By Ed Wood
If you have visited here before, you may recognize the name. I had a brief spurt of activiy where I had written here extensively. In the following years, the creative well has unfortunately pretty much dried up, much to my chagrin.
I return now to tell you an unusual story. The fact that I’m telling it is even more unusual, considering my past reticence to disclose much of myself to anyone.
Probably best to start with some background material.
I am presently 70 years old. My childhood was turbulent, the details of which are really not that important. Suffice it to say it played a big part in the man I would become. About 20 years ago, I was betrayed by a very close friend and her family. That essentially closed the door toward my ever allowing anyone to get “too close” from then on.
The only exception was my mother. Last year, after being essentially housebound for a considerable time, her health deteriorated and she died at the age of 92. It was a painful death which concluded a lifetime of disappointment and hardship. That even her departure was an ordeal struck me as totally unfair.
Seven years ago, I myself nearly died of Stage 4 heart failure. My prime motivation to recover was to be around for Mom, which I thankfully accomplished at a level which could be easily considered miraculous.
Life went on after Mom’s passing.
Back on June 1st of this year (2023), I was at he gym, stepping off of an elliptical machine . . . . my next memory is that of waking up in the hospital, getting ready to come home two days later. Memory is tenuous for a few more days, but has rapidly improved since then, as I write this about two weeks later.
And now on to the real miracle, or perhaps better expressed as a series of them. Based on what I’ve since been told, it took eight “hits” with a defib to get my heart restarted, during which time I was dead for . . . 10 minutes! This I just learned from my primary care physician. That I have no sigificant impairment, either mental or physical (besides some broken ribs), takes my story beyond the realm of science. My medical people are, quite franky, amazed, at my recovery so far – something I was told usually takes months! So am I!
As amazing as that is, it pales in comparison to what I’m about to tell you next. When I collapsed, many people at the gym whom I only knew casually, have since stepped up and gone far above and beyond to help someone, who was before this, pretty much a stranger. In fact, some were directly responsible for keeping me from being a statistic.
Yet, as remarkable as this outpouring of compassion and love has been, there has been a marked change in myself – the ability to accept all of this wholeheartedly (sorry, pun unintended). This was totally unthinkable before and I consider this change the biggest miracle of all!
I must confess that I regret that I don’t remember what happened while I was “gone,” but considering my lack of memory of even Earth-events in the days which followed, it is not a surprise. My cardiologist has said that it may resolve itself as time goes by. It will certainly be amazing if it does.
Terry James has spoken of his experiences following a massive heart attack, even written an excellent book about it called “HeavenVision,” which you should get for yourself if you haven’t already. One of the “gym people” has had an “after death” experience and he and his wonderful wife have since taken me under their wings – another miracle!
Another result of this has been some very interesting conversations about my own faith and interest in Bible prophecy, the opportunity for which hadn’t existed before. I have found all those new friends in my life very accepting. Maybe they figure that I have some inside track, having been dead for 10 minutes. I don’t think I have, at least not on a conscious level. All things said and done, I am convinced that God brought me back for a reason, or maybe even several. Maybe this is part of it.
I think another was so I could experience a peace that I have never known and a release from a long-smoldering anger which circumstances have made part of my life for as long as I remember – something only now made clear by its absence.
However much time is left to me, whatever I have left to accomplish, is something I believe the coming days will reveal. I thank our gracious God for taking me down a path
I have never and would never tread otherwise – and I can hardly wait to see what’s next!!
May the Lord bless and keep you all!
Ed Wood!
Terry James Prophecy Line 
What an amazing story! Only the Lord! There are no coincidences. So grateful you are experiencing peace from this latest incredible comeback from the dead.—-I believe the next event that will happen very soon is the rapture of the church. Maranatha!
Thank you, Julie. I totally agree and think we will soon be meeting Jesus in the air. What a grand gathering it will be!
God bless!
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Sorry you got scared, but that was my fault!
Funny thing is, I have not experienced any fear from the time of my “departure” and on, but a release the anger had been smoldering all these years, and some wonderful new friends!
God bless,
Ed
I def relate to the long-smouldering anger. Lots of bitterness and anger in my life and I, like you, never let anyone get too close. Look forward to hearing more if it comes back to you and you want to share with us.
Thanks, jodyel.
I will certainly keep everyone posted if I start to recall anything. My cardiologist said that this is a possibility.
God bless!
Seems as though Mr. Wood has an additional purpose beyond what meets the eye that God will be unfolding to him. Great article. Lord BlessMark
Thank you, Mark.
Looks like you might be right, considered what has already happened.
Just goes to show that God can even make “busted tools” work!
God bless.
Wow Ed ! You have been blessed in many ways! My similar incident happened almost 16 years ago. A cardiac arrest brought me down. My cardiologist said I should not be alive, that I’m a miracle. And tracing back through the timeline of that day, it was God placing people in just the right places to aid in my survival. It was incredible. An event our family often revisits. I wish I could say I see why this happened to me, or that I’m different from it, but I can’t. I was a Christian prior, I remember nothing of the event, and it didn’t have a “Jesus” impact on people I know that need Jesus. The whole thing is a story to me. My family and I received much love and prayer and food and help in this struggle. It was beautiful.
After my incident, I’m told First Responders gave me at least 4 shocks, and I struggled again later in ICU. My body was cooled so my brain could rest. There’s a lot more, but after 8 days in the hospital, I went home with no damage. I was teetering on 95% death or 5% survival with brain damage, they just didn’t know. When I awakened, I knew everyone and came around pretty fast. I do have amnesia of about 2 weeks prior to the event though. The whole thing is weird to me because of no memory. I wish I knew something, as I feel I would have a stronger bond with God, or I would be better at sharing the Gospel or something! But I’m just the same. And It’s not only my cardiac He has brought me through. He has been with me through a lot of struggles. Recently, holding our family together as we watched my dad deteriorate from dementia. He passed away last October. After visits with my dad in the care center, I would drive home in tears and pray that Jesus would talk to dad in his mind and telling him he loves him and is with him. My dad always knew me, but really never talked much anymore. The last time I was with him we sat in silence for a bit and out of no where dad said “I hear your voice.” It took me by surprise and warmed my heart. It was Jesus talking to us both! I’ve received tidbits like that from God in my Christian walk, which I cherish. God is so good. He is always with me. I know it and I am blessed.
Ed, I Praise God for your survival and how He is working through you. Thanks for sharing your incident. Lisa K
Thanks for sharing your story, Lisa. You might not think you were “changed,” but I’ll bet you have been. Or, maybe I required a much larger “tune up.”
You, too, have experienced some remarkable close encounters with God. My first was in Sunday School at the age of 6. We were singing “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” I looked out the window into a beautiful, deep blue sky, punctuated by big cumulus clouds – and I knew then beyond a shadow of a doubt, that everything in that song was TRUE!!
This was 64 years ago, but I can recall it like it was yesterday.
I praise God for your own recovery and am sure that you have affected many people in ways that you can’t even imagine – you certainly have me!
God bless.
Dear Ed, the Lord dearly loves you. It hurts to experience betrayal. I went through something similar a long time ago. Hebrews 13:5 speaking of Jesus it reads, Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever. I remember a Christian song I learned, “On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but lean alone on Jesus name. Praise God for bringing you through and May the Lord bless you and keep you and His face smile upon you. God bless you, Ted
Wise, kind, and touching words, my friend!
May God richly bless you and everyone important to you!
I have the absolute privilege of knowing Ed Wood and I am so blessed to see you posting something of his, he is a super follower of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and has, through emails, etc, encouraged me many, many times.
Hello, Chris!
Thanks for those kind words, my friend! I am blessed and enriched in knowing you and your husband. By the way, I did get your recent emails – thank you for them!
God bless you and family – always!
PS I am definitely emailing you as what you have told me is an answer to a specific prayer I was offering up for you. XXXXXXXXXX
Ed, I wish I knew you. I would love to sit and have many conversations. The Lord is so good. My joy is in the Lord even in hardships. I’m so glad He saved me, and saved my earthly life for a time, too! And the same praises for how God has worked in your life and your survival. You and I share a unique blessing! Peace! Lisa K
Well, Lisa, I think you do know me. After my incident, quite a few more people have, As I said, i had pretty much shut down as far as letting anyone get too close. Just didn’t want to get the “knife” again.
It is all different now. And I still can’t get over the anger being gone. After being tat way for so long, you really don’t know any thing else.
Doesn’t matter it took so long to turn it loose – the important thing is that it finally did!
I’m definitively looking forward to what might be next!
God bless
Hi Ed, I must confess I had a feeling a few weeks back(the timeline is right too) “why isn’t Ed Wood commenting on this particular article Terry wrote”? At least I think you never commented–I don’t recall which article, but I believe it was about the same time you experienced this horrific event! Thank the good Lord He’s still counting on you for yet future updates on Prophecy Line and other venues. I’ve heard amazing stories like the one you speak to here Ed, and always they have some impact, positive, and in some cases negative! I think that may depend on whether the individual had a relationship with the Lord–or not! Mine was at 19, and the horrific auto accident I was in that should have killed me. For this reason, and in my prayers every day, I thank the Lord for giving me another day–one I never take for granted–but is a ‘gift’ of life! You know my Dad, who was Jewish, wore the Hebrew letter ‘Chai’ around his neck, L’Chaim–To Life, I think I remember is the correct meaning. So it is I wish you L’Chaim for your earthly time and in Eternity!
Thanks, Dave, as always. I really was in a mental fog a few days after June 1, but it has rapidly improved. Still have a few short-term memory issues, but considering I was dead long after the 4-minute limit and that I recovered mentally and physically to this degree really is miraculous!
I’m writing this at the library. It is a beautiful day so I decided to take the mile-long walk to it. No driving for now – quite understandable. I live in the country, so I’m lucky we have a library that close to home, all the same.
L’Chaim to you, too!
God bless.
Ed
I look forward to any post from this site. (In Kansas, age 77 and still working)
I will keep everyone updated. I, too, enjoy all the posts here, and naturally, Terry’s articles.
God bless.
Yes, I remember your name! You always had some really great responses to Terry’s articles. I’m so glad you’re doing well and you realize God has you perfectly where He wants you and He is not done with you here! You have friends you never knew you had, too. Wow! God bless you, Mr, Wood, thank you for sharing your experience.
Thank you, SRB. I am still amazed how such a dark event has brought me to a bright place on so many levels that I had not imagined was possible.
This passage comes to mind:
1 Corinthians {2:9} But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
I believe have have been blessed with a preview of these very things right here on Earth!
God bless!
Hello Brother Ed. This is such a powerful testimony. Thank you so much for posting. You have no idea how much encouragement you have given to all believers in these most troubling times. I wanted to pass along my own very short testimony and caution you of what I consider attacks going on from the Spiritual Warfare in High Positions in the Heavenly. 2 years ago I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s (subset of Dementia). I was devastated. I was brought to my knees. I waited too long to get my memory issues checked out. I kept telling myself it was “old age”. I found a neurologist after much research. I chose a doctor based on based on the sterling reviews that the Doctor would not rush the patient in or out strictly on schedule. It turned out to be very true. I go to other doctors under Obama and it’s strictly about the $$ in and out like cattle. Fortunately, I got a very positive effect from my medication. My faith increased exponentially. I wanted to share my testimony with the Doctor. The doctor immediately shut me down. The doctor insisted that religion is not appropriate in my practice. We only deal with Science here. I said, you sound like Dr. Faulci and Science is not the final authority on my mental health IF it conflicts with God’s Holy Inerrant Infallible Word; that the mental diagnosis humbled me which I desperately needed and you say it’s the medication that caused this false euphoria. I countered, all good things come from above & you were given the gift of compassion & intellectualism in your field from above; not your own. I said I personally believe that depression may be linked to a ship without a rudder and possibly to mental issues. Though always a believer, I was changing and doubting my salvation nonstop. Now I know I am saved. Perfect love hath no fear. I have no fear anymore which I worried about obsessively my whole believing life. I was consumed with debates on our military budget. No longer. I look for you to be attacked spiritually from Heavenly Places IMHO. Thank you again for your bravery in transparency. I will be sharing your testimony far and wide. You brother in Christ, Glenn
And THANK YOU for your testimony Glenn. You are totally right and the Doubting Doctor is totally wrong. I commend your for standing your ground and can say that you expressed yourself brilliantly here as well.
My experience, bad as it was, has given me new friends and a peace and freedom I have never known.
As for those who arrogantly say the science provides all the answers, try these questions on them:
1) Scientifically prove to me that President Lincoln was actually assassinated.
2) Do the same to prove Julius Caesar really existed.
3) Give me scientific proof to show me how the universe started.
4) Why is there not an equal amount of matter and antimatter in the universe? (There actually should be, from my understanding!)
5) Can you give me a scientific reason why racial prejudice is wrong?
Science can’t answer any of these, as far as I know. The first two, because we are dealing with historical knowledge which is outside of science, and the last three are outside of present-day scientific knowledge.
The point is, until humans know EVERYTHING, then they can’t ever rule out God, can they?
God bless you as we await that soon-to-come upward call!
See you there!
Thank you so much Ed. With my Alzheimer’s comes the “dark afternoon”; all documented by science. I hesitated to say this but the Doctor is a female. She’s extremely compassionate and an expert in her field. We had a very heated session. I pushed her buttons and the change of her wonderful gentle demeanor changed in a instant. She was saying this in front of my wonderful wife (raised Catholic; tough nuts to crack). My wife is concerned about . Catholics for the most part live for the hear and now, no inking of a Rapture, and see people like us talking about such things as fatalistic. As an Engineer myself, I’m a realist. I long to be in the presence of the Lord via death or Rapture because I am so beat down from all the trials and tribulations of tragedy, sin, violence, and death. I told the Doctor you are undermining my faith in front of my wife (she was doing it out of genuine concern for my wife; I have no doubt about that). I concluded that “it was inconceivable to me that someone who is expert in the psychology of the mind completely denies the existence of a spiritual side; that you would be even better at what you are so skilled at if you did”. At this point, she closed her file. I thought she was going to have me escorted out of the building. I persisted. I said, “may I ask you when we could have a heart to heart talk about Religion, even outside the office if need be. Would that be appropriate in your mind? She said, “it’s never appropriate to me”. (Atheist). She said you should go to a Neurologist who has faith in a God/Creator and she said she have a list of them. I said no, I wish to stay with you. I am looking at it as an opportunity to pray for her soul in genuine love for her; that when we die, our eternal fate is just beginning. Your outlook is temporary joy now “for tomorrow we die”. I said as a believer I have the eternal joy. I have “no fear” now of an atheist. They can’t touch me unless permitted by our Sovereign God over all things. I look at it as an opportunity to deliver the True Gospel (gentle as a dove but wise as a serpent). His word never returns void. Believe/repent and turn it all over to Jesus. I’m sure Pastor Terry James can relate. Maranantha Lord Jesus!!!! Glenn
Hello, Glenn B.
It is possible that you ended up with this doctor for a reason, but don’t be discouraged if she won’t ever consider your arguments. I’ve run into this before and the time may come when you simply have to walk away. That’s what I did with my former Episcopal parish when they rolled over for perversion.
None of my medical people have ever ridiculed my beliefs, and to be totally honest with you, if any did to the extent yours has, I would have walked. But that’s just me. You must follow where you think the Spirit is leading you. (You might try those questions on her I suggested – be interesting to hear her answers.)
I was an electronic tech for 20 years and have always liked science. Instead of diminishing my faith it has reinforced it. Science, in and of itself, is not good or evil. It is merely a tool. Good or evil is based upon its application by a human.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with me – I deeply appreciate this. Please feel free to continue the conversation, if you like.
By the way, I would never have guessed by the articulation of your messages that you had any diminishiment of your mental faculties. I think the possibility that the Rapture may come before they decline – or before my heart gives out again.
Whatever the case, we know that we are NOT ALONE on this journey on our long way home!
Thank God for that!
Ed, I could talk to you for hours. Believe me. You may not recall, my degree was in Petroleum Engineering. You and I debated about Climate Change a lot. Man-made Climate Change is a hoax IMHO; I made the point with scripture that God controls the environment, for Mercy & Correction. Job “37:13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy”. There is CLIMATE CHANGE because of the sin of fallen man. I retired from Petroleum Engineer of drilling wells offshore as I was doing paperwork for “tree-huggers” instead of doing my job I worked hard to be good at. You were always kind & gentle when we disagreed over the jot & tittles of scripture; secondary to salvation. There is one Holy Spirit and no fallen man is infallible. . Let me put it this way now. We are both right!!!! Additionally, I suffered with depression my whole life. I live in a very demanding family who were only pleased with me as long as I got A’s. Dad was a WW2 veteran and dropped out of HS his freshman year. He wanted to work. He was a workaholic and was never home making a living. He was so proud of the fact he bought a new car with cash. He worked endless hours and insisted that all of us were going to go to college which he paid for. He got 4 of us thru college. That was the sentiment of many WW2 veterans after the war. Ironically, Dad hated engineers. He thought we made too much money and wouldn’t get our hands dirty with a “real job”. I understand that now and never forget it. I have the utmost respect for hard working people who made their living working hard, like coal miners for instance. I now feel my depression (non-stop 40+ years) was somehow linked to my bitterness of having to perform to be considered successful. I went off the deep-end in college and rebellion after I got an F on my first final exam in America Literature. My board schools showed that I was in the 16th per cent tile in Reading & Comprehension. I was put on probation my Sophomore year. The spiral down got worse. I doubted ever being saved. My depression issue I believe is possibly related to being like the Bible says of a double-minded man. I jumped from 1 religious belief to another on a dime. Never felt secure. Rightly or wrongly, the medication for Alzheimer’s brought me out of it. My euphoria is probably because I was never normal. My wife lived with my depression for 40 years. She is admittedly “spooked” by my euphoria. The doctor fed into her spookiness. She can’t believe the change. Now I just tell her, “call me crazy but don’t call me late to the Rapture”. As I said, she’s Catholic. Very logical, want to live as long as possible and see more of this life. They just don’t get people like us longing for the Lord’s return. My wife is a believer. Her nickname is “Poly Anna”. We are different as night & day. But I believe God in his sovereignty brought us together for the benefit of both us. My nickname at work was “Dr. Doom”. After Hal Green’s “The Late Great Planet Earth”, I was known for saying “all hell is getting ready to bust loose”. I’ve completely changed. God or Science? LOL
Thanks, always, for sharing your experiences.
My folks split when I was 6, and I was glad. My father’s own childhood was lousy and he never learned how to be a good parent himself. He rarely came around as I was growing up, and I resented it. We were very similar, personality-wise, a couple of real hard-noses. Take this, added to the resentment, and you have the recipe for conflict.
My mother’s second marriage was to a certifiable nut-case. Suffice it to say, this made for a pretty crummy childhood. But Mom was a great parent, other than her questionable choice in mates! It ended being her and me against the world!
Added to all this was the devastating betrayal I’d mentioned and I did a major shutdown – until three weeks ago. Now, I have wonderful friends and, most amazingly, allowed them into my life!
I’m still of the mind that “all hell is gonna bust loose,” based on what the Bible teaches is what the last days will be like – all of which is verified by the evil we see growing exponentially all the time. But, I am not concerned because the Bible also teaches that God has the last word and that believers are safe with him for eternity.
You mentioned you have a kind of euphoria now. I would be willing to bet it is the work of God, more than pharmaceuticals! Since I am not on any meds that would cause this abrupt turnaround in my own outlook, I firmly believe that the only reason I am now at peace is because of God – for which I am forever grateful.
By the way, you are right about climate change related to humankind’s sin. Perhaps our own sinful actions have also played a direct role in not using God’s gift of Planet Earth wisely!
Thank you, my friend, for your openness and testimony!
My dear brother in Christ, let me hazard a speculation. Your change is due to being humbled. My diagnosis devastated me. It brought me to my knees. I am not bright. Everything came extremely hard for me except math and the sciences. I was a total idiot in every other area. For example, my IQ I learned was 94. I knew it was normal or lower because of how hard I had to study compared to the really bright students. I would sometimes only sleep 3-4 hours a night studying to get A’s. I graduated 3rd in my class. The others never studied at all. I deeply resented that. I carried the label of IQ-94 my whole life and set out to work even harder to “prove my brilliance”. It was all about pride. As a fallen wicked sinful man, I coveted the praise of men more than the praise of God. I was a double rolled-over “AO” as a boss as I wanted the same work ethic from those working for me. My GPA when I graduated from Marietta College was 2.41. I had the privilege of 2 engineers that worked for me that graduated at the top of their class (Texas A&M and LSU). I still resented that. I didn’t take most of my vacation time. Millennials nowadays at the top of their list is planning their vacations and working them in with 3-day weekends. I did their work but I know now it was all pride. Those 2 engineers now praise me as a stern but great and fair boss. I was a detached husband and father to my wife and 3 children too busy trying to be successful for the praise of society. What a waste of time. But I believe God arranged everything in my life, including my lack of gray matter. I have God’s Wisdom now as all believers do now. Truth is Reality. America as a majority now live in their own little fantasy Utopia world. IMHO Brother Ed.
My I.Q. was officially 116 in grade school, but I think these tests are not the whole story. I liked science but my math was HORRIBLE!! I still cannot do simple arithmetic! Subtraction with having to carry numbers is the worst! The cerebral wiring just isn’t there, I guess. It is my observation that few of us have “renaissance minds,” like Leonardo DaVinci. Most people tend to be specialists, their mental abilities peaking only in a selected areas. I know this is true for me.
For example, I worked in a machine shop for a few years and trig was necessary sometimes to figure out a needed dimension. I always had to ask someone to figure it out. That got OLD! I figured I was at least as smart of these guys, grabbed a college math book and, much to my amazement and delight, taught myself right-angle trig a only a few hours! Funny thing is, it came in handy again while learning about alternating current in electronics. If you ever watched “Forbidden Planet,” it was like I got a brain boost from that alien Krell I.Q. measuring machine, like Walter Pidgeon did!
Now then, you became an engineer, so don’t ever think your intellect is mediocre. The way you express yourself here is further proof of your intelligence. Additionally, you have a profound connection to God which is even more important – and something that all too many “intelligent” people just never get.
You are right about many of the younger generations. Their primary focus is on the “here and now” and this transitory world. As such, they have limited themselves profoundly. They may have brains, but they never try to reach beyond the day-to-day, so their intellect goes unused. Very sad – and I notice that people of all ages are addicted to these “smart phones!” Just can’t leave them alone – just like I couldn’t put down the bottle in the days alcohlism held me captive. (If I make it to November, I’ll be 45 years sober this year – another miracle and Jesu s gets all the credit for it!)
God has had his hand on us both, that is for sure – and the journey will continue, both here and in the life to come.
God bless!
(By the way what does IMHO mean??)