A heart attack can be terrifying and life-threatening. For Tina Hines, it became an experience that changed her life forever. Tina had always been active and healthy, enjoying running and hiking. One day, as she prepared to go hiking with her husband, Brian, she suddenly collapsed. What seemed like an ordinary day quickly turned into a medical emergency.

Brian later described the frightening moment, saying Tina’s eyes rolled back, she stopped breathing, and her skin turned purple. Realizing she was having a heart attack, he immediately began performing chest compressions while waiting for paramedics. When emergency responders arrived, they rushed her to the hospital, where doctors worked to revive her. Tina had no pulse for 27 minutes before she was finally brought back to life.

Many people who experience near-death situations report unusual memories or sensations. Tina later said she remembered seeing a bright light and felt strongly that what she experienced was something beyond ordinary life. Her story became widely shared after her niece, Maddie Johnson, posted about it on social media.

According to Maddie, when Tina first regained consciousness in the hospital she was unable to speak because she was intubated. She asked for a pen and wrote two words on a piece of paper: “It’s real.” Family members in the room wondered what she meant. Tina reportedly pointed upward, indicating she believed heaven was real. The moment left a deep impression on her family. Maddie later honored the experience by getting the words “It’s real,” written in Tina’s handwriting, tattooed on her wrist. Tina’s story continues to inspire discussion about near-death experiences and what people believe happens after life.