• To Heaven and Back

  • A Doctor's Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again: A True Story
  • By: Mary C. Neal MD
  • Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman
  • Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,115 ratings)

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To Heaven and Back  By  cover art

To Heaven and Back

By: Mary C. Neal MD
Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman
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Publisher's summary

A kayak accident during a South American adventure takes one woman to heaven — where she experienced God’s peace, joy, and angels — and back to life again.

In 1999 in the Los Rios region of southern Chile, orthopedic surgeon, devoted wife, and loving mother Dr. Mary Neal drowned in a kayak accident. While cascading down a waterfall, her kayak became pinned at the bottom and she was immediately and completely submerged. Despite the rescue efforts of her companions, Mary was underwater for too long, and as a result, died.

To Heaven and Back is Mary’s remarkable story of her life’s spiritual journey and what happened as she moved from life to death to eternal life, and back again. Detailing her feelings and surroundings in heaven, her communication with angels, and her deep sense of sadness when she realized it wasn’t her time, Mary shares the captivating experience of her modern-day miracle.

Mary’s life has been forever changed by her newfound understanding of her purpose on earth, her awareness of God, her closer relationship with Jesus, and her personal spiritual journey suddenly enhanced by a first-hand experience in heaven. To Heaven and Back will reacquaint you with the hope, wonder, and promise of heaven, while enriching you own faith and walk with God.

©2012 Mary C. Neal M.D. (P)2012 Random House

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What listeners say about To Heaven and Back

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  • Overall
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Fascinating

Near death experiences are always more interesting/credible when written by a physician, because they can address the critics arguments about the impossibility of NDE's in a scientific manner. This is a great story. It is very well written and there is a lot of detail on the experience itself and how it affected the author and her family. The narrator does a great job too.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

great listen

It was a well written and narrated. The story was compelling and inspiring. Inpkan on sharing this title.

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Inspiring story

Dr. Neal endured heartache and tragedy and in all things it was obvious that God sustained her. Her time in heaven changed her and how she viewed life.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Recommended to help me through the loss of my son.

I recently lost my son. Not only was he my son he was my best friend. My soul is crushed, and I’m searching for Comfort. This book was recommended to me by someone who understands things that I do not. It has been of great comfort and I will probably listen to it a couple of times. Definitely worth listening to.

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Emotional

Love the narrator!!!!! This is a beautiful book. The interaction I've had with the Lord were life changing as well.

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A Blessing to hear and a healing to my soul.

This confirms my belief that the word coincidence has been removed from my vocabulary. Turn it all over to God.

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AWESOME!

Where does To Heaven and Back rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very near the top!

What was one of the most memorable moments of To Heaven and Back?

hearing a first hand account of death, journey to heaven, and return to this earthly life. Her ability to change her life.

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I cried.

I've been "studying" NDE's for some time now. Still, up to now have the same conclusion: all are similar. It is so amazing to me how different people from different ages, religions and countries all have the basic story.
I felt lonely. But then I felt loved.

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Faith with turmoil

If you could sum up To Heaven and Back in three words, what would they be?

Faith,endurance,love

What other book might you compare To Heaven and Back to and why?

i would compare it to the letters that Paul wrote in the bible regarding perservering and demonstrating love

Have you listened to any of Rebecca Lowman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was extremely encouraging on how to deal with difficult situations in our own daily lives.

Any additional comments?

this book is very encouraging to the reader regarding their own trials & tribulations. Mary went through some difficult physical & emotional circumstances. If the reader compares their life to hers, he/she may gain confidence that God is always with us no matter what we go through. If the reader was not a believer, it is difficult to disgard that there is no God when the descriptions of what she went through are seriously thought about. I can understand her delay in writing the book since the believer is taught that it is not for our glory but for Christ's glory that we acknowledge our difficulties so that we may witness to those who don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The narrator also does an excellent job in describing these chllenges that Mary and her family faced.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

This was an enjoyable listen. God is the Almighty!

Mary Neal had an incredible experience! I'm glad God guided her to share her story.

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