Following a tragic car accident that claimed his life, a young boy visited heaven. Revived by doctors, he returned with a message from Jesus, intended for all of humanity—and he’s urging everyone to listen before time runs out.
On October 19, 1997, eight-year-old Landon Whitley was in the backseat of his family’s car, returning from a church service with his parents, Julie Kemp and Andy, when disaster struck. Julie later recounted that her husband shouted something—she couldn’t tell what—moments before an ambulance, speeding back to its base, slammed into their vehicle at a crossroads. That shout was the last sound she heard from Andy, who perished instantly in the collision.
Rescue teams quickly attended to Julie, stabilizing her injuries, but they initially overlooked Landon. The car’s driver’s side was so mangled that his small frame, seated behind his father, was hidden from view. It wasn’t until a responder spotted one of his shoes that they realized a child might be trapped inside. According to reports, they began searching and soon discovered Landon, lifeless. Emergency efforts started immediately, and he was airlifted to a hospital. That day, his heart stopped two additional times, yet each time, medics revived him. Despite these efforts, his prognosis remained grim. Doctors warned Julie that even if he survived, the severe brain trauma might leave him unable to walk, speak, or feed himself—functioning more like an infant than the boy he’d been. Desperate, Julie clung to hope, willing to accept any version of her son just to keep him with her, as he was all she had left.
While Landon battled for survival, Julie faced the painful task of burying her husband. At the funeral, she wrestled with feelings of betrayal by a higher power, questioning why no divine protection had spared them. Yet, even in her anguish, she prayed fervently for her son’s recovery. After two weeks in a coma, supported by machines, Landon defied expectations by opening his eyes. Astonishingly, tests showed no lasting brain damage—a miracle amid the tragedy. But with this joy came a difficult moment: Julie had to break the news of the death of his dad to her son. Hesitant to add to his pain, she gently asked if he knew where his father was. Landon’s response stunned her: he claimed to have seen his dad in heaven.
Landon’s heavenly visions didn’t stop there. He spoke of encountering deceased family friends and even siblings he’d never met on Earth. Julie was baffled when he mentioned seeing “her other two kids”—children lost to miscarriages before his birth, a fact never shared with him. Landon insisted that in heaven, he simply knew they were his siblings, as if recognition there required no explanation. He described distinct experiences from each of his three deaths that day, with the third bringing a pivotal encounter. He believes Jesus appeared to him, delivering a purpose: return to life, live faithfully, and spread word of His reality to others.
Inspired by his experience, Landon now shares his story to affirm the existence of Jesus, heaven, and angels, urging people to trust in God for a better future. He has written a book about his experience called Highway to Heaven which is available on Amazon .
Landon and Julie channel their energies into supporting those struggling with grief, offering hope through their faith. Julie reflects that, though she once questioned why no angels intervened in 1997, she now sees their presence in the protection and purpose they’ve found. Watching her son inspire others with his account of heaven—where he’s been, he insists—has become a profound gift, turning their pain into a message of resilience and belief.
