Heaven is For Real is a compelling film that chronicles the experiences of Colton Burpo, a young boy who claims to have seen heaven after a near-death encounter. After a life-threatening surgery, he shares vivid details about his journey to beyond. So, is this extraordinary account shown in Heaven is For Real based on a true story, and does it cover any real events and facts?
Is Heaven is For Real based on a true story?
Yes, Heaven is For Real is based on a true story. The movie is adapted from Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent’s eponymous novel which recounts the experiences of the Burpo family. The story unfolds as a firsthand account of Colton’s father, Todd, who’s a pastor, and he tries to reconcile with his faith after listening to his son’s unexpected claims. After the surgery, Colton made some bold yet accurate claims that surprised his parents, which convinced them that his story was worth telling.
Heaven is For Real’s real events and facts explained
As reports suggest, Colton Burpo had to remain hospitalized for a longer period than what is shown in the movie. Also, he never actually flatlined, and his heart was beating just fine during the surgery. Four months after the surgery, Todd was able to tell what his parents were doing when he was in the operation theatre. He accurately described his father yelling at God, and his mom being in another room.
Colton claimed to have seen his great-grandfather on Todd’s maternal side. The child had no contact with him before and was able to recognize him from a picture of his younger days. According to Colton, he also met his younger sister, who was miscarried long before his birth. This also came as a surprise to his parents because they never told him about the miscarriage. Colton also saw Jesus in heaven and the closest representation of the visuals in Akaine Kramarik’s painting.
The real people behind Heaven is For Real’s characters
The movie mostly features characters based on real-life individuals, and the Burpo family takes center stage with their extraordinary experiences that resulted in a bestselling book. The characters in the movie closely mirror their real-life counterparts, and the filmmakers try to capture the emotional and spiritual journey of the Burpo family. However, the cinematic adaptation uses its artistic license to some degree and fictionalizes certain elements for dramatic effect.
Is Todd Burpo a real person?
Yes, Todd Burpo is a real-life pastor and the young protagonist’s father. Purportedly, he was also subjected to another miracle when he first had signs of hyperplasia, which led to breast cancer, but later, these signs vanished after other tests were done. Some people doubt that Colton was influenced due to his father being a pastor, and his story would have been different if he hadn’t been born into a family of Christian faith.
Is Colton Burpo a real person?
Colton Burpo is also a real person. He’s the son of Todd and Sonja Burpo who claimed to have a near-death experience during a medical emergency. He was interviewed again at the age of 14, and he claims to vividly remember what he saw up in heaven, a memory he formed when he was only around four. According to Colton, he saw his great-grandfather, his sister, Jesus, the gates of heaven, and even Armageddon.
