Tim,
I'm not a "believer." I used to be... I went to church (and paid attention) every week for about 20 years. With that said, my mother-in-law, who is a devout Catholic and whom I respect very much, had a near-death experience and is completely convinced that (as I recall), she spoke with someone who had already died while she was near death.
Now days, I tend to dismiss such stories as the subconscious relaxing and recalling what one wants or expects to see (similar to, but not the same as, a dream). Of course, I have no proof of this either... it's not something I've ever explored, but I think your report will make interesting reading, and wish you much success
. I'll see if I can find the details of her story to support your assignment. Best,
Rick