When he died in a car accident, a young boy says he went to heaven. After being brought back to life, he came back with a message he says Jesus told him to share with the world, and he wants everyone to hear it before it’s too late.
On October 19, 1997, tragedy struck while Landon Whitley and his parents were driving home from church. “I didn’t understand what he was shouting about. I didn’t see the ambulance come, but I remember him yelling. Julie Kemp, Landon’s mother, told Fox News, “That was the last thing I heard from him.” She was talking about her husband Andy when she said “he.” The ambulance she was talking about hit their car at an intersection.
Landon was only 8 years old when an ambulance coming back to its station crashed into the car his family was in. His dad died instantly. Rescuers helped get Julie back on her feet, but they didn’t know that Landon was also in the car. Julie said, “They couldn’t see his body because the driver’s side of the car was damaged, and Landon was sitting behind his dad.” CBN said that when they saw Landon’s shoe, they started looking for a child’s body.
They found Landon in the end, but he was not breathing. Right away, people tried to bring him back to life, and then he was taken away in a life-flight. That day, he died twice more. He was brought back to life each time, but he was still in trouble. “They told me that if he lived, which didn’t look good, but if he lived, he would be like an 8-year-old baby,” Julie remembered. “Because of all the brain damage, he wouldn’t know how to walk, talk, or eat. I was in such a bad way that it was fine. Just to have him, I would take that. He was the only person I had.”
Julie had to put her husband to rest while her son fought for his life. At his funeral, she says she felt like God had left her. “I was very upset, my heart was broken. And when I’m at a funeral, I’m complaining to God. She said, “I don’t know why this happened.” “I don’t understand why God didn’t send angels to protect us. But the next thing I know, I’m praying to God harder than I ever have before for Landon to live.”
Even though Landon’s head was badly hurt in the accident and he was put in a coma and hooked up to all kinds of machines to keep him alive, the boy opened his eyes after two weeks, which was an answer to Julie’s prayers. He didn’t have any brain damage, which surprised everyone. Even though Julie was happy that her son was finally awake, she knew she had to tell him that his father had died. “His face was covered with scars. And he was in a lot of pain. And I didn’t want to hurt him anymore,” Julie said. “So I asked Landon, ‘Landon, do you know where your dad is?’ “Yes, I know where he is,” he told me. I met him in heaven.'”
Landon didn’t just see that in heaven, though. He saw relatives who had already died and siblings he didn’t know he had. “He looked at me and said, “Mom, I forgot to tell you something. I saw your two other children. I didn’t know what he was talking about, so I just looked at him. But before Landon was born, I lost two babies. Julie said, “He saw them in heaven.” “We had never told Landon that. He didn’t know that we had already lost two children.
Landon said, “I knew they were my brothers and sisters even though no one had ever told me about them.” “Just being in Heaven, I guess you know who everyone is or you know your own. Landon said that every time he died, his time in heaven was different. He says that on his third trip, he met Jesus and got a message and a mission from him.
Landon said, “Jesus appeared to me and told me I had to go back to earth, be a good Christian, and tell others about Him.” “I just want people to know that Jesus is real, that heaven exists, and that angels exist. And to do what He says and what the Bible says, and things will get better in the end.”
Landon and Julie now use what they’ve learned to help other people who are going through loss and need hope. This is what Jesus told Landon to do that day. Landon added, “I know I’m doing it for Jesus.” “I know that God exists. I know there are angels. I know that heaven exists. I’ve seen Jesus. I am sure He is there. He’s asked me to do this, so I’m doing it.”
“Back in 1997, I didn’t understand why God didn’t send an angel. I know, though, that angels were there. And I know that He kept us safe and that we are following His plan for us,” Julie said. “Instead of staying stuck in grief or mad at Him, I was able to use this story to help others not give up and keep their faith on their grief journey,” she said. “Watching my child tell other people about Jesus is a huge blessing,” Julie said. “He is always ready to tell people there is a heaven. He’s been there, so he knows.”