{"id":30148,"date":"2021-03-22T12:14:17","date_gmt":"2021-03-22T16:14:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=30148"},"modified":"2021-03-28T20:37:10","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T00:37:10","slug":"heaven-is-for-real-timeline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/heaven-is-for-real-timeline\/","title":{"rendered":"Heaven Is for Real: Timeline of Events From the Book"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is the Heaven Is for Real <\/em>timeline of events? What happened to Colton Burpo? Why does Colton claim he went to Heaven? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The book Heaven Is for Real <\/em>was written by pastor Todd Burpo<\/a> about his young son’s visit to heaven. Here is a chronological timeline of the Heaven Is for Real <\/em>events from Colton’s sickness in 2003 to the writing of the book in 2007.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue on for the Heaven Is for Real <\/em>timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Heaven Is for Real<\/em> Timeline <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Heaven is for Real<\/em>, pastor Todd Burpo relates the story of how, following a severe illness, his young son Colton claimed that he\u2019d visited heaven and met Jesus. Here\u2019s a timeline of the main events in Colton\u2019s story:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2003<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

February 27th:<\/strong> The Heaven Is for Real <\/em>timeline begins in winter of 2003. Shortly before a planned family trip to Colorado, Colton\u2014then aged 3 years and 10 months\u2014becomes sick. A local doctor diagnoses him with stomach flu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

February 28th:<\/strong> Colton recovers enough to make the trip to Colorado. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 1st to 2nd:<\/strong> Colton\u2019s illness returns. He begins to vomit frequently and complains of pain in his abdomen. A family friend suggests that Colton may have appendicitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 3rd to 4th:<\/strong> Todd and his wife, Sonja, decide to take Colton home to Imperial, Nebraska, and check him into a hospital there. An X-ray reveals multiple masses in Colton\u2019s abdomen. The doctors are unsure what\u2019s causing the masses but, based on Colton\u2019s blood tests, don\u2019t believe it\u2019s appendicitis. Colton\u2019s condition worsens as he fails to respond to any treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 5th:<\/strong> Todd and Sonja become frustrated with the doctors\u2019 lack of progress and decide to transfer Colton to Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, Nebraska. The doctors there quickly establish that Colton has a ruptured appendix, leaving toxins leaking into his body. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colton undergoes emergency surgery to remove the toxins and save his life. During the surgery, Sonja sits in the hospital waiting room, calling friends and family to update them on her son\u2019s condition. Meanwhile, Todd finds a quiet room and prays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 6th to 12th:<\/strong> Colton recovers from his surgery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 13th: <\/strong>It appears that Colton is well enough to be discharged. However, at the last minute, the doctors discover that Colton has developed new areas of infection in his abdomen. Not only does Colton have to remain in hospital, but he has to undergo surgery again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 14th to 16th:<\/strong> In the wake of Colton\u2019s second surgery, his bowels stop functioning: He can\u2019t pass any gas or feces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 17th: <\/strong>The doctors at Great Plains conclude there\u2019s nothing more they can do for Colton. They suggest transferring him to a specialist children\u2019s hospital in Denver. However, before the transfer can take place, a freak snowstorm hits North Platte, trapping the Burpos there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in Imperial, Todd\u2019s congregation comes together to pray. They ask God to either make the snowstorm pass or make Colton\u2019s constipation pass. Within an hour, Colton\u2019s condition begins to improve. By that evening, his constipation has cleared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 18th: <\/strong>Colton is practically back to his usual self, astounding his doctors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 19th:<\/strong> Colton is finally discharged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

July 3rd:<\/strong> The Burpos are on a road trip to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, when they drive past the turn to Great Plains Regional Medical Center. Sonja asks Colton if he remembers the hospital. Colton replies that he does: It\u2019s the place where the angels sang to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Todd and Sonja are stunned: Colton has never mentioned angels singing<\/a> to him before. They stop the car and question Colton about the experience. Colton reveals that while he was having his first operation, he met not only angels, but also Jesus. He adds that he\u2019d been with Jesus and the angels while Sonja had been on the phone in the hospital waiting room, and while Todd had been praying alone in a room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Burpos wonder how Colton had known what his parents were doing during the operation, and question whether the experience Colton is describing was a dream or real. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around July 10th:<\/strong> Todd questions Colton further about his experience. Colton explains that he met Jesus and the angels while visiting heaven. He gives a description of Jesus that matches both passages in the Bible and the depiction of Jesus on crucifixes\u2014but Todd notes that Colton hasn\u2019t encountered crucifixes or those sections of the Bible yet. He begins to contemplate the idea that his son is describing a real experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later that week, both Todd and Sonja ask Colton questions about heaven. He states that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n