAS SO CHILDLIKE.

AND SHE TURNED AROUND,

SPLASHED ME AND SAID, "TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD."

YOU SAW VALERIE IN HEAVEN?

-YES. -SHE WAS DEAD AND UP IN HEAVEN,

-AND YOU SAW HER THERE? -YES.

THAT'S UN-- THAT'S AMAZING.

WAS SHE GLOWING? WHAT WAS SHE DOING?

HOW DID SHE LOOK?

SHE LOOKED LIKE HERSELF.

BUT SHE WAS JUST FULL OF JOY AND RADIANT AND FREE.

WHAT DID YOU DO THEN?

IT WAS LIKE I WAS HOLDING ONTO HER HANDS

TO HOLD HER, LIKE, YOU KNOW,

WHEN SOMEONE'S HANGING OVER A CLIFF.

AND SHE WAS SPEAKING TO ME, SAYING...

NO, I WANT TO STAY HERE.

AND I KEPT SPEAKING TO HER,

SAYING, "VALERIE, YOUR PURPOSE ISN'T DONE HERE ON EARTH.

YOU NEED TO COME BACK."

I JUST KEPT SAYING THAT TO HER.

THEN, SHE TURNED RIGHT BACK AROUND.

AND THEN, I CAME OUT OF THAT VISION,

BACK INTO THE CHAPEL.

I JUST LAID RIGHT BACK DOWN ON THE CHAPEL FLOOR

BECAUSE THERE WAS SUCH A PRESENCE IN THERE.

AND I JUST LAID THERE.

SO THAT MORNING, THE MORNING AFTER YOUR PRAYER VIGIL,

TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED THEN.

WELL, THE NURSE, THE ALL-NIGHT NURSE, CAME IN.

AND HE STARTED TAKING ALL HER VITALS.

I WAS IN A CHAIR, SITTING NEXT TO HER BED.

I NOTICED WHEN HE CHECKED, HE GOT EXCITED.

HE JUST KIND OF WENT, "SOMETHING'S GOING ON."

THERE'S SOME ACTIVITY WITH HER EYES.

I NEED TO GET A DOCTOR.

HE SCURRIED OUT OF THE ROOM.

SO WHEN THE DOCTOR SHOWED UP, HE CHECKED VALERIE'S EYES,

AND HE SAID...

WE'RE GETTING BRAIN ACTIVITY.

SHE'S COMING BACK TO US.

THIS IS MIRACULOUS.

SHE WAS ALIVE AGAIN.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND PREPARE TO TAKE HER OFF LIFE SUPPORT.

Jesse: VALERIE HAD FLATLINED MULTIPLE TIMES,

SUFFERED TWO STROKES

AND HAD BEEN KEPT ALIVE BY MACHINES FOR MORE THAN 3 DAYS.

BUT DOCTORS STILL HAD DOUBTS SHE WOULD EVER BE THE SAME.

SHE COULDN'T TALK.

SHE JUST WOULD OPEN UP HER EYES.

YOU COULD TELL SHE WASN'T SURE WHAT WAS GOING

ON JUST BY THE WAY SHE WAS LOOKING AT EVERYBODY.

THE DOCTOR'S INITIAL ESTIMATES

WERE THAT SHE WOULD BE IN FOR APPROXIMATELY A YEAR.

AND SHE WALKED OUT WITH A CANE IN ABOUT 2 1/2 MONTHS.

WELCOME BACK, VALERIE.

-AMAZING. -YES, IT WAS.

SO THIS CASE

IS JUST FILLED WITH MIRACLES ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR ACTIONS PLAYED A PART IN BRINGING

-VALERIE BACK FROM THE DEAD? -YES.

I FEEL THAT BEING OBEDIENT TO WHAT I HEARD

AND PARTNERING WITH GOD BROUGHT HER BACK TO LIFE.

Jesse: CHERYL AND VALERIE'S STORY REVEALS INCREDIBLE INSIGHT

INTO HOW DEEP FAMILY CONNECTIONS CAN TRANSCEND DEATH

AND EVEN INFLUENCE DECISIONS IN THE AFTERLIFE.

CHERYL'S STRONG BOND WITH HER SISTER

CLEARLY PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN VALERIE'S RESURRECTION

AND HER RECOVERY.

CHERYL, TELL ME WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SEE VALERIE STANDING HERE.

YOU SAW HER LYING IN A HOSPITAL BED, UNRECOGNIZABLE TO YOU.

AND NOW, HERE SHE IS. WHAT IS THAT LIKE FOR YOU?

EXCITING.

I MEAN, THIS RIGHT HERE IS A LIVE MIRACLE.

HOW DID THE BOTH OF YOU

DISCOVER THAT YOU HAD SEEN THE SAME VISION?

SHE SAYS, "I SAW YOU IN HEAVEN."

AND I SAID, "YOU DID?

WHAT WAS I WEARING?" YOU KNOW?

AND SO WE KIND OF STARTED TESTING ONE ANOTHER.

WE WERE, LIKE, TESTING EACH OTHER.

SHE WAS WAITING TO SAY CERTAIN THINGS TO ME.

WE WERE PLAYING THIS LITTLE GAME 'CAUSE I WAS LIKE,

"I WANT TO SEE IF WHAT I SAW WAS REALLY WHAT I SAW."

SHE SAID, "I SAW YOU IN HEAVEN.

I SAW YOU AT THE RIVER."

SHE SAID, "YOU WERE WEARING

A GOWN THAT WAS FLOWY AND IRIDESCENT."

AND I WENT, "I WAS!"

TO GET THAT CONFIRMATION FROM HER, AND HER FROM ME,

NOTHING'S IMPOSSIBLE TO THOSE THAT BELIEVE.

WE SAW THAT WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING.

SHE EXPERIENCED IT FROM EARTH

WHILE I WAS EXPERIENCING IT IN HEAVEN.

Eddy: I STARTED THE CPR.

MY FRIEND DENNIS, HE GOT ON THE MICROPHONE,

ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO PRAY.

LET'S PRAY FOR FREDDY RIGHT NOW.

AND PEOPLE AROUND ME WERE PRAYIN'.

THEY WERE ALL IN ONE MIND

AND CALLING UP ON GOD TO HEAL FREDDY.

Rodger: TEXAS RODEO VETERAN FREDDY VEST

DIED INSTANTLY FROM A SUDDEN MASSIVE HEART ATTACK.

DEAD FOR OVER AN HOUR, HE PASSED INTO THE AFTERLIFE

BEFORE BEING BROUGHT BACK TO THE WORLD OF THE LIVING.

TO UNDERSTAND WHY HE WAS RESURRECTED,

I'M TALKING WITH FELLOW CALF ROPER

-EDDY SMITH... -CALL 911!

...WHO FREDDY SAYS WAS INSTRUMENTAL

IN BRINGING HIM BACK TO LIFE.

GOD, PLEASE HELP HIM.

SO EVEN THOUGH FREDDY WAS YOUR FRIEND,

YOU, IN THAT MOMENT,

YOU WERE ACTUALLY ANGRY WITH HIM...

-OH, YEAH. -...FOR WHAT HE HAD SAID.

YES. I WAS THINKING ABOUT WALLOPING HIM A LITTLE BIT,

LAYING HANDS ON HIM.

-NOT IN A NICE WAY? -NOT IN A NICE WAY.

AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE'S DEAD ON THE GROUND.

YES. YES.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

I JUST KNEW THAT AT THAT POINT, I HAD TO DO EVERYTHING

THAT I KNEW POSSIBLE TO HELP TRY TO SAVE MY FRIEND.

HEY, LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT HIM.

HE WAS ALREADY TURNING BLUE,

AND NO HEARTBEAT, NO RESPIRATION, NO BREATHING,

NOTHING.

WE DON'T HAVE AMBULANCES STANDING BY AT CALF ROPINGS.

IF YOU HAVE A BULL RIDING,

THERE'S GONNA BE AN AMBULANCE THERE 'CAUSE

AT JUST ABOUT ANY BULL RIDE, SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET HURT.

CALF ROPING, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF INJURIES.

I GOT DOWN ON MY KNEES,

AND I SAID, "EVERYBODY THAT PRAYS,

BE A-PRAYIN'."

OKAY, ANYBODY OUT THERE

THAT CAN PRAY, GO AHEAD AND PRAY NOW!

COME ON, FREDDY!

I STARTED THE CPR. I WENT TO PRAYING MYSELF.

BUT THE FIRST PRAYER I HAD TO PRAY WAS TO ASK GOD

TO FORGIVE ME FOR BEING MAD AT MY FRIEND.

13, 14, 15...

GIVE HIM SOME AIR.

OH, FORGIVE ME, GOD, FOR BEING MAD AT MY BUDDY.

COME ON, FREDDY, BREATHE! BREATHE!

I FELT LIKE I HAD TO GET GOD TO FORGIVE ME FIRST

BEFORE HE WOULD HEAR MY PRAYER.

MORE THAN LIKELY, HE'S NOT GONNA MAKE IT.

AT THAT POINT,

THERE WAS NO ANGER IN ME AT ALL TOWARDS FREDDY

FOR ACTING THE WAY HE DID.

SO THEN, I STARTED THE CPR.

MY FRIEND DENNIS, HE GOT ON THE MICROPHONE,

ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO PRAY.

LET'S PRAY FOR FREDDY RIGHT NOW.

Eddy: AND PEOPLE AROUND ME WERE PRAYIN',

ALL DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS.

AND ALL OF 'EM WERE TOGETHER,

AND THEY WERE ALL IN ONE MIND

IN CALLING UP ON GOD TO HEAL FREDDY.

FREDDY HAD NO FAMILY THERE WITH HIM THAT DAY.

GOD, ONLY YOU CAN BRING HIM BACK.

I THOUGHT ABOUT HIS WIFE AND HIS KIDS.

AND I KNEW I COULDN'T STOP PERFORMING CPR

TO GET BLOOD MOVING.

COME ON, FREDDY. COME ON!

COME ON! BREATHE!

COME ON! COME ON!

I BROKE, I'M SURE, SEVERAL RIBS

AND PROBABLY HIS STERNUM TOO.

THAT'S THE HARDEST I'VE EVER WORKED ON ANYBODY IN MY LIFE.

NO. GOD, GIVE ME SOME STRENGTH.

I WAS EXHAUSTED.

AND I WAS JUST PRAYIN' FOR FREDDY TO BE HEALED.

HOW LONG DID YOU WORK ON HIM?

SOME SAID 40, 45 MINUTES.

BUT YOU JUST KEPT GOING?

YEAH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD'VE GIVEN UP.

I WAS GONNA LET THE PARAMEDICS,

WHEN THEY GOT THERE, LET THEM MAKE THE CALL.

IN THE COUNTRY, IF YOU NEED A AMBULANCE,

IT'S GONNA BE A LONG TIME.

SO I KNEW WHEN FREDDY WENT DOWN

THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A LONG TIME.

THERE WAS A SECTION OF THE ARENA

THAT THEY BROUGHT THE AMBULANCE RIGHT IN THERE.

AT THAT POINT, THEY TOOK OVER.

AND I JUST STEPPED BACK AND KEPT PRAYIN'.

WE COULDN'T STOP PRAYIN'.

Man: ALL RIGHT, GUYS.

YOU READY TO MOVE HIM TO THE TRUCK?

WE NEED FOUR HANDS.

WHEN THEY LOADED FREDDY UP AND PUT HIM ON THE STRETCHER...

USE THAT BACKBOARD.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

...I THINK THEY WORKED ON HIM

ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE THEY LEFT THE ARENA.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

IT WAS IN GOD'S HANDS AT THAT POINT.

WHILE HE'S IN HEAVEN, HE GETS TO SEE EACH PRAYER

THAT IS BEING PRAYED FOR HIM COMING UP INTO HEAVEN.

HE ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE THE SPIRITUAL ENERGY,

AND THAT'S WHAT ACTUALLY PUSHED HIM BACK INTO HIS BODY.

Jesse: FOR MORE "PROJECT AFTERLIFE," GO TO...

Rodger: CALF ROPER FREDDY VEST SUFFERED A FATAL HEART ATTACK

AT A TEXAS RODEO IN 2008.

FREDDY!

SINCE THE AMBULANCE WOULD TAKE 45 MINUTES

TO ARRIVE DUE TO THE SMALL TOWN'S PROXIMITY,

FREDDY'S FELLOW COWBOYS

PERFORMED CONTINUOUS CPR THAT ENTIRE TIME.

I'M SPEAKING WITH EDDY,

A RODEO JUDGE AND FRIEND OF FREDDY'S,

ABOUT HIS RELENTLESS CPR EFFORTS,

AND THE FACT THAT FREDDY STILL HAD NO PULSE

WHEN THE AMBULANCE TOOK HIS LIFELESS BODY

TO THE HOSPITAL.

HOW DID IT FEEL WHEN YOU SAW THEM PULLING AWAY?

BEFORE THEY SHUT THE DOOR THERE, DENNIS AND I --

I JUST SEE THAT STRAIGHT LINE THERE AND NO HEARTBEAT.

AND I'M LIKE, "BOY, THIS IS NOT GOOD."

AT THAT POINT, DENNIS SAID, "WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK, EDDY?"

AND I SAID, "WELL, I JUST, I BELIEVE THAT HE'S GONE."

Eddy: LATER ON THAT DAY,

MY FRIEND DENNIS GOT ON THE P.A. SYSTEM

AND ANNOUNCED THAT FREDDY HAD MADE IT TO THE HOSPITAL.

THEY GOT HIM STABILIZED

TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY RIGHT NOW.

BUT HE STILL WASN'T OUT OF THE WOODS.

CONTINUE PRAYING. CONTINUE PRAYING FOR HIS FAMILY.

CONTINUE PRAYING FOR HIM.

I REALLY DIDN'T THINK FREDDY WOULD EVEN MAKE IT

TO THE HOSPITAL.

THEY WERE TELLING US

THAT IT STILL DIDN'T LOOK REAL GOOD FOR FREDDY

BUT THAT HE WAS STILL ALIVE.

THANK GOD FOR THAT.

THAT WAS PROBABLY THE HARDEST I'VE EVER PRAYED.

Rodger: THOUGH DOCTORS WERE EXTREMELY CONCERNED

ABOUT FREDDY'S CONDITION,

HIS HEART AND BRAIN MADE A FULL RECOVERY WITHIN A FEW DAYS.

WELL, IT WAS A GOOD BIT LATER.

FREDDY, HE CALLED ME FROM THE HOSPITAL.

I AM NOT MAD AT YOU AT ALL.

[ LAUGHS ] THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID.

"I'M NOT MAD AT YOU ANYMORE." [ LAUGHS ]

LOOKING BACK AT THAT SITUATION,

I BELIEVE FREDDY VEST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD.

EDDY.

OH, FREDDY, HOW YOU DOING, BUDDY?

IT'S ONE OF THEM TIMES

THAT IT JUST PUTS A BIG OL' TEAR IN YOUR EYE TO KNOW,

YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW,

GOD, YOU'RE SO GOOD TO BRING OUR BROTHER BACK.

-I LOVE YOU. -I LOVE YOU TOO, BUDDY.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

FREDDY, DO YOU BELIEVE YOU WERE RAISED FROM THE DEAD?

YES, SIR.

I'VE BEEN TO THE OTHER SIDE AND BACK.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU GOT A SECOND CHANCE?

I FEEL LIKE GOD GAVE ME

THIS SECOND CHANCE WITH A MESSAGE.

THE MESSAGE IS HOPE, COMFORT

TO THOSE THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES,

AND HEAVEN IS REAL.

WHAT LESSON DID YOU LEARN FROM THIS EXPERIENCE

THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD?

FRIENDSHIP IS TOO MEANINGFUL

TO LET SOME LITTLE THING SPOIL IT.

HOW DID THIS EXPERIENCE CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

I TRY TO BE A BETTER PERSON.

I DON'T ALWAYS ACCOMPLISH THAT.

BUT THAT'S MY THOUGHT EVERY MORNING --

I TRY TO BE A BETTER PERSON.

AND I TRY TO BE QUICK TO FORGIVE,

QUICK TO SAY "I LOVE YOU,"

AND I'M TRYING TO BE QUICK TO SAY "I'M SORRY."

AND THAT'S PRETTY WELL

THE WAY I TRY TO LIVE MY LIFE NOW.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR INCREDIBLE STORY.

-THANK YOU. -THIS WAS AMAZING.

-THANK YOU SO MUCH. -RODGER, IT'S BEEN A BLESSING.

Rodger: FREDDY'S CASE CHALLENGES CONVENTIONS OF SCIENCE,

DEMONSTRATING THAT ACTIONS

AND EVEN THOUGHTS FROM THE LIVING...

CONTINUE PRAYING. CONTINUE PRAYING FOR HIM.

Rodger: ...CAN REACH INTO THE AFTERLIFE AND CHANGE FATE.

PRAYER AND FRIENDSHIP ALL COMBINED TO BRING FREDDY

BACK FROM THE DEAD.

ALL RIGHT, RODGER.

SO WHAT DID YOU LEARN WITH FREDDY VEST?

FOR ME, THIS CASE CONCLUSIVELY PROVED THE POWER OF PRAYER.

WHILE HE'S IN HEAVEN, HE GETS TO SEE EACH PRAYER

THAT'S BEING PRAYED FOR HIM COMING UP INTO HEAVEN.

IT'S, LIKE, THIS ILLUMINATED LITTLE BALL.

AND THEY REACH THIS CRITICAL MASS AND FLASH,

EXPLODING HIM, BASICALLY, BACK INTO HIS BODY.

WHEN YOU'RE SEEING THIS PHYSICAL ENERGY...

YEAH, IT'S A SPIRITUAL ENERGY.

HE ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE THE SPIRITUAL ENERGY.

AND THAT'S WHAT ACTUALLY PUSHED HIM BACK INTO HIS BODY.

Jesse: YEAH. I THINK WE SEE THE EMERGENCE

OF A NEW KEY HERE AS WELL IN THAT EDDY ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS.

IF EDDY DOESN'T ASK FOR FORGIVENESS, DOES FREDDY

COME BACK FROM THE DEAD?

RIGHT.

SO, JESSE, WHAT STOOD OUT ABOUT VALERIE PATERS' CASE?

VALERIE'S SISTER, CHERYL, SHE EXPLAINED ABOUT THIS PREMONITION

THAT SHE HAD BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THAT KILLED HER SISTER, VALERIE.

SO, BECAUSE OF THE PREMONITION,

SHE WAS ALREADY PRAYING ABOUT

WHAT HADN'T EVEN HAPPENED YET?

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE EMERGENCE OF THIS POWERFUL KEY

OF FOREKNOWLEDGE OF A TRAGIC EVENT.

YOU KNOW, THE EARLIER THAT SOMEBODY CAN PRAY,

THE BETTER CHANCE OF A FAVORABLE OUTCOME.

THIS IS THE FIRST CASE I'VE SEEN WHERE, ACTUALLY,

JESUS ACTUALLY ANOINTS VALERIE IN THE AFTERLIFE.

I MEAN, WE'VE HEARD SEVERAL OF OUR PREVIOUS CASES

WHERE SOMEONE ANOINTED SOMEONE ON THIS SIDE OF LIFE.

BUT FOR HIM TO, ACTUALLY, TO ANOINT HER

OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE,

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN THAT.

-YEAH. -INCREDIBLE.

WE'RE GETTING OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

I THINK WE'RE GETTING AN INCREDIBLE PICTURE

OF WHAT BRINGING SOMEBODY BACK FROM THE DEAD LOOKS LIKE.

I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC THING.

IT STILL DEPENDS ON WHAT WE DECIDE TO DO.

THERE'S MORE STORIES OUT THERE.

THERE'S MORE THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T LEARNED YET.

AND I'M EXCITED TO UNCOVER THEM AND --

AND THEN JUST TO CONTINUE ON.

ALL RIGHT. NICE WORK, GUYS.