This incredible story of a child surviving without a heartbeat for 61 minutes has left doctors amazed, calling it a true miracle.

James Fulton Engstrom is a remarkable young boy who serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing presence of divine healing and miracles in our world.

Meet this remarkable 13-year-old boy from Washington, Illinois who defied the odds after being born without a heartbeat. Believing in miracles may be challenging for some, but James’ family, doctors, church, and even Pope Francis all believe he experienced divine healing as an infant!

Bonnie Engstrom had a smooth pregnancy until a knot formed in the umbilical cord towards the end, tightening during the final stages of the home delivery. James was born appearing blue and lifeless, with no heartbeat. As Bonnie reminisced, she vividly described the moment she sat on her bedroom floor, watching them perform CPR.

As Bonnie desperately sought divine intervention, she pleaded for her baby boy’s recovery as James was transported to the hospital in an ambulance, just 20 minutes away. When James was finally seen by doctors, his heart had stopped beating for an entire hour, leaving no hope for revival. Dr. Juanita Corrales anticipated significant long-term consequences even in the event of survival.

She says, «Even though I want babies to live, I want to think about the quality of life as well.» After approximately 10 minutes of medical care, she was prepared to declare his passing. James had gone 61 minutes without a heartbeat, yet his parents clung to hope for a miracle. James’ heartbeat returned, and he was back to normal.

«I was on the verge of giving up,» Dr. Corrales says. «But right before we said he was gone, he had a heartbeat.» After 61 minutes without a heartbeat, the baby’s body should have sustained serious damage, but that wasn’t the case for James.

«A vegetative state was the expected outcome,» stated Dr. Corrales. «And that is not the case.» Today, Fulton Engstrom is a lively young boy, and Dr. Corrales firmly believes it is due to divine intervention. «I am very selective about using the word ‘miracle’,» she says. «However, this situation is quite difficult to explain. It truly feels like a miracle.»

After a thorough investigation by the Diocese of Peoria, Pope Francis confirmed this miracle. Bonnie Engstrom is convinced that God’s existence is evident in the world even in modern times. “I really don’t think it was given to us, for us,” she said. “I think it was given to the church, for the church.”

Jeremiah 32:27 “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?