Although faith can frequently raise a number of tough questions, it is not uncommon for people to turn to God when facing some of their most trying circumstances. A similar tale of a youngster called John Smith who miraculously recovered after spending around 15 minutes underwater in a frozen river is told in the 2019 Christian film “Breakthrough.” The fact that the movie is based on John Allen Smith’s real-life experiences makes it much more compelling. Naturally, people are curious about what he is doing these days and how his life has changed since the tragic event. We are here to investigate the same, after all!
Who is John Smith?
John Smith, a May 2000 baby born in Guatemala, was adopted by Joyce and Brian Smith when he was just a baby. Even though he spent his teenage years in a caring and devout home, he couldn’t help but feel angry about his adoption. John apparently rebelled against his parents and teachers in many ways due to emotions of abandonment. But there was one thing the kid had a deep affection for: basketball.
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When John was 14 years old, the event that made him the main character in the Roxann Dawson film took place. Due to the fact that they had the day off on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, he was spending the night at his friend’s house. John made the decision to visit Lake Saint Louise, which was frozen, on January 19, 2015, along with two other companions. The three guys fell into the lake due to the thinness of the ice.
While John’s buddies were able to escape right away, he was submerged in the water for around 15 minutes before help arrived. When he was taken to the surface, the medical staff started CPR and did everything they could to save his life. For almost 45 minutes as the adolescent was being transported to St. Joseph Hospital West, numerous attempts were made to revive him, but nothing seemed to work.
A pulse wasn’t discovered until Joyce, John’s mother, arrived to see her son and got to work praying over his body. He was transported to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital after being stabilised, where his rehabilitation was still under observation. The 14-year-old allegedly displayed symptoms of organ failure, and his lack of cerebral activity suggested that he might be in a prolonged coma. Nevertheless, his mother didn’t lose hope, and he quickly began to make remarkable progress before leaving the hospital by himself.
Where is John Smith Now?
John Smith is doing well in his life as of this writing. His near-death experience doesn’t seem to have done anything but strengthen his faith. He was equally fascinated and shocked that his tale was quickly turned into a film. John is still appreciative of everyone who helped prevent him from drowning and supported his parents as he recovered more than eight years after the disaster. He also respects the folks that put a lot of effort into telling his narrative on the big screen.
John still has a passion for the game and coaches the O’Fallon, Missouri-based Renegades basketball team. Additionally, he is a motivational speaker who frequently speaks in front of sizable groups and is always willing to talk about the significance of faith in his life. John started dating Abigail Smith when he was 15 years old, and they are now happily married. The two got married in October of the same year after he proposed to her in January 2020. On December 10, 2021, the happy couple welcomed their son Everett Judah Smith into the world, and they adore him dearly. John bought Belle, a cute Cockapoo dog, as a wedding gift for his bride, and she lives with the Smiths.
