Doctors Didn't Think He'd Make It But Then Man In A Coma Heard His Children's Voices
May 14, 2020
Doctors gave up on Ignacio Esparza, a man in a coma fighting COVID-19, but his family never did. And when the dad heard his children's voices cheering him on, it made all the difference in this miraculous story!
New Jersey man Ignacio Esparza was a recent kidney transplant recipient. And that put him at a high risk of losing his life to the coronavirus.
RELATED: Man In Coma Listens Helplessly As Family Discusses Pulling The Plug
Upon arriving at the hospital, Ignacio technically died after going into cardiac arrest. A medical team revived him and put him into a medically induced coma after the heart attack.
Doctors felt certain the COVID-19 diagnosis would become a death sentence as the man in a coma spent 27 days on a respirator. But God had other plans for this 56-year-old dad!
[caption id="attachment_162235" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Credit: PIX 11 News[/caption]Fighting Against The Odds
After barely surviving the heart attack during his admission, the hospital put Ignacio Esparza on life support in the Intensive Care Unit. And the odds were certainly against this man in a coma.
“During this time, we saw some mild improvements,” said the hospital’s critical care physician, Dr. Jonathan Ramharack. "But considering his overall condition and the impact the virus was taking on his body, the expected outcome was not a positive one.”
Because of the tight restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic, Ignacio's family couldn't visit him. All they could do is pray and get updates from his doctors. And sadly, things weren't looking good.
“There were some days I wasn't sure if he would be around the next 24 hours, especially in the beginning,” Dr. Ramharack said. “We would have to relay that to his family over the phone. That wasn’t easy.”
But his family kept praying for this man in a coma. And a kind nurse even helped organize a video chat between Ignacio and his children.
And that's when something miraculous took place!
Divine Intervention For A Man In A Coma Fighting COVID-19
True to his word, the nurse guided Ignacio's children, Gabriela and Rafael, in "visiting" their father's hospital room via a video conference. Seeing this strong man in a coma was hard on the siblings.
But they kept praying and waiting for a miracle.
"We never gave up hope," Rafael said. "We said, 'Dad don't give up on us'."
RELATED: Nearly Brain-Dead Dad Scott Marr Says His Miraculous Recovery Is Proof God Is Real
As Gabriela and Rafael spoke to their father over the Zoom call, Ignacio miraculously began reacting to the sound of his children's voices.
"We could see that in the corner of the picture, in response to our call he was raising his hand," Rafael said.
The man in the coma astounded his doctors and ended up waking up.
“He is a miracle,” Dr. Ramharack said. “We don’t see these kinds of turnarounds in general, especially in terms of a COVID-19 patient.”
Miraculous Recovery Inspires So Many
Ignacio made nearly a full mental and physical recovery. And what's just as amazing is, after coming around, Ignacio confirmed he heard his children while he was in the coma.
"He recalled someone speaking to him, telling him he can do this," Rafael said.
When the day of his discharge arrived, doctors and nurses lined the hallway cheering him on.
While the hospital certainly did everything in their power to help Ignacio Esparza survive, even Dr. Ramharack admits something bigger than medicine is to thank for his miraculous recovery.
“We made sure we did all we could to help him, but it really was divine intervention with this patient,” he said. “It reinvigorates your enthusiasm, it reinvigorates your hope for the patients. We needed a win, you know, just to really help our own mental state to keep going forward.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Husband With Lung Condition Beats Coronavirus And Credits Prayer for Incredible Story Of Survival
What a powerful reminder that our God is bigger than anything we face!
WATCH: Man In Coma Wakes After Hearing Children's Voices
h/t: NorthJersey.com
Featured Image: PIX 11 News
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Past Stories
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
- Nearly 1,500 Students Gather to Worship Jesus at Texas A&M Revival
- 96-Year-Old Shares the Secret to a Happy Life and His Words of Wisdom Are Truly Inspiring
- In God's Divine Timing, Wedding Ring Is Returned to Man's Widow After It's Lost for 60+ Years
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Steven Curtis Chapman Shares the Heartfelt Message that Helped While Grieving His Daughter
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.