We struggle with the passing of a loved one ane the process of our own dying will be a trial for those remaining.  But the better part of death is the life it can bring to our family.  Don and Nadine Hackett and their children experienced that truth — better still, was the reunion.
 
A HEAVENLY FIELD
Heaven Changed Don Hockett

A vast field of beautiful flowers extended all about me as far as I could see; they covered plains and low hills, disappearing into a blue horizon in every direction.  All were hand-size and color, wide open, and looking very happy.   Their centers were a deep purple, surrounded by pure white petals, rimmed with the same deep purple, while fine purple lines radiated from their centers through the middle of the petals to their edges, as if skillfully drawn with a fine tipped brush. Each was supported on stems of transparent gold with off-shoots of the same color extending from their bases.  It was a place of royal beauty and peace.
It wasn’t a place I had decided to visit. I was just there — instantly.
I was accustomed to bouts of mild chest pain, whenever I became over stressed or exhausted.  So, as usual, I had tucked a nitro pill under my tongue, like my doctor prescribed.  And, as usual, it felt hot and gave me the throbby head.  But not as usual, it didn’t work.  Neither did the second, or the third.  Perhaps, I was more exhausted than I felt. But this would pass, I thought.
   After all, I had driven 160 miles from Colorado Springs to Cheyenne In the morning, walked around the stock show, visited booths, watched the rodeo, and drove the long way back, arriving home near midnight.  not only was I extremely tired, and dehydrated, but probably short on blood sugar, a bad combination for a person with angina — and not the ideal conclusion for a delightful, sunny day, enjoying a picnic and broncos with our extended family.
   Soon after relaxing in my chair, the pain began.  I didn’t want to disturb Nadine, who was sleeping soundly, but around 4 am I woke her and said," Honey we need to go to the hospital; I think I'm having a heart attack."
Upon arriving at Penrose Community Hospital, where my daughter was a nurse, we found our daughter’s friend working in the Emergency room.  It seemed providential because It was there that I had the heart attack, and our friend was able to call our daughter and tell her what was happening so she could pass it along to Nadine.  The next morning I was transferred to Penrose Main for an angiogram.  They found five arteries seriously blocked, two of them, completely.   Surgery was advised. We agreed and surgery was scheduled for the next morning, but there was still a problem.
 Several years before, I had prostate surgery and knew that only a urologist with a scope could Insert a catheter. Nevertheless, they attempted the insertion unsuccessfully.  The heart surgeon immediately called the urologist,who took me to surgery so he could make the insertion.

Nadine speaking:

This is where all the nightmare started.  Don’s heart stopped.  That was  followed by a death rattle.  Since he  wasn’t on a monitor, the doctor, thought he was napping and told him to wake up.  But it wasn’t sleep, he was dead.  The urologist, Dr Patrick Faricy called a “code blue,” and then his body went into a death seizure, causing him to chew his tongue raw.  For thirty minutes, his heart was dead still.  During all that time, they performed CPR and continued for fifteen minutes after his heart showed the first flicker,.. 
While all this was happening, we were in the waiting room, wondering why the cauterization, a fifteen minute procedure was taking so long.  Finally, the nurse came and said they wanted to see me and my pastor in the doctors office. After meeting Dr. Deborah Jalowiec, she doctor said, “you better come over here and sit down, we don’t understand what has happened.”
I said, “you mean I’m going to loose him”
She said, “at this point I can’t answer that, we don’t know.”
That’s when I broke down in tears, and that’s when the doctor suggested we go to a counseling room.   I so was so glad the pastor was with me.  Coincidentally, the cardiologist walked past the office we were in.  Hearing the commotion, she came in.
Meanwhile, my children, Geneva, and Ricky, arrived at Don’s room.  Being a nurse, she immediately went to the nurses station to find out what was wrong and where he was.  They were sent to the surgery waiting room.  Not finding us there, Geneva decided to go to the cardiac consultation room.  That’s where they found us.  When they arrived, Doctor Jalowiec told Geneva that they had performed CPR for 45 minutes, and in order to maintain life, they would need to perform emergency surgery.
While they were working on Don, the chaplain unlocked the chapel so that we could all pray there together.  That’s when The Lord spoke to me, "I'm not finished with him yet, and you will see a miracle."
 
Back to Don:
My spirit had left my body and was immediately transported into that royal garden.  I discovered I could move freely up and down as I floated about, checking out the flowers.  I noticed a little knoll to my right and I wondered what was over there.  To my great delight, I was there by thought. This was great fun, traveling anywhere by thought.
The place was incredibly bright with colors more real than our earthly eyes can see.  And the sense of well-being and freedom permeated everything like a boundless invisible ocean.  It was in the sky and light and the flowers and hills. Moreover, there was no heat with the light and no shadows for the entire sky was aglow.  I knew The light was from the Son of God even though I didn’t see Him.   I saw no other people, but I was aware of a mist that followed me everywhere I went   Similarly, I was also a mist without a body.  Then, suddenly I was back down, beside my body. I only saw my Torso and entered, but was quickly out again.  This occurred several times.
When I Explained this to my cardiologist she said, “I can explain it to you. We would get Your heart to beat a little and then loose it.”  After several attempts of shock treatments They tried a combination of shock and drip solution and it worked. Open Heart surgery followed six weeks later.
After recovering I asked the Lord, about the mist that followed me.  He answered, “That was your angel.”
I truly believe that my angel is still continually guiding and directing me.  
Today, twelve years later, I often visualize my trip into Heaven; its beauty and brilliance are as fresh in my memory as then.  I know when I leave this body for good, I will forever be in heaven with Jesus to explore its vast horizons and endless beauty.  Until then I truly enjoy sharing My experience so others may know Christ and the mercy of God—to discover the unspeakable peace and joy of heaven. It truly was a miracle of God and I am so very thankful.
Nadine says, “Don and I have never been so close as we are now after this miracle.  In fact, it drew our entire family together.” Our family has become a heavenly field.

Commentary:
The Bible says that we are to comfort other people with the experiences of comfort we have received.  We may, from this story of the families ordeal, and their comforting,  understand three things. First, having accepted the sacrifice of Jesus for our own salvation, our loved ones will be assured that we have only stepped through the door of new life.  Second, that there is a blessing of life withn our family— a more intimate love.  And for all of us who have committed to Jesus, our assurance of a new, exciting life that cannot end.