John Smith (Marcel Ruiz) with parents Brian (Josh Lucas) and Joyce (Chrissy Metz) in Breakthrough. Five years ago today, John Smith fell through the ice on Lake Saint Louise in Lake St. Louis in 2015. This boy was our gift from God. Tommy pulled John to the surface. Legal Statement. 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. In this fact-based drama, 14-year-old John Smith falls through a frozen lake and is pronounced dead after 27 minutes of CPR fail to revive him. They said that hes not going to live overnight. John said it was the place where the couple had their first kiss. Most miraculous of all? Afterwards, they will share more of their story of how God brought John back to life during our Q&A. Ill take care of this. Now, I didnt know what Ive got this meant, other was I just knew that He wasnt going to take John. Lifeless for 45 minutes. [13] The movie was filmed in Manitoba from March to May 2018. Metz also performed an emotional tune for the film titled Im Standing With You. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song this month. "[26] At Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 46 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Motivational speaker Servant of Christ Husband to @abigail_elise_smith Father Our Breakthrough fact check confirms that John Smith was under water for approximately 15 minutes before rescuers, including Tommy Shine, found him on the rocky bottom of the lake and pulled him to the surface. John shows some signs of consciousness: he is able to hear Joyce and Noble and to respond with squeezes to the hand, and a tear trickles from his eye as a crowd gathers outside the hospital to sing and to pray for his recovery. In a heated moment, Joyce tells Brian that if not for her, John would be dead. John's two friends managed to escape, but the then-14-year-old sank to the bottom and was underwater for 15 minutes. .switcher a:hover img {opacity:1;} Thanks to the Acting. 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. He is now 19 years old and since the movie "Breakthrough" was released in April 2019, several things have . light blond hair Immediately, John's heart started beating. The incredible true story has been. "Breakthrough" tells the true story of one of the most miraculous recoveries ever. The incredible tale is being retold, Hollywood-style, in "Breakthrough," starring Chrissy Metz and Josh Lucas. Here are four reasons why: Photo courtesy: 20th Century Fox. When he was 14, Smith drowned in Lake Saint Louis and was dead for nearly an hour. The book is called The Impossible, right? The website's critics consensus reads, "Like its lead character, Breakthrough is fiercely focused on faith but its less subtle elements are balanced by strong performances and an uplifting story. Watch Can You Keep a Secret? He started college at North Central University, a Christian college in Minneapolis. What did John Smith look like in real life? Later, John and his friends Josh and Reiger go out onto a frozen lake, ignoring a neighbor's warning. The doctor approached Joyce and told her she could go up and talk to her son to say her goodbyes. He doesn't have any seizures. John: Yeah, we were out on the ice there (celebrating a win), and I got a phone call from my mom, and of course she asked me if I wanted to go play basketball, so of course I said, Yes, lets hit the gym, and what we figured out was I was walking and talking, so as I was on the phone, I wasnt thinking about where I was going, so the farther I went, the thinner the ice got. One is, but the other two arent. John: Regarding my family, its brought everybody closer. John was in the frigid water for a total of more than 20 minutes. And one of the things we tell in the story is, the heartbeat was just the beginning, because when we got to the hospital in St. Louis, he was brain-dead. [24] It went on to debut to $11.3 million (a five-day total of $14.6 million), finishing third behind The Curse of La Llorona and Shazam!. Jason then gets everyone to stand and show that they have all prayed for Johns recovery. That doesnt happen very often or there wouldnt be a movie. It stars Chrissy Metz, Josh Lucas, Topher Grace, Mike Colter, Marcel Ruiz, Sam Trammel, and Dennis Haysbert with a cameo by Phil Wickham and Lecrae. Dawson knew she wanted the scene to be in the water with the hospital bed as John struggled between staying put or fighting to come back to his mom's voice. It is the people that make the past what it was. His mother, Joyce, played by Chrissy Metz from "This Is Us," prayed to God to bring back her son. He woke up on the third day, seven days later they took him off the vent, seven days after that he walked out of the hospital. John was a 14 year old that fell through the ice and had no pulse for more than 60 minutes. In the movie, they are only shown going on the ice once, the day they fell in. -NBC News. The other boy, Joshua Rieger, was trying to get out by pushing onto the ice and pulling himself, but the ice kept breaking. Maddy Martin as Abby Sutterer, Kent Sutterer's daughter and John's love interest. Like in the movie, the doctors were in disbelief and called it a miracle. He is now 19 years old and since the movie "Breakthrough" was released in April 2019, several things have changed for John. "No spontaneous respirations. Not exactly. Marcel Ruiz stars as the lead role of John Smith in Breakthrough. Her son John had been without a pulse for roughly an hour and the doctors had been trying to revive him for half an hour. John later gives a half-hearted presentation, saying that everyone already knows he is adopted and he does not know much about his true background. Thats when people say a miracle happened. This image of Smith couldnt be further from the truth. -FOX 11. That was the day my life completely changed and it was never the same after that, John said. How? 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But that didn't deter Joyce, a devout Christian who prayed and prayed for her son's life. 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 . Tommy admits that he did not believe in God until after a series of protracted events since John's accident, and all he did was pull John from the water. Boston African American NHS/NPS. 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. "The doctors said that there was a 1 percent chance that he would make it overnight. I was getting irritated at the doctors because they werent on the same page as me. Market data provided by Factset. The chart-topping single features vocals from Justin Bieber and Danish singer M although they are nowhere on sight in the video. 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 . All Rights Reserved. Director/co-writer Vincent Grashaws debut film isnt based on a true story, but it very well could be. We didnt know that until later. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. How long was the kid in Breakthrough underwater? Smith was rushed to the hospital and had no heartbeat for 55 minutes. He is now 19 years old and since the movie Breakthrough was released in April 2019, several things have changed for John. [16][17], An official trailer for the film was released on December 5, 2018 and received more than 30 million views within two days, becoming the most-viewed trailer for a religious film within that timespan. "'Holy Spirit, please come and give me back my son.' John Smith (Robert Errol Van Orden) was born on 6 March, 1931 in Los Angeles, California, USA, is an actor. The basketball team and community comes together in new and inspiring ways to support the family. "And really he used it in his way to save other people, not just the three of us." Yes. I know Hes had us for 33 years before we even had you, Im going to be okay. That sense of confidence, really, really inspires me to continue to grow in my faith. HILLSONG UNITED TOUR SPONSORS OVER 100G KIDS THROUGH COMPASSION. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. SSM Health physician Kent Sutterer, played by Sam Trammell in the film, just assumed John wouldn't make it when he arrived at the hospital. Plus, there is a lot of newfound fame since the film. In the film, they are just texting, but in real life, they talked on the phone after first texting. Breakthrough is a biographical Christian drama about a boy who made a miraculous recovery after falling into an icy lake. It gave me goosebumps.". John's made a full recovery after his mother, Joyce, said a prayer over him at the hospital. As for Breakthrough, even more success was recently announced for the film. Two of the rescuers dive in, but are unable to find John. 19 years old Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. -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. Market data provided by Factset. I was chasing after what I wanted instead of what God had for me., Though he has no memory of the accident and didnt suffer any permanent physical harm, Smith struggled to find meaning in his survival. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. A 14-year-old Missouri boy who fell through an icy lake and was underwater for 15 minutes, with no pulse for nearly 45 minutes, has made a "miraculous" recovery, doctors said. John Smith was an English explorer, soldier and writer best known for his role in establishing the first permanent English colony in the New World at Jamestown, Virginia. Doctorsbelieved that he would definitely have brain damage. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. John Smith, 14, fell through the ice at Lake Sainte Louise, and was submerged for 15 minutes. 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. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? Breakthrough. Chrissy Metz Says She Could Relate to Mom in Breakthrough Who Believes God Saved Her Dying Son. Smith was rushed to the hospital and had no heartbeat for 55 minutes. Breakthrough is a 2019 American Christian drama film directed by Roxann Dawson in her feature film directorial debut. 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. "Like, when I saw it, it was really powerful. John said he became friends with Metz during filming and they keep in touch. But as John lies lifeless, Joyce refuses to give up. Josh and Reiger manage to swim to the surface and are swiftly rescued by first responders. He just woke up, eyes open. "'Call 911! 368 following. "We called out to God and, through a series of incredible miracles, he walked out of thehospital 16 days later. 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.). John Smith was a slender and muscular young man who had fair skin, shoulder-length light blond hair with fringes on each side, and blue eyes. .switcher .selected {background:#303030 linear-gradient(180deg, #474747 0%, #303030 70%);position:relative;z-index:9999;} MORE THAN 12,000 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PACK STADIUM FOR JESUS, RAISE $57G FOR ABUSED WOMEN, HOMELESS. That was the day my life completely changed and it was never the same after that, John said. first assistant makeup artist (as Kristy Grieg) Kendall Lewis . Using a ten-foot long pole with a hook on the end, he poked around the rocky bottom of the lake near the ice ledge and found John Smith. 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 . Dr. Bauer said that she had never felt someone so cold in her life. "Im more independent because I just, its such a different situation, I dont even know how to handle it sometimes.. In 2015, 14-year-old John Smith fell through an icy lake and seemingly drowned. . I remembered in church all my life hearing this scripture that says, The Holy Spirit will raise Christ Jesus from the dead.'. John's friend Joshua Sander managed to pull himself out. Joyce realizes things are out of her control, so she leaves everything to God. 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. The stories are real, powerful, and oftentimes life altering because they offer hope, truth, faith, redemption and love. -CBN. Pocahontas saves John Smith. Their experience inspired the new movie Breakthrough, starring This Is Uss Chrissy Metz as Joyce. According to reports at the time, CPR was performed 27 minutes to no avail. In school, John's class is assigned to give a presentation about their family backgrounds. The real Pastor Jason Noble admitted that this scene is fictional. 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. Dive deeper into the true story behind Breakthrough by watching an interview with mother and son Joyce and John Smith. But instead of saying goodbye, the Holy Spirit rose up in her giving her the boldness to ask God to bring him back. Unfortunately for the Native Americans, Smith believed that the English should treat them as the Spanish had: to compel them to drudgery, work, and slavery, so English colonists could live like Soldiers upon the fruit of their labor. Thus, when his negotiations for food occasionally failed, Smith took what he . Were checking in with John Smith 5 years later about what life has been like since his story was told on the big screen. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Breakthrough, slated for release on April 17, is a true story about then 14-year-old John Smith of St. Charles County, Missouri, ( Marcel Ruiz ), who falls through the ice and dies. In the winter of 2015, the lakes of Missouri had been frozen over, leaving frigidly cold water underneath the thin ice. Joyce: Sixteen days until he walked out of the hospital, from the time he fell through the water. She and Brian meet with Garrett, who tells them that the drugs they have been administering are becoming toxic to John's system and may be doing more harm than good. Our Breakthrough fact check confirms that John Smith was under water for approximately 15 minutes before rescuers, including Tommy Shine, found him on the rocky bottom of the lake and pulled him to the surface. And its been a bonding time for everyone who witnessed this miracle. Yes. And I think her belief is what God had grown and what shed been working on. This book told the true story of John Smith by his mother, Joyce Smith. Watch it here. Yes. They're wrong. The story was turned into a book and soon after, the blockbuster movie Breakthrough.. John is declared dead, Joyce prays, and John . What is the true story of John Smith? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. While John's friends were able to escape, John remained underwater for fifteen minutes. And when it didn't wear off, John realized it really was God speaking to him. As John fights for his life, his mother, Joyce, endures a test of faith as she hopes for God to restore h. Breakthrough centers around the true story of teenager John Smith, a young man from St. Charles, Missouri. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The band quickly gained a following for their raw and energetic sound, with Jett's powerful . John's pastor, Jason Noble, got to the hospital right after Joyce prayed and he felt like God had called him to stay byJohn's side for seven days, 18 hours a day. I just congratulate her on all the success she has had, he said. Friends gathered at the hospital to pray for John. The photo shown below of then 14-year-old John and his friends on the ice on Lake Sainte Louise was taken the night before the drowning, after the basketball game, when it was a lot colder and the ice was thicker. Its inspiring. I believe God can do what He says He can do. -FOX 11, Yes. But a carefree day soon grew dire as the ice gave way and boys fell into the lake. He had no pulse for over 40 minutes after he was found and yet somehow survived. "I'm truly excited to see where He's going to take me.". [20][bettersourceneeded], Breakthrough grossed $40.7 million in the United States and Canada, and $9.7 million in other territories (including $5.9 million in Brazil),[21] for a worldwide total of $50.4 million. ", Murdaugh Murders Timeline: Investigations, Deaths and the Collapse of a Powerful South Carolina Family, 8-Year-Old Arkansas Boy Raises More Than $65K for His Favorite Waffle House Waiter, Who Walks Miles to Work, Bryan Kohberger Decries 'Pervasive and Grotesquely Twisted Nature' of Idaho Murders Coverage in Court Document, Family Discovers Kentucky Vacation Rental House Has Secret Underground Bunker and Was Site of Grisly Murder, Lindsay Clancy: Timeline of Events in the Case of Massachusetts Mom Accused of Killing Her 3 Children, Fiance of Slain Orlando TV Reporter Plans to Have His Baby After Harvesting His Sperm Post-Mortem. "Breakthrough" tells the true story of one of the most miraculous recoveries ever. .switcher {font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;text-align:left;cursor:pointer;overflow:hidden;width:173px;line-height:17px;} 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). So, when it happened, God had put her right there, in those studies from the Bible, and all of that stuff. March 18th at 6:00 pm . Youll even find a tiki bar. Like in the movie, Joyce wouldn't let the doctors say anything negative in the room. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. January 19, 2015: John + two friends are playing on a lake when the ice broke. RELATED: Proposed bill would create parental review boards for public libraries, could result in fines or jail time for librarians, RELATED: FX show 'Mrs. [27] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it a 4.5 out of 5 stars and a "definite recommend" of 69%. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. What kind of movies did John Smith appear in? George was a yeoman farmer who owned land in Lincolnshire and also rented land from Lord Willoughby, his landlord and relation by marriage. "I should be dead," he said. Even a blackhearted heathen like myself would feel comfortable calling John's recovery "miraculous." Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. [10] The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances and inspirational messages but called the plot predictable. 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. Louise. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. When you look at this, I think there is a difference between faith and belief. John recently returned to St. Louis for Christmas break and made a huge life decision while he was home. John Smith (baptized 6 January 1580 21 June 1631) was an English soldier, explorer, colonial governor, Admiral of New England, and author. Thats where we talked about praying. After being rescued from the frigid waters . A Home Office source said: 'We obviously couldn't sustain these numbers of people coming in. Can You Keep a Secret? She said, I love you, and I said, I love you too, Mom, and I hung up. "[I was] constantly fighting God and Him just saying, 'Keep listening to Me, just pay attention, just walk where I need you to walk.' After John succumbed to the frigid lake and drowned, his lifeless body was discovered on the rocky bottom. [1][22], In the United States and Canada, the film was released alongside Penguins, and was projected to gross $1317 million from 2,300 theaters in its five-day opening weekend. After a brief and hurtful rebuttal, Brian storms off. -USA Today. John is revived and slowly regains consciousness, reliving his accident. John Allen Smith. I had to deal with answering the question of Why me? In fact, 14-year-old John Smith's health has improved so much since the Jan. 19 accident that doctors allowed him to go home Wednesday, NBC affiliate KSDK reported. So he got down on one knee and broke the news to John's mom, Joyce Smith: Her son, he said, was dead. Whether its an actor, athlete, author, musician, politician, or another influencer of this generation, Risen shares an exclusive angle that wont be read anywhere else. Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? No heart tones. John fully recovered and was released from the hospital 16 days after the accident. As Johns mother, Joyce, arrived at the hospital, doctors prepared to tell her that her son had died but she walked up to the end of the bed and felt his feet, how cold and gray they were, she recalls in this weeks issue of PEOPLE. It appears that this spiritual transformation is fictional. Jeremy Garrett, who is portrayed by Dennis Haysbert in the movie, called John's recovery a "bonafide miracle." .switcher a img {vertical-align:middle;display:inline;border:0;padding:0;margin:0;opacity:0.8;} -USA Today. John Smith was a slender and muscular young man who had fair skin, shoulder-length light blond hair with fringes on each side, and blue eyes. [14][15] Locations for the 31-day shoot included Winnipeg, Selkirk, and Portage la Prairie. 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. [Thats] Him just calling me to ministry,"John added. If it wouldve been a minute longer in the water, they would have put the rescue team in. "My mission is to share that God still does the impossible and He's still in the miracle-working business," John told "Fox & Friends" Tuesday morning. My brothers arent serving the Lord. His parents were George and Alice Smith. So, God was preparing her, and she had allowed God to prepare her. 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. .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;} Example video title will go here for this video, Jan. 19 marks the 5-year anniversary since a St. Charles boy drowned and came back to life. The next day it was in the mid-50s and the ice had melted some. 'Breakthrough' clip: Filming when 'miracle' boy comes back to life 'gave me goosebumps', Emma Stones 'And' co-star Willem Dafoe had her slap him 20 times to get scene right, Prince Harry's 'attacks' on 'villain' Camilla led to Frogmore Cottage eviction: expert, Film industry reacts to death of 'Saving Private Ryan' star Tom Sizemore: 'You're a legend', Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves take bumpy second flight after 'CHAOS' on Lufthansa plane: 'Wish me luck', Kelsey Grammer wont apologize for the 'difference' that Jesus has made in his life. Im not always going to be perfect, Im still going to screw up, but I definitely want to influence my generation.. Although being rescued, he is in a coma, and his family must rely on their faith to get through the ordeal. makeup trainee Travis Marszalek . A hour later, however, the basketball-loving 14-year-old was miraculously revived through the power of prayer" The True Story of 'Breakthrough' Market data provided by Factset. Streaming Online | Hulu (Free Trial). "He's like one of my kids," added Joyce.