To Heaven And Back by Mary Neal

A kayak accident during a South American adventure takes one woman to heaven — where she experienced God’s peace, joy, and angels — and back to life again.


In 1999 in the Los Rios region of southern Chile, orthopedic surgeon, devoted wife, and loving mother Dr. Mary Neal drowned in a kayak accident. While cascading down a waterfall, her kayak became pinned at the bottom and she was immediately and completely submerged. Despite the rescue efforts of her companions, Mary was underwater for too long, and as a result, died.

To Heaven and Back is Mary’s remarkable story of her life’s spiritual journey and what happened as she moved from life to death to eternal life, and back again. Detailing her feelings and surroundings in heaven, her communication with angels, and her deep sense of sadness when she realized it wasn’t her time, Mary shares the captivating experience of her modern-day miracle.

Mary’s life has been forever changed by her newfound understanding of her purpose on earth, her awareness of God, her closer relationship with Jesus, and her personal spiritual journey suddenly enhanced by a first-hand experience in heaven. To Heaven and Back will reacquaint you with the hope, wonder, and promise of heaven, while enriching you own faith and walk with God.

My thoughts...

This is a book I cannot recommend, although I found the story of Mary Neal's drowning an interesting one I feel the book has several things that aren't biblical. For instance, Neal says there is a place where people stand in judgement and either choose God or reject Him. Nowhere in scripture does it say we have "one last chance" to choose or reject God before we go to our eternal destination.

No doubt there's divine intervention during her drowning experience (or she wouldn't be here with us today) but there are just too many things she speaks of that aren't backed up by scripture. Then there's her trip back to the states while injured... being in a hotel instead of a hospital, flying on commercial airliners with pulmonary problems and splinted limbs. Doesn't make sense to me. I give the book 1 star.

I was given a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.