Colton Burpo, the subject of the book “Heaven is for Real,” had a near-death experience at the age of four during emergency surgery. He claimed to have visited heaven and met Jesus, as well as deceased relatives and angels.
In 2003, Colton Burpo, the son of Todd and Sonja Burpo, underwent an emergency appendectomy at a hospital in North Platte, Nebraska. During this surgery, Colton’s heart stopped, and he says that he had an out-of-body experience. According to Colton and his parents, during the time he was unconscious, he visited heaven. After he recovered, Colton began to recount his journey, sharing vivid and detailed descriptions of what he claimed to have seen and experienced.
Colton’s father, Todd, a pastor, was initially skeptical of his son’s story, but became convinced of its authenticity as Colton shared information he seemingly could not have known otherwise. For example, Colton mentioned meeting his great-grandfather who had died 30 years before he was born, and a sister whom his mother had miscarried before he was born, which his parents had never spoken to him about.
The family decided to share Colton’s experience with the world, and in 2010, they published a book titled “Heaven is for Real,” which Todd co-wrote with Lynn Vincent. The book became a bestseller and was later adapted into a feature film in 2014. Colton’s story has been a source of inspiration and comfort to many, though it has also been met with skepticism and debate regarding near-death experiences and the afterlife. As of my knowledge cutoff in 2023, Colton Burpo continues to share his story and the impact it has had on his life.