Ingrid Honkala and Her Near-Death Experiences

May 6, 2026, 14:24
Latin AmericaScience

Introduction

Ingrid Honkala worked for NASA and the US Navy. She says she almost died three times. Each time, she felt the same things.

Main Body

Ingrid almost died at age two, age twenty-five, and age fifty-two. She fell into cold water, had a car accident, and had a problem during surgery. In these moments, she felt no fear. She felt her mind leave her body. In her first accident, she felt a special kind of awareness. She says she talked to her mother in her mind. Her mother found her unconscious soon after. Ingrid has a PhD in science. Most scientists say these feelings come from the brain. But Ingrid believes the mind lives after the body stops. She thinks science and spirit can work together.

Conclusion

Ingrid believes that death is not the end. She thinks the mind just moves to a new place.

Learning

πŸ’‘ The 'Past' Power-Up

To reach A2, you need to talk about things that already happened. Look at how the story changes words to show the past:

  • Work β†’\rightarrow Worked
  • Say β†’\rightarrow Said
  • Feel β†’\rightarrow Felt
  • Fall β†’\rightarrow Fell

The Simple Rule: Most words just need an -ed at the end (like worked). But some words are "rebels" and change completely (like feel becoming felt).

Quick Guide for Beginners:

  • Regular: Add -ed. (Example: Talk β†’\rightarrow Talked)
  • Irregular: Memorize the change. (Example: Find β†’\rightarrow Found)

🧩 Word Pairs (Opposites)

Understanding these helps you describe a story better:

  • Life ↔\leftrightarrow Death
  • Body ↔\leftrightarrow Mind
  • Start ↔\leftrightarrow End

Vocabulary Learning

age (n.)
the number of years a person has lived
Example:She was at age two when she almost died.
water (n.)
a clear liquid that people drink and that fills lakes and rivers
Example:She fell into cold water and felt very cold.
car (n.)
a vehicle with four wheels that people drive
Example:The car accident happened on the highway.
accident (n.)
an unexpected event that causes damage or injury
Example:She was in a car accident when the brakes failed.
problem (n.)
an issue or difficulty that needs a solution
Example:She had a problem during surgery when the light went out.
surgery (n.)
a medical operation performed by a doctor
Example:The surgery was necessary to fix the broken bone.
fear (n.)
a feeling of being scared or worried
Example:She felt no fear even though she was in danger.
mind (n.)
the part of a person that thinks and feels
Example:Her mind left her body during the near-death experience.
body (n.)
the physical part of a person
Example:Her body was still while her mind was elsewhere.
awareness (n.)
the state of knowing something
Example:She felt a special kind of awareness after the accident.
mother (n.)
a woman who has given birth to a child
Example:She talked to her mother in her mind.
brain (n.)
the part of the body that controls thoughts and actions
Example:Scientists say these feelings come from the brain.
spirit (n.)
the non-physical part of a person that can live after death
Example:She believes the mind lives after the body stops.
work (v.)
to do a job or task
Example:Science and spirit can work together to explain life.
together (adv.)
at the same time or place with others
Example:They can think together about the mysteries of life.
end (n.)
the final part or conclusion of something
Example:Death is not the end, she says.
moves (v.)
to change position or location
Example:The mind just moves to a new place after death.