The Healing Journey

September 6, 2025

At 4 years old, Colton Burpo had a near-death experience and claimed to visit Heaven. His experiences were recounted in the book “Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back,” written by his father, Todd Burton, and Lynn Vincent, and later made into a movie. In his account, Colton talks about meeting an unborn sister miscarried by his mother in 1998. The following is an excerpt:

Later that October, Colton gave his family another surprise. “Mommy, I have two sisters,” Colton said. His mom, Sonja, corrected him, reminding him he only had one sister. Colton repeated himself, insisting that he had two sisters. Sonja replied that Cassie is his only sister, and then asked if he meant his cousin, Traci.

“No!” Colton insisted adamantly. “I have two sisters. You had a baby die in your tummy, didn’t you?” Shocked, Sonja asked her son who it was that told him that.

“She did, Mommy,” Colton explained. “She said she died in your tummy.” Sonja was overcome with emotion. They had never told Colton about the miscarriage.

“It’s okay, Mommy,” Colton said. “God adopted her.” Sonja asked him what her name was. “She doesn’t have a name. You guys didn’t name her.”

“You’re right, Colton,” Sonja said, dumbfounded. “We didn’t even know she was a she.” Colton said, “Yeah, she said she just can’t wait for you and Daddy to get to Heaven.”

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