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Few experiences are more heartbreaking than the loss of a stillborn child. The excitement, anticipation, and dreams of the future dissolve in an instant. However, some babies who were either stillborn or passed away shortly after birth, miraculously came back to life. These extraordinary infants go through the awe of birth, the sorrow of death, and the wonder of resurrection within just a few hours of their existence.
10. Mary Ellen James
For six years, Mary Ellen James dreamed of becoming a mother. She had one pregnancy, but tragically miscarried. She also sought fertility treatments, but they were unsuccessful. However, a year after discontinuing the treatment, she discovered she was pregnant once more. On October 31, 1989, Mary Ellen went into premature labor at 12 weeks early at a hospital in Boca Raton, Florida. The baby was born stillborn. The doctor attempted to revive the infant by massaging her chest, but there was no response for a painful 12 minutes until the infant's heart began to beat. After three more minutes of chest massage, the baby girl began breathing on her own.
By December 1989, Jennifer, the baby girl, had grown healthier, although she remained small. She had doubled her birth weight and, remarkably, was able to go home just two days after Christmas in 1989. She went on to lead a completely normal childhood.
9. David Ring
On October 28, 1953, Leron Ring gave birth to a stillborn son, David. With no hope left for him, the nurses placed him on a table in the corner of the room and focused on saving Leron, who was bleeding heavily. She was also declared dead, but miraculously, Leron was still alive and noticed the baby on the table was moving.
When the nurses checked on the baby, they were astonished to find that David was alive as well. Both mother and son survived, but since David had been without oxygen for 18 minutes, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which affected his motor skills and speech. As an adult, David became a Christian minister and motivational speaker. He gained recognition for his famous motto, 'I have cerebral palsy... What’s your problem?' He also authored an autobiography titled The Boy Born Dead.
8. Jacob Tomkin
In 2014, Laura Tomkin from Hatfield Peverel, England, conceived through in vitro fertilization. At 38 weeks into her pregnancy on May 30, 2015, she was induced into labor. Upon birth, her baby cried once but lost vital signs shortly after the umbilical cord was cut. His complexion turned gray, and he was unresponsive. The medical team immediately attempted to revive him, and for 22 agonizing minutes, Laura and her partner Abbie held their breath. Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, the baby took a breath, defying the odds.
The doctor who managed the revival of the baby later remarked that there was only a 1 percent chance of survival. However, just four weeks later, Laura and Abbie took their son, whom they named Jacob, home. Doctors suspect he may have slight brain damage, but only time will reveal the full extent. For now, the couple is cherishing every moment with their son, thankful for his miraculous return and the joy of having him home.
7. Robin Cyr
At around 3:00 AM on March 9, 2014, Robin Cyr, aged 34, gave birth to her fourth child in a Halifax hospital in Nova Scotia. During delivery, the baby became trapped in the birth canal, which cut off oxygen and blood supply. Once delivered, the baby girl was lifeless, and despite frantic efforts by the doctors, after 28 minutes, she was declared dead. Her body was taken out of the room, leaving Robin in a state of devastation.
Just two minutes after the baby's body was removed, the nurse who had assisted with the delivery returned to Robin’s room, utterly shocked and speechless. Against all odds, the baby was breathing. The attending surgeon couldn’t explain how or why the baby started breathing again, but he called it nothing short of a miracle. Robin, in awe of this miraculous event, named her daughter Mireya, which means 'miracle' in Spanish. Three months later, Mireya was thriving and healthy, the miracle of life continuing to astonish everyone.
6. Ella Claxton
During Rachel Claxton's delivery of her daughter in the summer of 2010 at a hospital in Peterborough, England, a critical complication occurred—the placenta ruptured. This is a dangerous situation as it deprives the baby of essential blood and oxygen, which are necessary for survival. The lack of these vital elements can lead to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a condition that can result in both mental and physical disabilities due to brain damage.
The medical team worked tirelessly for 25 minutes to revive Ella before they finally detected a heartbeat. Once they succeeded, they swaddled Ella in a special blanket filled with liquid. This blanket was designed to regulate the body’s core temperature, and they used it to lower Ella's temperature from 37°C (98.6°F) to 3°C (92°F). The induced hypothermia helped reduce the swelling in her brain. For the next three days, Ella was carefully monitored while kept chilled, and after that, the blanket was removed. In an incredible turn of events, Ella was discharged from the hospital just eight days later. Nine months after her birth, Ella was developing normally, though she may require physiotherapy in the future.
5. Logan Carroll
In April 1995, Tami Carroll went into labor, feeling a bit anxious due to a heartbreaking experience in 1993 when her baby passed away during childbirth. This time, her pregnancy had been normal, and there were no issues with the baby's heartbeat before delivery. However, at 4:47 PM on April 6, baby Logan was born unresponsive. The doctors worked tirelessly to revive him, but by 5:15 PM, he was declared dead. His body had turned a grayish-blue, and the family was allowed to hold him and say their final goodbyes.
More than an hour after Logan's birth, Tami’s mother cradled the baby, and to everyone's astonishment, Logan began to move. The family quickly informed the doctor, who suggested it was likely 'agonal breathing,' a reflex response to medication. But by 5:55 PM, over an hour and 18 minutes after being born without a heartbeat, Logan was breathing on his own. The doctor re-examined him and confirmed that Logan was indeed alive. Although later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Logan has led a fulfilling life.
4. James Engstrom
Bonnie Engstrom's third pregnancy had progressed without any issues, and she wasn’t expecting complications when she gave birth in 2010 at her home in Peoria, Illinois, assisted by midwives. However, when James was born, he was not breathing, appeared bluish, and showed no movement. The midwife immediately began CPR, and an ambulance was called. As they waited, Bonnie’s husband performed a baptism on their stillborn son, naming him James Fulton in honor of the renowned American bishop Fulton Sheen, who was born in nearby El Paso, Illinois, and passed away in 1979.
While Bonnie, her husband, and a close friend waited for the ambulance, they prayed to Bishop Fulton. After 20 minutes, the ambulance arrived, transporting them to the hospital where doctors worked for over an hour to resuscitate James. Eventually, his heart began to beat, and he started breathing on his own. Despite this miraculous recovery, the doctor warned Bonnie that James might suffer from severe brain or organ damage. However, after spending seven weeks in the hospital, James showed no signs of lasting effects from being without a heartbeat for over an hour, and his health continued to improve.
In 2002, a campaign was launched for the beatification and canonization of Sheen. To be canonized as a saint, two miracles must be attributed to the individual. In May 2014, a seven-member panel of medical experts from the Vatican reviewed the case. After thorough investigation, they found 'no scientific explanation' for why James had come back to life or why he showed no lasting signs of damage. The next step for this miraculous event is a review by the Vatican and the Pope. If accepted as a miracle, Fulton will be just one miracle away from sainthood.
3. Yasmin Gomes
On July 9, 2013, 22-year-old Jenifer da Silva Gomes gave birth to her daughter, Yasmin, naturally at a hospital in Londrina, Brazil. Almost immediately after birth, Yasmin stopped breathing. For over an hour, doctors made numerous attempts to resuscitate her, but there were no signs of life. At 11:00 AM, Yasmin was officially pronounced dead, and a death certificate was issued. A nurse, unwilling to let the baby be taken to the morgue, carried Yasmin’s lifeless body to the hospital’s chapel, where she could lay her to rest more reverently.
Three hours after Yasmin was declared dead, her grandmother and the mortician went to the chapel to retrieve the body for the funeral. That was when Yasmin unexpectedly opened her eyes. She was rushed to the intensive care unit, where she appeared to be in good health, much to the astonishment of everyone involved.
2. Rose Servin
In April 1923, Rose Servin arrived at a hospital in New York City for her delivery. Unfortunately, the baby boy she gave birth to showed no signs of life. Devastated, she found hope when Dr. J.A. Tepperson detected faint signs of life. Taking the lifeless infant to another room, the doctor and his colleagues worked tirelessly to revive the baby. After two hours, they resorted to an experimental technique: injecting adrenaline directly into the infant's heart.
Immediately following the injection, the baby’s color began to change, and soon, the heartbeat strengthened. Within thirty minutes, the baby was breathing regularly, and the body grew warm again. Within a few days, both the baby and mother were discharged from the hospital. At the time, this marked the longest period someone had been clinically dead and successfully revived.
1. Unnamed Baby Girl, Toronto, 2010
On the morning of February 17, 2013, a 20-year-old pregnant woman, whose identity remains unknown, began to feel unwell and, accompanied by her mother, decided to walk to the hospital. About 500 meters (1,500 feet) from the hospital in Toronto, Ontario, the woman unexpectedly went into labor. An ambulance was summoned, and the woman gave birth to a stillborn baby girl on the sidewalk. With the temperature at –15 degrees Celsius (5 °F), both mother and baby were transported to the hospital. The medical team attempted to revive the infant, but the baby was declared dead shortly after arriving. The staff covered her tiny body with a blanket, and two police officers were assigned to guard the body until the coroner arrived to take it.
Nearly an hour and 45 minutes later, the officers observed movements beneath the blanket. After checking for a pulse and confirming it, they sought medical assistance. The baby was then placed in the intensive care unit. Remarkably, she recovered and was discharged a few weeks later. Upon reviewing the case, hospital staff concluded that the baby had experienced severe hypothermia, which had made her appear deceased. The hospital implemented changes to its procedures to prevent such a mistake from occurring again in the future.
