Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back Read Online Free PDF Page A

his head against her shoulder the way she had when he was an infant. Within a few minutes, the doctor who had seen Colton on Friday joined us, and we brought him up to date on the situation. After a brief exam, he ordered blood tests and an Xray, and I think I took a breath for the first time since we rolled out of Greeley. This was progress. We were doing something. In a short while, wed have a diagnosis, probably a prescription or two, and Colton would be on the way to recovery.

    We took Colton to the lab, where he screamed as a tech tried her best to find a vein. That was followed by Xrays that were better only because we convinced Colton that there were no needles involved. Within an hour, we were back in the exam room with the doctor.

    Could it be appendicitis? Sonja asked the doctor.

    He shook his head. No. Coltons white blood cell count isnt consistent with appendicitis. We are concerned, though, about his Xrays.

    I looked at Sonja. It was at that moment we realized wed been banking on a really nasty virus. We were completely unprepared for something more serious. The doctor led us into the hallway, where there was already an Xray clipped to an illuminator. When I saw what was in the picture, my heart dropped into my stomach: The Xray of our sons tiny little torso showed three dark masses. It looked for all the world as if his insides had exploded.

    Sonja began shaking her head and tears, which had hovered just beneath the surface, spilled onto her cheeks.

    Are you sure its not appendicitis? I asked the doctor.

    Theres a family history.

    Again he said no. Thats not what the blood tests show.

    Then what is it?

    Im not sure, he said.

    FIVE SHADOW OF DEATH

    That was Monday, March 3. Nurses placed Colton in a room and inserted an IV. Two bags dangled from the top of a stainless steel pole, one for hydration and one with antibiotics of some kind. Sonja and I prayed together for Colton. Norma stopped by with Coltons favorite toy, his Spider-Man action figure. Normally, his eyes wouldve lit up at the sight of either Norma or Spider-Man, but Colton didnt react at all. Later, our friend Terri brought Coltons best little buddy, her son Hunter, to visit. Again, Colton was unresponsive, almost lifeless.

    Sitting in a side chair near Coltons bed, Norma looked at Sonja grimly. I think you should take him to Childrens Hospital in Denver.

    But at that point, we were trusting in the doctors, confident that everything was being done that could be done. Besides, Colton was in no condition to travel all the way back to Colorado.

    Colton continued to throw up. Sonja held down the fort, comforting him, catching his vomit, while I drove home to check in on the rest of our lives. On the way, I stopped by the church to make sure the place hadnt burned down. I checked in with my garage-door guys, returned some phone calls from new customers, and went out to do a door repair job. The entire time I was away from the hospital, I sent up prayers. Even during my conversations with others, my prayers ascended, a kind of mental background music that wouldve been in the foregroundthe only groundif only life didnt have an annoying way of rolling on.

    Sonja spent Monday night at the hospital, and I stayed home with Cassie. On Tuesday morning, I took her to school. During the rest of the day, between church and company responsibilities, I popped in and out of the hospital as often as I could, hoping for some improvement. Instead, each time I walked into Coltons room, I saw my little boy slipping deeper into the grip of whatever mysterious monster held him. Not only was he not getting better; he was getting worse faster.

Heaven is for real
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    I recognized it instantly. As a pastor, you sometimes find yourself on a deathwatch. In a hospital. A nursing home. A hospice. There are telltale signs: the skin loses its pinkness and fades to a jaundiced yellow. Breathing is labored. The eyes are open but the person is not present. And most