By Leah Marieann Klett — Originally Published in The Gospel Herald.
In what doctors can only describe as a miracle, a 4-year-old boy who fell into a swimming pool and was underwater for nine minutes has made a full recovery after his mother tirelessly prayed for his healing.
Doctors told Roseann or Lewis Birtle that their son, John-Henry, would not be able to walk, talk or recognise them again after he fell into a hotel pool while on vacation. Before his mother frantically pulled him out of the pool, the little boy was starved of oxygen for 28 minutes and his pulse did not return for 20 minutes — meaning he had technically drowned in that time.
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A member of staff rushed to give the lifeless child CPR, as Roseann and Lewis frantically watched, begging God to spare their son’s life.
“We were praying the whole time the lady was giving him CPR, and I had faith that God was going to heal him,” Roseann recalled.
John-Henry was then rushed to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where he spent 13 days on life support. He was then transferred to Nottingham Children’s Hospital for specialist treatment, where doctors prepared his parents for the worst.
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However, God didn’t wait to show His faithfulness: After just two months of treatment, the little boy defied expectations and made an incredible recovery. He’s now eating, walking and starting to speak again.
Roseann told the Newark Advertiser she credits her son’s miraculous healing to the tireless work of doctors and nurses — and to Jesus Christ.
“He is my miracle boy,” she said. “Doctors said he wouldn’t have a good quality of life, but he proved them all wrong and actually walked out of hospital five weeks later. He is expected to make a full recovery.”
As their son continues to recover, Roseann and Lewis are now looking to raise money for the Nottingham Hospitals Charity’s Big Appeal, which aims to raise three million for parent and family accommodation, state-of-the-art equipment and vital research at the children’s hospital.
“Nottingham Children’s Hospital have been absolutely fantastic, and now we want to give something back,” said Roseann. “When you get to spend a long time in hospital you see how hard they work and what a brilliant job they do.
Barbara Cathcart, chief executive of Nottingham Hospitals Charity, said John-Henry’s story was “a remarkable one of hope and healing”.
“I’m delighted that the family want to fundraise for Nottingham Children’s Hospital. Our Big Appeal will make a big difference to children like John-Henry by helping to improve family accommodation and make the hospital a more child-friendly place, as well as funding up to the minute diagnostic equipment and crucial research.”
