September 16, 2010
Bonnie and Travis Engstrom were preparing to welcome their baby boy, James Fulton, into the world.
They had no idea they were about to witness an event that would stun doctors—and eventually be investigated as a miracle.
The delivery suddenly turned into a nightmare.
James was born completely blue, unresponsive, and without a heartbeat.
Medical staff rushed in to begin desperate resuscitation efforts.
Bonnie had maintained a strong devotion to Venerable Fulton Sheen throughout her pregnancy.
As doctors fought to save her lifeless son, she and her family repeatedly called on Sheen to intercede for James.
James was rushed to the hospital, where medical teams continued CPR.
10 minutes... 20 minutes... 30 minutes...
Still, there was no pulse.
For 61 minutes, James had no detectable heartbeat.
As doctors were preparing to stop resuscitation and pronounce the baby dead, the impossible happened:
His heart started beating.
Going over an hour without oxygen carries catastrophic consequences.
Doctors warned the family that James faced severe, permanent brain damage—if he survived at all. All they could do was keep praying.
Instead of the devastating outcome doctors predicted, James kept improving.
He survived.
Even more remarkably, later medical evaluations confirmed he suffered no brain damage or long-term neurological harm.
The Diocese of Peoria launched a rigorous investigation into the case, gathering medical records and expert testimony.
Independent panels of medical experts, theologians, and Church authorities all reached the same conclusion:
The recovery could not be scientifically explained.
In 2019, Pope Francis officially recognized James’s unexplainable recovery as a miracle attributed to Fulton Sheen’s intercession.
A baby without a pulse for 61 minutes survived, clearing the path for Archbishop Fulton Sheen to be declared Blessed.
Soon-to-be Blessed Fulton Sheen, pray for us! 🙏