Opinion | The author's opinion does not necessarily reflect Sarah Palin's view.
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson shared a harrowing experience on social media regarding his 11-month-old son Theodore, who swallowed a yellow crayon that became lodged in his lungs.
Initially, the family suspected a virus, but after realizing the severity of the situation, they rushed Theodore to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida.
An initial endoscopy failed to remove the object, leading to a tense wait for a second attempt by a children’s lung specialist, who ultimately succeeded in extracting the crayon.
We Just Witnessed A Miracle. Praise Jesus Christ. Yes, Miracles Are REAL…
This weekend we noticed our 11-month-old son wheezing with every breath. ‘He has a virus,’ we thought. After 24 hours of no other symptoms, we realized our worst fear: a foreign object. He ingested… pic.twitter.com/h5eAtE1y7i
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 13, 2024
“This weekend we noticed our 11-month-old son wheezing with every breath. ‘He has a virus,’ we thought. After 24 hours of no other symptoms, we realized our worst fear: a foreign object,” Johnson wrote.
“He ingested something, it got stuck and was blocking his breathing. We dropped our daughters off with the grandparents and sped to the hospital.”
Johnson expressed deep gratitude for the medical team, especially his wife’s insistence on the real issue, and emphasized the emotional toll of seeing his child in distress.
“After admission to the Operating Room and an excruciating 90 minute endoscopy a sunken-faced doctor emerged to give us news parents fear most: ‘Yes, there is something stuck in his left upper bronchus. I can’t get it out. I tried everything.’ It was a piece of yellow crayon,” Johnson wrote.
“We spent a tortured night awake watching over our exhausted baby in a medical crib hooked up to monitors,” he said.
“In the morning, a children’s lung specialist came to see us. Dr John wanted to try again. It was this or removal of part of my son’s lung. We agreed. Another round of anesthesia, and then you hand your infant over to near-total strangers. It rips your soul out,” Johnson wrote.
He framed the successful outcome as a “literal miracle,” underscoring his faith in divine intervention and the importance of maintaining hope during difficult times.
“The Pulmonologist emerged; sweaty and tired and looking exhausted. He stopped in front of us and then held up a small medical vial with the floating remnants of a yellow crayon,” Johnson said.
“But then, just the right alignment of the obstruction and it [moved] — they GOT IT. The doctor called it ‘lucky’ I call it a literal miracle,” Johnson said.
“I am so grateful to have been able to help. God is great and works in amazing ways,” Dr. John Prpich wrote.
After the procedure, Theodore returned home healthy, bringing relief and joy to the family.
“As a parent, seeing your child in pain and suffering is the worst feeling on earth. This is where faith becomes real. Knowing your child is going to be OK is the best feeling on earth. Nothing even comes close. Never lose faith. Trust the Holy Spirit. And remember Jesus Christ is the great healer. Christ is King.”
