Blog Tour/Review: A Boy Back from Heaven by Celeste and Matthew Goodwin

A Boy Back from Heaven, by Celeste and Matthew Goodwin
2014, 128p, Christian Non-fiction, Inspirational
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: Received a copy from the publisher for an honest review



Standing above his hospital bed, Celeste and Billy Goodwin watched in horror as their young son Matthew’s eyes rolled back in his head and he became unresponsive for several harrowing minutes. Doctors called the episode a medical anomaly, but what really happened can only be described as a miracle. Discover the truth about heaven through a child’s eyes as you read Matthew’s account of his walk with angels and his shocking revelation months later about the angels’ identities.

I enjoy reading near-death experiences and am especially interested when it's a child. I was a little surprised that this book focused more on the health issues Matthew had and there were only a few mentions of his experience. His experience itself wasn't long or detailed but meant a lot to him and his family. Because of it, they were able to find peace with death and the afterlife and are able to share that with others.

I can't imagine the fear his parents felt when he was getting sick for apparently no reason. I've never had blood pressure issues but can imagine how scary it would be for me to deal with, not to mention a child. Their story on what happened and how they got answers was compelling. They relied a lot on their faith to get them through a difficult time. Experiences like this can tear families apart and I liked that they were able to strengthen their family during many difficult years. Celeste and Matthew had a lot put on their shoulders and, while I'm sure they had their breakdown moments (who wouldn't?), they dealt with the situation very well. Celeste learned a lot medically and is now an advocate for pedatric hypertension.

I believe in prayer, heaven and angels, and while their beliefs don't exactly line up with mine, I enjoyed their story. It's a great book for anyone that is struggling with the loss of a loved one or if you enjoy real-life medical drama with a faith element.

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Celeste Goodwin, pediatric hypertension advocate, is a Christian speaker, patient advocacy presenter, national award-winning mom, and founder of the National Pediatric Blood Pressure Awareness Foundation. Her passion to help others is evident by the dynamic presentations in which she uses humor and her love of God to encourage change. Through her writing and speaking, Celeste encourages others to never lose faith and to always rely on the power of prayer. She ignites thought provoking transformations in the hearts and minds of those she communicates with. Her effectiveness is evident by the honors she has received, such as being selected by Disney owned Babble.com, as one of 2011’s Top 100 Moms Changing the World in the education division. Celeste was honored as Baton Rouge City Social Magazine’s January 2012 Extraordinary Woman. Celeste has appeared on local and regional news, radio, and television programs. She has also been featured in varying print media.

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