In a story she describes as a moment "when heaven and earth touch," Courtney Smallbone recounted the harrowing and spiritually transformative event of her infant son’s sudden death and unexpected revival.

According to CBN, Smallbone, wife of For King & Country's Luke Smallbone, shared on a faith-based podcast how her 8-week-old son Leo was miraculously brought back to life through prayer after being found unresponsive at home.

The testimony was shared during an episode of CBN’s “Heaven Meets Earth” podcast, where hosts Abigail Robertson and Ryan Bethea interviewed Courtney about the experience that forever changed her family. The incident occurred when Leo was just 8 weeks old, on the anniversary of a deeply personal milestone—Courtney’s own healing from a life-threatening illness years prior.

Courtney recalled that she had placed Leo and her two older children down for naps before stepping outside to read. Amid her quiet time, she felt an overwhelming spiritual urging she attributed to the Holy Spirit. The message she felt said, “Go check on Leo, and don’t believe what you’re going to see.”

Upon entering the bedroom, Courtney discovered Leo in a lifeless state. His skin had turned gray and blue, his chest was sunken, he was cold to the touch, and there was blood on his face. She said she was immediately overwhelmed with the weight of the situation that seemed beyond hope.

Urgency Meets Faith in a Crisis Moment

Luke Smallbone, who was mowing the lawn outside, rushed in after hearing her screams. He quickly called 911 while Courtney, relying solely on faith and instinct, began performing CPR and praying aloud in tongues. Despite the panic, she said a deep sense of surrender took over her actions.

She vividly remembered saying, “Only You can do this. Only You can do this,” surrendering the moment to God. In that instant, she said Leo’s chest suddenly expanded as he took a breath, then cried—and even soiled his diaper, a sign of life that left them in awe. Emergency responders were already on the way, expecting a far grimmer outcome.

Paramedics arrived to find a baby who was not only alive but responsive. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed Leo with craniosynostosis, a deformity where the skull bones fuse too early, potentially requiring medical intervention. Despite the condition, Leo showed recovery and vitality that comforted and amazed his parents.

A Life-Altering Event Changes a Mother Forever

For Courtney, the ordeal carried spiritual weight beyond the medical diagnosis. She told the podcast hosts that her perspective shifted permanently. “I’m not the same. When you see the glory of God, I’m just like, ‘Nothing’s impossible,’” she said.

The event also resurfaced parallels from her own past, as she had overcome a rare illness at 18 that nearly took her life. That battle led to challenges, including prescription drug addiction and severe anxiety. The experience with Leo, however, reinforced the sense that her family’s survival was not random, but divinely guided.

She expressed her gratitude for every day with her children, saying that the fragility of life keeps her grounded and spiritually focused. “Every day, I am so aware that life is a gift. Children are a gift,” she said, reflecting on that life-changing day.

Leo’s Spiritual Maturity at a Young Age

Now 8 years old, Leo shows interest in Christian ministry beyond what might be expected at his age. According to Courtney, he recently delivered a sermon during a church service and often speaks passionately about faith and salvation.

Leo has shared memories that his parents describe as visions from his experience during the crisis. He told his mother he was with Jesus and a deceased relative he called “Papaw,” who told him to return to Earth for now, saying they’d reunite “at the end of the world when the dead are raised.”

Courtney recounted a moment when Leo, overwhelmed with emotion during a concert, wept over the idea that there are people in the world who do not yet know Jesus. His remarks included, “There are people out there that don’t know Jesus, and they will die eternally if they don’t know Jesus.”

Podcast Highlights Messages on Healing and Surrender

In the podcast episode, Courtney was joined by her friend Kerry Hasenbalg, and the two discussed themes of spiritual healing and emotional recovery. Their conversation touched on the importance of letting go of control while embracing purpose and faith.

Courtney said the experience has reshaped how she lives every day, emphasizing her dependence on divine guidance. “It keeps you on your face, because you’re like, I’m dead without You. I can’t do anything without the presence of God, nor do I want to.”

She also spoke about surrendering any fear to God after the incident, noting that her role as a mother includes trusting God with her children’s lives. Referring to the post-resuscitation period, she told doctors, “I’m sorry, I’ve just seen this, if God wants to, He’s in charge.”

Faith Continues to Guide Their Family's Story

Today, both Courtney and Luke Smallbone continue to share their family’s story of crisis and faith with others. For them, Leo’s survival stands not only as a medical puzzle but as a spiritual testimony that they believe could touch lives beyond their own.

Though Leo still requires monitoring for his medical condition, the story of what occurred one afternoon in their home is something his family speaks of with deep reverence. It marks a turning point that has brought them closer together and closer in their faith.

Now a thriving child with a growing faith, Leo’s journey from a lifeless moment to a spiritually engaged young boy remains a central thread in Courtney’s message to others: that life, no matter how fragile, can hold extraordinary moments of divine encounter.