Gabe Poirot spent ’18 days in heaven’ after a near-fatal accident in October 2021 that left him in a coma, and he came back with a testimony that he says Jesus personally gave him to share with the world.
We have heard many stories of near-death experiences and encounters with Jesus in heaven. Most of them give us hope and remind us about the pure joy that waits for us there. Gabe’s account is one of those stories that is too beautiful to ignore.
The Skateboarding Accident and the 18-Day Coma
On October 25, 2021, Gabe was 20 years old when the accident happened. The young skateboarder took a hard fall without a helmet, hitting his head first on the pavement.
By the time the ambulance arrived, he was already on a breathing machine. Doctors could see right away it was a serious head injury. His parents were out of state in Virginia. Someone had to call and tell them their son might not make it.
But Gabe says something else was happening entirely.
A Near-Death Experience that Changed His Life Forever
The moment the ambulance arrived, he was already gone. Not gone the way we fear. Gone upward. He describes a tunnel of light that pulled him straight out of his body. He looked down and saw his friend holding him, praying over him. Then he was somewhere else completely.
And what he saw there wrecked him in the best way.
“Heaven is a Person”
He says heaven isn’t just a place you go. “Heaven is a person,” he said. The mountains, the trees, the rivers — everything was singing. “Worthy is the Lamb.” Even the sand caught the sound and sang it back.
When he finally stood before Jesus, his face was down. He was sure his mistakes were about to catch up with him. That feeling is so human. So familiar. Most of us know exactly what that feels like.
A Powerful Encounter with Jesus
Then Jesus lifted his face. Looked him in the eyes. And said, “Gabriel, why are you concerned about that which is paid for?” He showed Gabe the wounds on his wrists. And Gabe said those wounds carried his name on them. “He did it just for me. Like I was his only one.”
That sentence alone is worth sitting with for a while.
A Message for Grieving Parents
Gabe also saw children in heaven — a whole area where kids were waiting for their parents. He now looks grieving parents in the eyes and tells them, “You didn’t lose your child. Your baby’s waiting for you.”
Waking Up from an 18-Day Coma
After 18 days, a family friend named Ginger walked into that hospital room and prayed over him out loud. She told him he had to wake up. He did.
Before leaving, Jesus gave him one instruction: “Gabriel, tell them who I really am. Tell my family I’m coming back soon.”
’18 Days in Heaven’ Book by Gabe Poirot
Gabe wrote a book called ‘18 Days in Heaven.’ He shares his story everywhere — buses, TV, wherever someone will listen. Because Jesus told him to. And he believes every word of it.
If you are carrying shame or fear today, hear what Jesus told Gabe: it has already been paid for. That is not just his story. That is the gospel. And it belongs to every one of us.
Read Gabe Poirot’s ‘18 Days in Heaven’ on Amazon. (We may earn a small commission if you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our ministry.)
WATCH: Gabe Poirot Talks About Meeting Jesus in Heaven and Miraculous Recovery
