waking up in heaven, the schoolteacher and mother of four explains why she considered herself an unlikely candidate for such an experience. i was sexually abused many years in my life. it wasn t that i didn t believe in god but i questioned his existence. my whole life. what kind of god could allow this kind of abuse happen? all of that fell off in the presence of god. reporter: while she was there, mcveigh says two times god gave her the choice to return to her body. she declined the first offer but then i heard my mother scream my name, and i stopped and i said can i tell her that i m okay? and he said, the choice is up to you. i didn t want to come back to my life, but i turned around and i was right back in my body. reporter: her experience rings true with a man with a similar and famous story. neurosurgeon evan alexander, the man behind the best seller proof of heaven. the story and the fact is consistent with other near-death experiences, i would believe and t