'God Built This Miracle': Hockey Player Died for 16 Minutes, Says He Spoke to God

Regent University’s Commencement Ceremony Kicks Off! 

“They still don't know what happened and we'll never know what happened. All we know is God did his thing.”It was supposed to be a joyful day for sisters Ivy Harden and Amy Kryker. They were preparing to head to a family wedding in Seattle when Ivy, who began to feel ill, asked Amy to drive. Amy says, “she was eating, talking…it literally was, when we walked out the door, she handed me the keys and she said, I'm going to need you to drive. You know, I have a migraine.”  Minutes later, Amy had to pull over into a parking lot, where ivy got out and collapsed to the pavement, drenched in sweat, vomiting, and losing her vision. “She was so, so sick so quickly, she felt cold and clammy, and I did feel like we were at a pivotal point, a very serious point,” describes Amy. 

EMT’s arrived and took ivy to a local hospital. The diagnosis was swift and terrifying - a massive brain bleed. Ivy was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, for further testing and possible surgery. Time appeared to be running out for the 54-year-old. By then the news had reached her husband Robert, who was home in Kodak, Tennessee. He was reliving his worst nightmare. “My mom died of an aneurysm”, says Robert. “So that fear that, I can’t do this again, kind of a thing goes through my head, like a punch in the stomach; when the situation really struck me, it was like, I can't do this again” Robert says.

Being thousands of miles away didn’t help. So Robert hopped on a plane to Seattle to be with his wife. Robert shares that “the big fear was if they couldn't get the bleeding stopped, then what are we gonna do?” He says the only thing he could do was pray.

Robert wasn’t alone --- Amy, along with ivy’s mother, family and friends already there for the wedding, had gathered to pray. The family waited as doctors remained puzzled about the cause of the bleed. She had no history of migraines, no known triggers, and they had no solutions. All Ivy had were prayer and faith.Then—on the third day, Robert says, “we walk in Monday morning, bright and early, and she's sitting up, and I could tell immediately her color was different. She was smiling, she wasn't in pain, she was, she looked like herself.

Ivy was released from the hospital the next day, with no residual effects or rehab needed! Ivy shares, “I’m saying to God, well this is your story now. I felt loved, I felt arms around me. Like I felt like he was with me all the time. People talk about a piece that passes all understanding, and he gave me that peace.”

Since then, the Harden family continues to realize the miracle of each day. Ivy hasn’t had any lingering symptoms of her ordeal, and they all have grown tremendously in faith in God!

Robert says, “they still don't know what happened and we'll never know what happened. All we know is God did his thing.” Ivy sister Amy exclaims, “we have seen the goodness of God in the land of the living. We have seen it, we've experienced it. To go from such deaths door to go to life is just incredible.”

Ivy closes in saying, “looking back on it, I see the hand of God. I see his mercy on me. I see his grace. I see for myself a trust in him. Tell everybody watching, he still heals, he still delivers, he still sets us free. And whatever you need is in his presence.”

When Lufuno was two years old, her mother committed suicide. After she spent a few years in the foster care system, social services contacted Dayspring Children’s Village, which is supported in part by Orphan’s Promise.

Auntie Gao explained, “Social services begged us to take her in. My class was already full, but when I saw Lufuno, I loved her so much in my heart that we made room for her.”

When Lufuno first learned how to read and write, her teacher noticed she formed her words differently. “It’s the first time I saw a child write like that, from right to left. I thought maybe she was dyslexic. She turned every letter, the ‘u’ would become an ‘n,’ and ‘f’ started down going up,” said Auntie Gao.

Her teacher realized it was not dyslexia, but childhood trauma that was holding Lufuno back. Auntie Gao said, “At first, she cried all the time. She kept to herself, not wanting to play with the other kids. I told myself that with God nothing is impossible. Teachers here are taught how to help kids who went through trauma. After school, I spent time with her and prayed with her. I told her Jesus loves her and reassured her that I love her. We played together and then I worked with her on her writing.”

Lufuno said, “I enjoy when she teaches me. Before I came here I couldn’t read or write, but God helped me and now I can. I feel like I am a smart girl.”

Auntie Gao said, “We thank God for her transformation. She is one of the best writers in my class and her writing is so beautiful. Now she is filled with joy, always smiling. Seeing the changes in her is a great joy to me.”

“I like to play with my friends and to read and learn,” said Lufuno. “I believe that Jesus loves me, and takes care of me, and even helps me with my homework. My friends and I do homework together. When I am able to help them, it makes me happy.”

Auntie Gao said, “To everyone who gives to Orphan’s Promise, ‘Thank you. The help you give goes a long way. Many children from troubled backgrounds come here to heal, and later go on to university. May the Lord reward you and give you the strength to continue the wonderful work you are doing.’”

In the vibrant community of Cambodia, a young girl named Sara is making a significant impact. At just 15 years old, Sara is the youngest daughter in a family deeply rooted in faith. Her father is a pastor and a leader in their church, while her mother works as a vendor at the local market. Sara is a 9th-grade student and, despite her young age, is already a dedicated Sunday school teacher.

Sara's journey into teaching began with a mix of excitement and nerves. She was tasked with continuing the mission of her predecessor and undergoing Superbook Academy teacher training. Reflecting on her initial experience, Sara shares, "At first, I was a little nervous… and shy, but the Superbook [Academy curriculum] was well-organized, so I didn’t have any difficulty in preparing the lesson."

Superbook, an animated series that brings Bible stories to life, played a crucial role in Sara's teaching journey. The well-structured curriculum and engaging video stories made her lessons more impactful and enjoyable for the children. "I used the activities in the book in teaching, and what helped me the most was the video story. No need to retell the story, just play it for them and ask questions. It helped them understand the story better," Sara explains.

Through Superbook, Sara has been able to connect with the children on a deeper level, helping them understand the Word of God and experience Jesus's love. The children particularly enjoy the video animations, which make learning fun and engaging. Sara adds, "We reflected a little and added the words in the Bible. The children really liked the video animation."

Over the past six months, Sara has seen remarkable growth in her students' spiritual lives. She finds great joy in teaching, leading the children to have fun while learning about God, and fostering their relationship with Him. "I really enjoy teaching children… leading them to have a good relationship with God, and seeing their spiritual growth," she says.

Sara's story is a shining example of how the Superbook Academy curriculum simplifies the lesson planning process for Sunday school teachers and equips them to teach the Word of God to children. By partnering with Superbook, you can help Sunday school teachers all over the world bring hope and transformation to even more children and families. Whether by donating to CBN Animation’s Superbook ministry through the link below, sharing this story, or accessing Superbook resources for your own family, your support can extend the reach of this incredible ministry. 

Together, we can continue to spread the love and teachings of Jesus, one story at a time. Join us in this mission and be a part of the global impact of CBN Animation’s Superbook.

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