Dean Braxton expected a routine hospital visit in 2006. Instead, he says he stepped to the edge of death and came back changed.

Doctors treated him for kidney stones. Then, he says a severe infection hit fast and stopped his heart. Hospital staff later told him he remained clinically dead for 105 minutes. They even started paperwork to send him to the morgue. However, Braxton says his heart restarted and he woke up. Doctors later reported no brain damage, which made the recovery feel almost impossible.

While his body lay still, Braxton says his mind did not fade. He describes an overwhelming calm. He also describes a place he calls heaven. There, he says he met relatives who had died, along with angels, Jesus, and God. He recalls feeling welcomed by everything around him, even nature.

Then, he says Jesus delivered a clear message directly into his thoughts: “It’s not your time. Go back.” Braxton says the words came three times. Each time, he resisted. Still, he says he returned, saw his own body, and felt life re-enter.

Afterward, he says his priorities shifted. He stopped chasing what looked impressive and started asking what lasts. He now focuses on family, faith, and relationships. And he shares his story so others, he hopes, will seek their own encounter with God.