Project Afterlife (2015–…): Season 1, Episode 6 - A Sister's Premonition; Cowboy Feud - full transcript

[ 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 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.