Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. He walked out of the hospital. My parents are older, so I think, When I leave for college, are they going to be well enough that they dont need me? But mom has always came back with, We are going to be okay, Im not worried. And within moments, he started to have a heartbeat," Joyce recalled. [4] The film was written by Grant Nieporte, based on the Christian book, The Impossible, an account of true events written by Joyce Smith with Ginger Kolbaba. And theres a timeline that goes with that. He is now 19 years old and since the movie Breakthrough was released in April 2019, several things have changed for John. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. John, who was adopted from Guatemala, was 14 years old when he fell through the ice in a Missouri lake. The faith-based feature film Breakthrough, now playing in theaters, tells the real-life story of John Smith, a 14-year-old who fell through the ice at a St. Charles, Mo.-area lake in January 2015, was deprived of oxygen for more than 15 minutes and had no pulse for nearly an hour.Despite enormous odds, the teen went on to make a full recovery in . Like in the movie, Joyce wouldn't let the doctors say anything negative in the room. First responders said he was underwater for 15 minutes. 150-Year-Old Bible Survives Church Fire Unscathed, Bibles, Crosses Miraculously Survive Church Fire Untouched, Mom Gives Kidney to 8-Year-Old Girl She Met at Vacation Bible School. I know that you have five. 19 years old .switcher .option::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb {border-radius:5px;-webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 0 3px rgba(0,0,0,.3);background-color:#888;}. Nikolas Dukic as Reiger, one of John's friends. Follow. The real John Smith was a short, bearded, brown-haired man and the relationship between him and Pocahontas was most likely just one of friendship. first assistant makeup artist (as Kristy Grieg) Kendall Lewis . You know, God is restoring everything back to this child,'" recalls his mother, Joyce.John was released from the hospital on February 4th, 16 days after rescuer Tommy Shine pulled him up from the bottom of the icy lake. and said his name, and a few seconds later we had a heartbeat," recalls pediatrician Dr. Nancy Bauer. We talked with Smith about his story being told on the big screen, his relationship with his family, and navigating this situation in the most formative years of life. He's completely the same boy that he was before." But instead of saying goodbye, the Holy Spirit rose up in her giving her the boldness to ask God to bring him back. What did you guys feel when that mother prayed for her son? And the other nurse said, Well, what did you feel? You know, nobody wanted to come out and say it first, and so finally they all agreed that theyd never had anything like that happen. -FOX 11, In researching the Breakthrough true story, we learned that John Smith was without a pulse for about an hour. Market data provided by Factset. So, when you start speaking the Scriptures, Satan stops hearing evil and starts hearing Gods voice. EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. John's return though welcomed by many, is met with some resentment by others, who question why John's life was spared while their own loved ones died. First is the cultural status of John Smith as a placeholder name. John and Smith together form a name often used to refer to an archetypal everyman. (Another example, of course, is John Doe.). Okay, lets look at these dates. She goes, I have to know because I know if this is Gods miracle, theres Gods numbers on it.. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. We capture the raw, transparent glimpses into the joys, struggles, triumphs, heartache and tragedy that make up the fabric of an individuals journey. That was the day my life completely changed and it was never the same after that, John said. John Smith mentions watching a video about my story. "'Call 911! He is walking out of this place. And thats exactly what he did. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. It took almost 48 hours before John opened his eyes. Joan Jett, a musician in her 40s, made a name for herself in the 1970s as a pioneering figure in the world of rock music. -CBN. After a brief and hurtful rebuttal, Brian storms off. Joyce: Ill preface this with Ive prayed for more people who have died than have lived. When Joyce Smith's fourteen-year-old son John fell through an icy Missouri lake one winter morning, she and her family had seemingly lost everything. He said that lowering the body temperature can preserve brain function, but that it "really shouldn't have worked in John's case." After time and a lot of prayer and mentoring, I eventually saw that God is the only way to get through something like this., In the years since, Smith has traveled around the country to speak to young people and plans to attend a Christian college in Minnesota in the fall, but hes also a typical high schooler, adds the teen, who also coaches youth basketball. Thinking it is his chief, he tries again, and manages to lift John to the surface. Yes. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. This book told the true story of John Smith by his mother, Joyce Smith. Parent Movie Reviewby. Even so, there are certain doubts that still come up. As for Breakthrough, even more success was recently announced for the film. No. Credit: Golden Village Cinemas. "No spontaneous respirations. Legal Statement. His mother was brought into the hospital room to see her sons body and she began praying loudly. "It gave me goosebumps." When John Smith (Marcel Ruiz), the 14-year-old son of Joyce Smith (Chrissy Metz), falls through the ice on a frozen lake in Missouri, despite almost 30 minutes of CPR, he is pronounced dead.As John remains motionless for almost an hour in the hospital, Joyce prays at her son's bedside and is stunned when she discovers his heart has begun to beat again. Could not be more proud and grateful for the incredible cast and crew", "Major Movie Shoot (And Luke Cage) In Winnipeg This Week", "Portage is Again Playing Host to Hollywood Cameras", "Lowest Easter Weekend At The B.O. John fully recovered and was released from the hospital 16 days after the accident. Does Eerie Photo From Scene of Deadly Crash Show Stairway to Heaven. Faith, prayer, community and the Holy Spirit. The Breakthrough true story reveals that the temperature had risen to close to 60 degrees that day and the ice on Lake Sainte Louise (near St. Louis, Missouri) had started to melt. He remembers being under water and coming up above the ice. .switcher a img {vertical-align:middle;display:inline;border:0;padding:0;margin:0;opacity:0.8;} This image of Smith couldnt be further from the truth. Breakthough is a Christian-based film starring Chrissy Metz and Topher Grace, based on the true story of John Smith, a 14-year-old who fell through the ice. But Joyce was not ready to give up on her son. That is true with the people shown in this collection of photos. He is now 19 years old and since the movie "Breakthrough" was released in April 2019, several things have changed for John. U.S.Goalkeeper Gets Ready for World Cup Soccer: Superstar Tim Howard Written by Henry Ortlip When it comes to protecting the Treasure hunting and adventure, Finding Ohana is full of family fun and reminiscent of the cult-classic Goonies. Market data provided by Factset. John Smith (born August 20, 1984) is an American former basketball player, best known for his decorated college career at Winona State University, where he was twice named Division II National Player of the Year. He started college at North Central University, a Christian college in Minneapolis. [11] The film garnered a nomination at the 92nd Academy Awards for Best Original Song.[12]. That was the day my life completely changed and it was never the same after that, John said. John fully recovered and was released from the hospital 16 days after the accident. Dierks Bentley performing at World Wide Technology Raceway, St. Louis forecast: Clearing out Saturday, Illinois first responders prepare for what severe weather spring could bring, Local teen's miracle of survival made into motion picture 'Breakthrough', Proposed bill would create parental review boards for public libraries, could result in fines or jail time for librarians, FX show 'Mrs. In essence, he was cold and he was dead. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, [10] The Easter weekend it was released had the lowest box office receipts since 2005, because studios chose to avoid any major release during that period so as not to compete with Disney's release of Avengers: Endgame the following weekend. In The Impossible book, Joyce Smith mentions that something in Tommy Shine's spirit "prompted and almost pushed him to move in a different direction, straight toward the ice shelf." Chrissy Metz and I DM on Instagram now and then. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. It is the studio's first feature film after the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney. He is studying to be a pastor. He doesn't have any neurologic deficits, all the things that we expect in these things. Marcel Ruiz, the 15-year-old actor who plays John in the film, said he was "nervous" for the scene depicting John's miraculous journey from death to life because of the pinnacle moment. The story is impossible. It is the people that make the past what it was. The surname Smith is particularly prevalent among those of English, Scottish, and Irish descent, but is also a common surname among African Americans, which can be attributed either to black slaves having been given the surname of their masters, or to being an occupational name, as some southern American black people . "I knew there were a lot of . Marcel Ruiz stars as the lead role of John Smith in Breakthrough. Chrissy Metz, of NBCs This Is Us fame, portrayed Johns mother in the movie. A Home Office source said: 'We obviously couldn't sustain these numbers of people coming in. [13] The movie was filmed in Manitoba from March to May 2018. What did Captain John Smith look like in Pocahontas? This boy was our gift from God. Joyce Smith's 14-year-old son John was clinically dead for more than an hour after falling through a frozen lake. He proposed to his high school sweetheart, Abby, at Christian High School in OFallon, Missouri. Behind the scenes of faith-based 'Breakthrough' film: The scene where Joyce Smith's son, John, played by Marcel Ruiz, comes back to life was a challenge for the big screen but Ruiz said it 'gave me goosebumps. What did John Smith look like in real life? Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The other boy, Joshua Rieger, was trying to get out by pushing onto the ice and pulling himself, but the ice kept breaking. Something we didnt find out until after we had written the book was that the charge nurse there, said, When you walked into the room there was something else that walked into the room with you. John Smiths other film credits include Circus World (1964) and Justin Morgan Had a Horse (1972). Charles boy John Smith fell through the ice on Lake Sainte Louise and was underwater for 15 minutes. Boot camps like this are found throughout the country, but they exist in somewhat of a grey zone when it comes to legality and responsibility. This is because the lake water was only 40 degrees and John's body temperature only dropped to 88 degrees, which isn't cold enough to adequately protect the brain. He'd spent 15 minutes under water and another 40-plus minutes without a heartbeat after he was pulled from the lake. Movie Info. Director Roxann Dawson describesthe "emotional" scene asa "heightened reality allowing the audience in a way to feel John's struggle.". American electronic music band Major Lazer has just released a rather stunning video shot in Iceland for their hit song Cold Water. "Usually you'd like it to be colder and you'd like the victim to be smaller actually," said Dr. Garrett, "because what you really need to have happen is for the brain to get cold before the blood flow stops to the brain. John Smith, an adopted boy from Guatemala, is a living, breathing, walking miracle and his unbelievable true story is going to the big screen April 17 in the 20th Century faith-based film, Breakthrough. John was 14 years old when he fell through the ice in a Missouri lake. Hes in class all week but every weekend John travels to churches and high schools across the country telling the story of his death and what his mother calls his resurrection.. It was so serious, and we took a group of pastors into the room and we just started praying for him," Noble said. Viewers should be aware that this movie deals with adoption in extremely stereotypical ways. Im more solo that day because Im reflecting," he said. At just 14-years-old, John Smith fell through the ice and was without a pulse for almost an hour, yet made a full recovery through the power of prayer. "That was the day my life completely changed and it was never the same after that," John said. John Smith was just 14 years old when he fell through an icy Missouri lake in 2015. "I remember the screams," Smith says. "It's helped me so much in my life," she told Inside Edition, "and I think it's the reason why I'm standing here, you know, at this incredible premiere. Yes. This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 09:22. Length: 116 minutes Release date: 18/04/2019 13+ Breakthrough is a faith-based tearjerker based on the miraculous true story of John Smith, who falls into a frozen lake. In the movie, Josh's sister Jamie is not present at the lake. Smith was rushed to the hospital and had no heartbeat for 55 minutes. Joyce realizes things are out of her control, so she leaves everything to God. Cast Watch it here. Market data provided by Factset. My brothers arent serving the Lord. Since 2002, he has used his skills to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Breakthrough's programs. And so, when you start praying that stuff, its just amazing. She said, When you prayed for him, there was something that moved up the table so hard and so forceful that it pushed me and the other two people there back away from John, almost to the point where I couldnt keep my finger on his pulse. And she said, We all felt it. She went on to say, We wouldnt even talk about it to each other that day. It was then that she began to pray out loud desperately. .switcher .option {position:relative;z-index:9998;border-left:1px solid #161616;border-right:1px solid #161616;border-bottom:1px solid #161616;background-color:#474747;display:none;width:171px;max-height:198px;-webkit-box-sizing:content-box;-moz-box-sizing:content-box;box-sizing:content-box;overflow-y:auto;overflow-x:hidden;} His mother Joyce prays for his survival, and he slowly begins to recover. Breakthrough. "My family, my friends, realizing,'This is it.'". In January 2015, 14-year-old John Smith fell into a frozen lake in St. Louis and made an astonishing recovery despite spending over 15 minutes underwater and almost an hour without a pulse, according to NBC News. [14][15] Locations for the 31-day shoot included Winnipeg, Selkirk, and Portage la Prairie. John's made a full recovery after his mother, Joyce, said a prayer over him at the hospital. John Smith (Marcel Ruiz) with parents Brian (Josh Lucas) and Joyce (Chrissy Metz) in Breakthrough. Moments later, John regained a pulse. .switcher a:hover img {opacity:1;} Joyce, now 68, began praying loudly over her sons body. John Smith (Ruiz) is a 14-year-old Guatemalan boy raised in Lake St. Louis, Missouri by his adoptive parents, Brian (Lucas) and Joyce Smith (Metz). John fully recovered and was released from the hospital 16 days after the accident. -Cincinnati.com, "I see three 14-year-old boys who were being dumb on the ice and that fell through, and that the Lord saved us," says John. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. RELATED: Local teen's miracle of survival made into motion picture 'Breakthrough'. But a carefree day soon grew dire as the ice gave way and boys fell into the lake. Fathom Events to Release Spectacular, Creative Easter Experience 'Creed III' Interview: Tessa Thompson on Bianca's Contentment 'Jesus Revolution' Surprises Industry with $15M Debut, Producers Chrissy Metz on New Children's Book with Bradley On Monday, March 6, Fathom Events will begin a two-night showing of Review of John Piper's "What is Saving Faith? Travis Bryant as Jonah, one of Johns friends. Now, still a teenager, at 19 years of age, Smith has embraced the platform God has given him and is excited about what the future has to hold. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. What gave you the absolute assurance that he hadnt passed? I believe God can do what He says He can do. "[26] At Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 46 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". There was a presence there with you. And she said the whole atmosphere of the room changed, even the temperature of the room changed. BREAKTHROUGH is based on the inspirational true story of one mother's unfaltering love in the face of impossible odds. Smith, a 14-year-old boy, walked out on a lake in his hometown of St. Charles, Missouri, fell through the ice, stayed under for fifteen minutes before his body was recovered by first responders. Early Life and Military Exploits. "Im more independent because I just, its such a different situation, I dont even know how to handle it sometimes.. [19] In its second weekend the film fell 39% to $6.8 million, finishing fourth. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. John Smith was just 14 years old when he fell through an icy Missouri lake in 2015. One is, but the other two arent. Kristy Greig . Producer DeVon Franklin helped the Smith family find a literary agent and then develop the book in a film after it was published. Yes. I popped the question and thank God, she said yes, John said. John Smith, an adopted boy from Guatemala, is a living, breathing, walking miracle and his unbelievable true story is going to the big screen April 17 in the 20th Century faith-based film, "Breakthrough.". But he survived. first assistant hair stylist Tommy pulled John to the surface. At 64 years old, John Smith height is 6 ft 3 in (191.0 cm). Even a blackhearted heathen like myself would feel comfortable calling John's recovery "miraculous." Based on a book by Joyce Smith titled The Impossible, Breakthrough tells the true story of how Joyce's son, John Smith, fell through the ice and drowned, and was declared legally dead. As he was searching for answers, waiting and praying to God, he got an answer at a youth camp. I have two kids. Quicksie 98.3 March 4, 2022 Adam in the Afternoon 0 Comments. Sutterer recommends transferring John to a better equipped hospital, citing Dr. Garrett (Haysbert) as an expert in cases like John's. John plans to pursue a life in the ministry while also coaching basketball. Her steadfast belief inspires those around her to continue to pray for John's recovery, even in the face of every case history and . Nothing. A friend of mine called me. We didnt know that until later. 74 posts. She said, I love you, and I said, I love you too, Mom, and I hung up. Stephen Curry and Samuel Rodriguez are executive producers. We went in and prayed like crazy. ", Yes. In the movie, they are only shown going on the ice once, the day they fell in. "[I was] constantly fighting God and Him just saying, 'Keep listening to Me, just pay attention, just walk where I need you to walk.' Smith was rushed to the hospital and had no heartbeat for 55 minutes. When Joyce Smith's fourteen-year-old son John fell through an icy Missouri lake one winter morning, she and her family had seemingly lost everything. Even though his mom was a devout Christian, whose bold prayer during the boy's hospital stay is credited with bringing him back to life, John was not a believer at the time of the accident andstruggled with his identity and other issues many high schoolers face. America' highlights St. Louis native Phyllis Schlafly and her fight against feminists, RELATED: Spotify will now make a playlist for your pet. The 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment film featuring Chrissy Metz, from "This Is Us," as his mother, is already on Digital and will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD July 16. Also, in one of her studies, I learned we are created in Gods image, Hes omnipotent, so our words are potent. He had no pulse for over 40 minutes after he was found and yet somehow survived. .switcher .option::-webkit-scrollbar {width:5px;} John Smith's true story of drowning and his miraculous recovery is told in the new film "Breakthrough." Smith sits down with Encounter to talk about the mov. [Thats] Him just calling me to ministry,"John added. Four years later, the story of his recovery after his heart stopped beating for 43 minutes was been made into a movie, "Breakthrough." Here is a look back at our original reporting on that story. "'Holy Spirit, please come and give me back my son.' And I think her belief is what God had grown and what shed been working on. Thats when people say a miracle happened. .switcher a {text-decoration:none;display:block;font-size:12pt;-webkit-box-sizing:content-box;-moz-box-sizing:content-box;box-sizing:content-box;} The basketball team and community comes together in new and inspiring ways to support the family. .l_name {float: none !important;margin: 0;} Thats extraordinary faith that your mother had. -USA Today. We had prayed to God for 17 years that we could have a baby. Director/co-writer Vincent Grashaws debut film isnt based on a true story, but it very well could be. Inside Edition's Megan Alexander spoke to the real John, who still can't believe he's alive. On Jan. 19, 2015, Smith, then 14, was playing with two friends out on the frozen Lake Sainte Louise in St. Charles, Mo., when they fell through thin ice into the frigid water below. Shed been studying Believing God by Beth Moore. Even just a little wave could have moved him under it. RELATED: Proposed bill would create parental review boards for public libraries, could result in fines or jail time for librarians, RELATED: FX show 'Mrs. John Smith, an adopted boy from Guatemala, is a living, breathing, walking miracle and his unbelievable true story is going to the big screen April 17 in the 20th Century faith-based film,. All rights reserved. John knows God has a purpose for saving his life and he wants to share the message of God's. "I'd talked to him moments before he went into the water," Joyce Smith said.