178. COVID Miracle, Glimpse of Glory, and God's Faithfulness Through Loss

About this episode

Patty Riddle Kirshner shares her miraculous journey through COVID-19, her near-death experience, and the challenges of grief and faith after losing her husband.

Patty Riddle Kirshner, a Nebraska pastor and evangelist, shares how her life changed when COVID swept through her church in August 2020. Patty spent 83 days in four hospitals, over four weeks in a coma, suffered paralysis from the neck down, and died briefly from cardiac arrest. During that moment, she describes being in heaven's "glory," overwhelmed by God's presence, seeing an unusual sky color and things that stunned her. God told her she could stay or return; she chose to come back because there was more work to do. After extensive rehabilitation, she recovered movement and a national news team welcomed her home. Tragically, she soon faced her husband Ronnie's glioblastoma diagnosis; he died in May 2021. Patty reflects on the anger, the grief, learning to live "in the moment," staying connected to community and church, starting the widows' group Embrace, and testifying that God remained faithful through suffering, loss, and renewed purpose. 00:00 A Glimpse of Glory 00:41 Meet Patty and Her Story 01:33 Life Before COVID 02:37 Symptoms and Denial 04:43 Hospitalization and Fear 07:20 Coma and Ventilator Fight 10:29 Heart Stops Heaven Visit 13:36 Choose to Stay or Go 14:48 Rehab…

People in this episode

Host: Julie Hedenborg

Guest: Patty Riddle Kirshner

Topics covered

• COVID-19
• faith
• grief
• healing
• community support
• spiritual experience

Keywords

• COVID miracle
• heaven
• faithfulness
• rehabilitation
• glioblastoma
• widows' group
• community
• grief
• hope

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Embrace

Places: Nebraska

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