By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 10:13 PM on 21st March 2011
A boy who almost died from a ruptured appendix has spoken about his moving experience on TV, saying he met his great grandfather in heaven.
The extraordinary claims by Colton Burpo, come after he was misdiagnosed in 2002 with flu while his family, from Imperial, Nebraska, were on a trip to Colorado. By the time they returned home, the then 4-year-old was seriously ill and had to undergo emergency surgery twice.
As he lay on the operating table, Colton, now 11, says he went to heaven. A book of his 'experience' has since become a New York Times Best Seller.
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Trip: Colton Burpo says he went to heaven during an operation where he met Jesus, John the Baptist and his great grandfather, before returning to his family
Speaking to MSNBC, little Colton recounted how on his trip to heaven he met Jesus, a miscarried sister and his great grandfather.
He said: 'A few angels they came, picked me up and I was looking at Jesus.
'I was just sitting by the holy spirit and this guy comes up and says, 'are you Tod's son', so I said yes and he said, 'well I'm his grandfather'.'
'He was very big with huge wings, he had curly hair, big smile and was really nice.'
The little boy said he didn't recognise 'Pop'- the family's nick name for their great grand father - from a picture taken shortly before his death, but from one of him as a young man.
The Burpos have written a book about their son's experience and Colton, now aged 11, continues to share his stories of his visit to Heaven
Colton also described meeting John the Baptist, though without understanding who he was, having not yet learned about him in Sunday school.
He even recalled being introduced to Christ's cousin and Jesus told him that his cousin had baptised him.
The Burpos have written a book about the experience and Colton, now aged 11, continues to share his stories of Heaven.
For weeks the book has topped the New York Times Best Sellers list, shifting 1.2 million copies so far.
There are now plans to have it translated into 13 other languages.
While Colton was in the operating theatre having his appendix out, his parents Todd and Sonya prayed, believing they were going to lose their son.
However, Colton soon recovered and then told his astonished parents that he had met the sister his mother had miscarried a year before his own birth.
What made this even more remarkable was his parents had never spoken to him about her.
His 41-year-old father Tod said: 'When he told about us about his sister in heaven, it was another one of those holy cow moments, he can't make this up.
'[I thought] Wow I have a daughter waiting for me, a lot of people need that hope and healing too.'
Family: Colton (right) with his parents and siblings. The youngster thought he only had one sister when he went under the surgeon's knife but says he met another that his mother miscarried
Colton also described to his astonished parents how he had seen them praying for him.
Tod added: 'At first we were surprised, what grabbed my attention was that he could tell me where I was praying - my own wife couldn't tell me that.'
In an earlier interview, Colton said that his visions became more vivid as time passed.
Speaking last month about the sister he never knew he had, he said: 'She looked familiar and she started giving me hugs and told me she was glad to have someone from her family up there.
'She doesn't have a name though, she said they never gave her one. But she can't wait for her mom and dad to come to Heaven to meet her.'
He went on to recount heaven in more detail, saying: 'I remember Jesus, there's streets of gold and a lot of colours. I sat on Jesus' lap and then I just felt safe. God, he is the biggest one in Heaven, he can hold the world in his hands.'
He even claims he saw a glimpse of Armageddon.
When asked the age-old question about what Heaven is like, Colton had a very specific description: 'Well, it's all the colours of the rainbow, a place of beautiful shades and hues.
'The gates were made of gold and there were pearls on them. It never gets dark. It's always bright.
'Everyone has wings and can fly except for Jesus, who hovers up and down. Everyone wears a white robe crossed by a sash of different colours and they have lights above their heads.'
Colton Burpo: The youngster from Nebraska says he sat on Jesus' lap and saw his dead sister when he was four
The child also claimed that he saw his great-grandfather who had died more than 30 years before. However, he didn't recognise him from a picture taken shortly before his death but from one of him as a young man
Mr Burpo is a garage-door salesman who volunteers as a school wrestling coach and local fireman.
He is also pastor of the Crossroads Wesleyan Church in Imperial and many wonder how much their religious home life may have influenced his son.
His schoolteacher wife Sonja, initially had their doubts about their son's vivid post-operative recollections but her husband insists: 'I am convinced he was in Heaven.'
Colton is like any other 11-year-old, he likes music, wrestles and prays to the god he describes as being able to hold the world in his hands.
Speaking at an earlier interview, Colton said publishing the book was not something he intended to do, but he said he again turned to God for an answer.
He prayed: 'God, if this is really you. I don't know how to publish a book. If you want me to do this you will have the publishing industry come to me.'
And they did. So far half a million books have been printed.
Book stores across the country are trying to get more copies. They are on e-book readers, audio tape and there is even talk of a movie.
Mr Burpo said: 'I don't know why He picked us. God did a remarkable miracle for us.'
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This is a must read book. As soon as I heard about the story i loaded it on my E-Reader. I have always believed in life after death and like many others always "wondered' what it would be like. After my father passed away it made me believe even more, but after reading this book it really takes you to another level of belief. Colton is truly blessed by his experience and was chosen for a reason to spread the word. What a wonderful description, can almost make you vision it, but I'm sure it is so much more beautiful than anyone could ever imagine. Colton thank you so much for sharing your story with the world, you have touched many hearts and souls. I know we always have God with us but to experience what you did is so beautiful, more than words can describe. Blessings to you and your family for sharing.
- Kathy, NY USA, 25/3/2011 00:56
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