It began with a sudden flash of pain and the terrifying sense that her time on Earth was coming to an end.

In 2016, Vanessa Joy Lancellotti suffered a serious medical emergency that led to an intense near-death experience during which she claims to have encountered Jesus Christ, CBN reported.

That February, Lancellotti was having tea with her sisters, Amanda and Melissa, when she was struck by an unbearable sensation at the back of her head. She collapsed to her knees in pain, unable to understand what was happening as her head began to feel unlike it ever had before.

Medical crisis revealed hidden condition

Later, doctors discovered that she had suffered a ruptured arteriovenous malformation, or AVM, in her brain—a tangle of blood vessels that can develop before birth. Lancellotti had never known she had the condition. The rupture resulted in internal bleeding inside her head, which she described as feeling “wet” and overwhelming.

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, her sisters rushed her to the hospital. As her condition worsened, she was transferred by ambulance to another medical facility better equipped to treat her injury.

It was during that critical ambulance ride that Lancellotti experienced what she describes as a powerful spiritual encounter—one that would shift the course of her personal faith journey forever.

Near-death event sparked transformation

While lying in the ambulance, she said she felt detached from her pain and surroundings. Believing her death was near, Lancellotti began mentally preparing to meet Jesus. Her prayers weren’t focused on recovery, she later explained, but on approaching what she believed was the end of her life.

“I felt and believed that, ‘OK, this is it,’” she recalled. “I'd better get ready and prepare myself to meet Jesus.”

She recalls being surrounded by bright white light and finding herself in a serene, pain-free environment. There, she said, she saw a man in luminous white robes with a light blue sash—Jesus, she believed—who embraced her with open arms.

An emotional reunion and spiritual message

According to Lancellotti, in His presence, she felt innocent, loved, and completely free of emotional, physical, and spiritual pain. “It’s like sin never existed,” she said, describing the moment as if she had been transported to paradise.

She also recalls being told by Jesus that it was “not yet [her] time.” That message marked the end of the encounter. Soon after, she was back in the ambulance or hospital environment, preparing for emergency surgery.

Remarkably, although she had such a vivid encounter, her vital signs never flatlined. Her heart never stopped beating, meaning she was never clinically dead during the experience.

Visible change and deeper faith

Following surgery, her family began to notice subtle yet significant changes in her demeanor. Her mother, she recalled, told her there was “a glow” around her, and she felt a deep sense of joy even during her recovery.

Lancellotti said the experience changed her understanding of Christianity. Though she had always been strong in her faith, she began to explore more deeply the role of the Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts described in Christian theology.

“Up until that point, I didn’t know very much about the power of the Holy Spirit or the gifts,” she said. “But after that encounter, I wanted to learn everything I could.”

Sharing her story with others

In the years since her medical crisis and spiritual experience, Lancellotti has shared her testimony in various settings. She began attending Christian revivals and continued to develop her theology.

Eventually, she chose to write a book recounting her ordeal and transformation. Titled “Miracles Do Happen!: Jesus Makes All Things New,” the book aims to inspire others and highlight what she describes as the healing and redemptive power of Christ.

“He loves me. He saved me,” she said of her experience, which she firmly believes was an encounter with the divine. Her story remains a vivid example of how personal crisis can lead to unexpected spiritual insight.