A wonderful angel miracle story, told by a young man. Hope you love it as much as I do. Lots of love, light and hugs. &, Uma     NEAR DEATH   My name is Ricci and I am eleven years old. When I was two, I had a near-death experience. I was out in the garage helping my mother do the laundry. My sisters, Jodie and Sara, were in the house cleaning their rooms, while my father was working on his car. I had gotten bored helping my mother, so I decided to go out in the backyard and ride my tricycle around the pool. I started going faster and faster, and my training wheel got caught on the edge of the pool. I landed in the pool, and I didn't know how to swim. I blacked out for a minute and then woke up to find myself in a huge, bright bricked tunnel with a very bright white light at the end. I was very scared and didn't move. Then I heard a calm, comforting, soft-spoken voice say, "Don't be afraid. I will guide you." After I heard the voice, I turned around and saw a big angel. She said to me, "I am your guardian angel. I will guide you and keep you safe." She held out her hand, and I quickly grabbed it. We started to walk down the tunnel. When we reached the end, she turned to me and asked, "Would you like to enter the light or go back?" I answered, "I would like to go back. I'm scared." Once again I blacked out. My mother found me and called 911. I was flown to Loma Linda, where I was diagnosed with no chance of survival. Five days later I was fine and released. I never really remembered my trip to the tunnel until a couple of years ago when I saw a picture of an angel that looked just like my angel. We were in a bookstore, and I started pulling on my mother's hand saying, "Mommy, Mommy, that's my angel!" That's when I told her the story of the tunnel. She believed me right away. We talk about angels all the time now. I believe in angels more than ever. -RICCI ENRIQUEZ, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, A SEVENTH-GRADE STUDENT AT KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL     A Bee bg