From Blindness to 360-Degree Vision–What 4,000 Near-Death Cases Bring to Light

Blind from birth, a 22-year-old woman experienced seeing herself for the first time—while on the operating table.

Illustration by Fei Meng

Vicki Umipeg was born prematurely at 22 weeks, weighing only 3 pounds. Her optic nerve was damaged due to high oxygen in the incubator, resulting in complete blindness. She had no visual experiences, no awareness of light whatsoever.

At the age of 22, she was thrown out of a car in Seattle, resulting in severe injuries—skull fractures, concussion, and injuries to her neck, back, and leg. While being rescued in the hospital, she found herself floating to the ceiling.