What comes after this life? Is there a heaven? These questions are a common thread throughout the human race. This is my story—my testimony—to offer hope and comfort to all of you concerning this great mystery.
I grew up with parents who loved to play and gave me a childhood filled with good memories. We had our very own version of Dick Van Dyke in my father. He wasn’t perfect, but he was so fun to be around and kept our home filled with laughter. We had a very large extended family, and we all gathered together for special events and on holidays such as Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas. We never ran out of things to do. My heritage is primarily Jewish, but my father had an Italian background with many Christians on his side of the family.
When I was eight years old, I had a burst appendix that my pediatrician mistook for a virus. Because it went undetected for so long, peritonitis spread throughout my entire system. The doctors didn’t think I would live and, in fact, I did die for a few moments. I don’t really know how to put it into words, but all I can tell you is this: during those moments and the following coma that lasted 14 days or so, there was absolutely nothing—everything was completely blank.
Not too long after that we moved from Canton, Massachusetts, to the neighboring town of Sharon, Massachusetts. I left behind a friend who lived across the street from us, Angela. I missed her so much, because we played together all the time before I became ill. Once we moved, I didn’t see her again.
I found out later that a Christian prayer group had prayed for me while I was so sick and for my recovery. I desperately wanted to find out who they were, but my mother told me they were too far away now that we lived in Sharon, and I wouldn’t know them anyway. She was a strong Jewish woman, and she was uncomfortable with Christian influence coming into my life. As I improved over the next few months, I overheard that people were continuing to pray for me. This had a huge impact on me at such an early and impressionable age. Even though I didn’t understand it completely, one thing was very clear to me: the power of the prayers was directly connected to the fact that God had saved my life and was helping me to recover. I wanted so much to thank those people for praying for me.
Over the next few years, I had to be tutored because of some learning difficulties I had as a result of my illness. I also had to learn to talk and walk again and had tubes in my stomach for quite a while. In a nutshell, it took me a long time to recover. However, eventually I did pretty well. I still dealt with issues like impaired balance when I walked, and other things, too. I had a lot of friends in spite of my limitations, and I learned to cope with my disabilities well. My siblings (two brothers and one sister) and I were very close growing up. My parents invested time in us by taking the family on vacations and doing other things with us. I had to take it slower than other children, but overall I had a happy childhood.
While living in Sharon (ages 9 to 18), the Lord seemed to always put Christian people in my path. Two or three years after my burst appendix I was able to attend a camp, Camp Wampatuck near Boston. My stay there would not have been possible without the special accommodations I received from Sandy, the camp nurse. She not only attended to my medical needs, but she also made me feel like I was no different than anyone else. Many Jewish girls were there also, which surprised me since it was a Christian camp. My mother didn’t realize I would be coming under such strong Christian influence there. I attended a mid-week Bible study, went to church on Sunday, and was introduced to praying over the meals. We were taught discipline and integrity, and we grew close like sisters. I had a wonderful experience there and, to this day, have connections with people I went there with. It’s been 40 years, and one of the former campers recently recalled, “I can close my eyes and see hot chocolate in a pitcher with three marshmallows and skim on the top as if it were for today’s breakfast.” That reminded me of the comfort I felt when hearing taps blowing as we got ready for bed at night. I can also hear the soothing voice of someone saying, “Good-night girls!” The director of the camp, his wife, and the staff made such a positive impact on me and others because of their loving and gentle spirits. I never forgot the warmth and security I felt while there. (Please, look for a separate article on Camp Wampatuck to be posted on the web site soon.)
God certainly had His hand on my life. Back home, I had Christian women, who mentored me and took me under their wings. One who stands out the most was our neighbor, Carol. Her daughter and I played together, and Carol would often take me with her to the Baptist church they attended. At that time, because I was saddened by my parents’ impending divorce, I think I was open to the Gospel message. During one of the services when I was 14, the prayer of salvation was offered and I receive the Lord into my heart. As I searched for comfort and answers, I was strengthened by the memory of the people from Canton who prayed for me as a child. Later I found out that my father had also received Jesus as his Savior at another church. My mother, however, was not at all thrilled by my commitment because of her Jewish background. Out of respect for her, I did not go to church or talk to her about the Lord while living at home. I prayed that I would be free one day to be able to worship Him the way He intended for me to do.
After graduating from high school, I went on to college where, again, I had to be tutored because of my learning disabilities. During this time I met my future husband, and we were married three years later. In spite of the doctors’ opinion that I wouldn’t be able to have children, I was blessed with one child! Because of my past health issues, my son, Paul was born via a C-section. It was then that I became very ill again. The peritonitis that had lain dormant for so many years, flared up again with a vengeance. Over the next few years, I underwent eight surgeries attempting to get the peritonitis and abscesses under control. All of this was doing incredible damage to my organs.
During one of the many surgeries, my heart stopped just like it did when I was 8 years old. I was told it was only for a minute or two. This time, though, was completely different. As I went under anesthesia for the surgery, it was as if I had fallen asleep. The next thing I knew I was experiencing a vision or dream of heaven—although, I’m not sure what to call it. It’s hard to describe, but the first thing I remember is that I was weightless. I was so light, and there was no pain! I felt like I wasn’t standing but sort of floating. I saw a big beautiful gate with big, magnificent beautiful bars that was a color that’s unknown here on earth. The best I can describe it is that it was a beautiful and glowing white yellowish and golden color. It opened for me even though I didn’t get to go through it. My cousin Lenore came through the gate to greet me. I had witnessed to her but hadn’t received a confirmation of her salvation before she died. The Lord must have known that that was important to me. In life, Lenore was very sick and unhappy and didn’t smile much. But in heaven, her smile was bright and glowing—like nothing I had ever seen. I knew she was saved and living eternally with such joy that all her pain was well worth what she had now in heaven. That was the first blessing!
After that I saw other relatives who had died but didn’t know were saved. I had the same type of vision with them as with Lenore. I recognized all of them. They all appeared to be about in their mid-30s, regardless of how old they were when they died. I remember people being so perfect. It seemed like no one was heavy or old, and everyone glowed bright with joy. I could hear beautiful music and beautiful voices. There were animals and streams of living water. Everything was so bright, and I felt so light. I felt a peace that I’ve never, ever experienced in my life on earth. I also saw Jacob’s ladder. And, just like the Bible describes, it had no end and no beginning. It was this gorgeous color of green I had never seen before, and you could see through the rungs. I saw a bright glow in the shape of a man, and I believe it was the Lord.
I realized that God allowed me this near-death encounter for a reason—I was carrying too many burdens. The lightness I felt while in heaven was because He had lifted all that was weighing me down. However, it wasn’t my time to stay there. But as He sent me back, He wanted me to give those cares to Him. Any worries, concerns, fears, etc, that I might feel when I’m here on earth belong to Him, not to me. By carrying these burdens, it was interfering with my faith and my ability to serve Him. The Lord allowed me to only have a glimpse of what heaven was like, but it was powerful! I realized when I peered through the gates that it was not my time yet. One of the things that really struck me later was that while I was in heaven, I was not aware of anything happening on earth. I also thought back to my time at Camp Wampatuck and wondered if perhaps God had shown me as a young girl a foretaste—a small bit of heaven on earth that made me yearn for more of God.
Since that experience, I’ve learned to truly give my burdens and my worries over to Him. I know that He is more than able to meet all my needs, and carry me through this life until it is time for me to go home again. But what a blessing in knowing what is waiting for me and for all those who call on Him as Savior. Remember, I only had a glimpse of heaven, but what an amazing preview it was! I want to encourage you that what we do now prepares us for what we will experience in heaven. “Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.’” (Mark 9:35, NAS) There are crowns waiting for us there. God has given us all a plan and a purpose here on earth, an assignment by Him that we are to fulfill while on this side of heaven. Remember, life here is so short but eternity is forever! And, the only way to experience eternity in heaven is by receiving Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son into your heart. Amen!
I’d like to share one more thing with you. Do you remember the little girl, Angela, who was my friend when I lived in Canton, Massachusetts? Well, many years later, my husband and I were living in Florida. We attended an Assembly of God church in Boca Raton where I learned so much about prayer. My illness became very prominent again at that time. One Sunday, after we had been there about three years, I was waiting for my husband after the service to finish his usher duties for the day. A missionary couple came to the office to attend to some business. When the woman began speaking, I recognized a familiar accent. I asked her what her name was and where she was from. She said her name was Angela, and that she was from Canton, Massachusetts. I told her that I once lived in Canton a long time ago. She said she lived on Washington Street next to the cemetery. I said that I also lived on Washington Street across the street from a cemetery. Now, you have to realize that Washington Street was a very, very long road that goes between several towns. We soon realized who we were both speaking to. “Iris,” she said.” “Angela,” I said. She remembered me and the appendicitis episode. We hugged each other in amazement! I told her I had never forgotten the prayer group that had prayed for me and how I felt that God had saved my life through those prayers!
Then the most amazing revelation surfaced. She told me that the people from that same prayer group were now retired and living in Florida. And, they were attending the very church we were in. They now had been praying for my chronic health issues for the past three years. When she told them later about running into me, they remembered me and that they had prayed for me all those years ago when I almost died. They never knew what had happened to me but were now able to see the result of their prayers. Not only had I lived, but I was serving the Lord and was in ministry.
Twenty-six years and 3,000 miles later, God answered my prayer that I would someday be able to thank those who had prayed for me to live when I was a little girl. Why did God wait so long? I don’t know, but I do know He had a purpose in His timing. If He had done it sooner or in some other way, the impact of the testimony would not have been as clear as to who did it! Coincidence could not have orchestrated it, and none of us could have planned it. It was very obvious that it was God who answered that prayer!
Today my son, Paul, is an aerospace engineer and is married to a wonderful girl. The miracle of his birth still amazes me. I am now a ministry associate of Joni and Friends, which is worldwide and reaches out to people with disabilities. I wanted to encourage other people in the Lord who are also disabled. After many years of the doctors searching for an answer, I was finally diagnosed with Celiac disease and Sjögren’s syndrome—30 years after the burst appendix.
We serve an amazing and faithful God, don’t we? I pray this testimony really encourages you today. Please recall that Jesus ministered to people by loving them and meeting their needs. We sow seeds in people’s lives. It is not our responsibility to draw people to the Lord but only to love them, like the example the people set for me and the others at Camp Wampatuck. It is the Holy Spirit who draws them. Man has the freedom of choice and not everyone will receive Him. Will you?
God’s Blessings, Iris Fisher Smith
