Miracles from Heaven 2016

In the heartwarming drama “The Miracle Season,” the Beam family - comprising Kevin (Martin Henderson), his loving wife Christy (Jennifer Garner), and their three daughters Abbie (Brighton Sharbino), Annabel (Kylie Rogers), and Adelynn (Courtney Fansler) - resides in Burleson, Texas. A devout family, they regularly attend church on Sundays, where Pastor Scott (John Carroll Lynch) delivers sermons emphasizing the importance of maintaining one’s faith amidst life’s challenges.

Meanwhile, Kevin is poised to launch a new venture, which he and Christy are optimistic will take off. However, their youngest daughter Anna has been struggling with an unexplained condition that renders her unable to keep down food or fluids for several weeks, leaving her exhausted and weak.

Desperate for answers, Christy and Kevin take Anna to see a doctor, only to be met with a series of inconclusive tests. Initially, the doctors diagnose Anna as lactose intolerant, but an unconvinced Christy demands further investigation. Eventually, the medical team reveals that Anna has an intestinal disorder that hampers her ability to digest food properly, and if left untreated, it could prove fatal.

As Anna’s condition worsens, she misses a school trip to the aquarium, leaving her feeling isolated and anxious. One day, during a free period at school, Anna finds solace in the company of a boy who accompanies her to the library.

At church, Christy is approached by two well-meaning women offering condolences, but their words take on a sinister tone as they hint that Anna’s illness may be a result of either Christy or her family’s supposed wrongdoing. This unsettling encounter prompts Christy to reevaluate her faith and ultimately abandon her regular church attendance.

Christy becomes obsessed with finding a solution for Anna’s condition, spending countless hours trying to get in touch with Dr. Samuel Nurko (Eugenio Derbez), a renowned gastroenterologist who had been recommended to her. However, Nurko is overwhelmed with patients and the Beams are left waiting on a long list of hopefuls.

In a moment of desperation, Christy begs the receptionist at Nurko’s office for help, pouring out her heart in tears. Though the young woman wants to assist, she is new to her job and simply follows orders. Undeterred, Christy takes Anna to Boston, where they finally secure an appointment with Nurko.

Upon meeting Nurko, Christy is both relieved and devastated by his assessment of Anna’s condition. As they navigate this emotional rollercoaster, the Beams are introduced to Angela (Queen Latifah), a warm-hearted waitress who takes them under her wing and offers a personal tour of Boston. Highlights include visits to an aquarium and an art museum, bringing much-needed joy to Anna.

Ultimately, Nurko agrees to help Anna, but his words are laced with gravity, underscoring the severity of her condition and the urgency of treatment.

As Christy’s spiritual doubts deepen, she seeks counsel from Reverend Scott, who listens intently to her concerns before urging her to maintain her faith. Meanwhile, at the hospital, Anna forges an unlikely bond with Haley, a young girl grappling with leukemia. The two form a connection over Anna’s treasured cross necklace, which serves as a poignant reminder of Jesus’ presence in Haley’s life. When Haley confides in her father, Ben (Wayne Pere), about Anna’s reassuring words, he shares his concerns with Christy privately, expressing a desire to temper Haley’s hopes while acknowledging Anna’s kind intentions.

As the days pass, Anna’s spirits begin to flag, and she becomes increasingly despondent, yearning for release from her suffering. Her mood lifts slightly when Kevin arrives with their daughters, Abbie and Adelynn, but it’s not until they must depart for Texas that Anna’s despair momentarily recedes. In a poignant moment of motherly love, Christy breaks down in prayer as the scene unfolds.

The Beams’ departure is marked by a serendipitous encounter between Abbie and Anna, who find themselves perched precariously atop a towering tree branch. As they sit together, the branch gives way, sending Anna tumbling 30 feet to the ground below. The subsequent arrival of paramedics and reporters creates a sense of chaos and urgency, but Christy’s prayers are answered when she learns that Anna is breathing.

Upon returning home, Christy notices a profound change in Anna – her energy and joy have been revitalized, as if the near-tragic event has somehow lifted a weight from her shoulders. When they visit Nurko, he reveals astonishing news: Anna’s disorder has mysteriously vanished. Christy is left stunned but grateful, expressing her heartfelt thanks to Nurko, the medical staff, and even the receptionist.

As their time together draws to a close, Christy and Anna pay one final visit to Angela. In a tender gesture, Anna presents her with an old doll and asks permission to refer to her as “Aunt Angela” – a testament to the deep bond that has formed between them. With love and acceptance, Angela hugs Anna tightly, sealing their connection forever.

As the sun sets on this extraordinary journey, Christy (character) and Kevin sit alongside Anna, sharing a poignant moment of revelation. Anna’s narrative takes them back to the instant she hit her head after the fall, when the world went dark and an out-of-body experience transported her to a realm beyond mortal comprehension. With eyes closed, she beheld a majestic butterfly, its ethereal wings fluttering in tandem with her heartbeat as she reached out to touch it. In this mystical tableau, Anna felt herself traversing vibrant woods, arriving at the gates of Heaven where she conversed with the divine. Though she longed to remain, God’s gentle voice bid her return, promising healing and a life renewed.

As they sat amidst nature’s serenity, Christy reflected on the miracles that had unfolded during their ordeal – moments of kindness from strangers like Angela, Nurko, and the compassionate receptionist who had gone above and beyond. The Beams’ story became a testament to the boundless goodwill that exists within humanity. When a pair of cynics dared to question Anna’s illness and its supposed motives, Ben rose to defend Christy’s narrative, his words imbued with conviction and personal experience. His revelation about Haley’s passing brought tears to Anna’s eyes, yet he found solace in knowing that her encounter with Anna had instilled a deep sense of peace and faith.

As the Beams gathered for a pizza dinner under the starry sky, Christy’s voice-over wove a tapestry of gratitude, acknowledging each day as a precious gift. In this spirit of reverence, they savored the simple pleasures of life, their bond strengthened by the trials they had overcome.

In a poignant coda, a video diary from Anna and her family revealed the extraordinary truth: the tree in which she had fallen was felled by a storm, but Anna herself had been reborn. Now a healthy and vibrant 7th grader, she had not suffered another bout of illness since that transformative moment.