178. COVID Miracle, Glimpse of Glory, and God’s Faithfulness Through Loss

Patty Riddle Kirshner, a Nebraska pastor and evangelist, shares how her life changed when COVID swept through her church in August 2020. Patty spent 83 days in four hospitals, over four weeks in a coma, suffered paralysis from the neck down, and died briefly from cardiac arrest.

During that moment, she describes being in heaven’s “glory,” overwhelmed by God’s presence, seeing an unusual sky color and things that stunned her. God told her she could stay or return; she chose to come back because there was more work to do. 

After extensive rehabilitation, she recovered movement and a national news team welcomed her home. Tragically, she soon faced her husband Ronnie’s glioblastoma diagnosis; he died in May 2021.

Patty reflects on the anger, the grief, learning to live “in the moment,” staying connected to community and church, starting the widows’ group Embrace, and testifying that God remained faithful through suffering, loss, and renewed purpose. 

00:00 A Glimpse of Glory 
00:41 Meet Patty and Her Story 
01:33 Life Before COVID 
02:37 Symptoms and Denial 
04:43 Hospitalization and Fear 
07:20 Coma and Ventilator Fight 
10:29 Heart Stops Heaven Visit 
13:36 Choose to Stay or Go 
14:48 Rehab Isolation and Fear 
18:45 Recovery and Witnessing 
20:41 Vision of Anointing 
22:24 Husband’s Fall and Diagnosis 
24:17 Grief After Loss 
25:58 Finding Hope Again 
26:56 New Love And Calling 
28:51 Hard Questions Anger 
31:14 Staying In The Moment 
33:22 Advice For Widows 
36:20 Embrace Support Group 
40:59 Knowing God Is Real 
44:07 Haiti Prophetic Warning 
45:20 Ministry Links And Prayer of blessing over listeners 

Patty's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/p/Evangelist-Patty-Riddle-100081176667734/ 

Patty's Website: https://www.womenunitedministry.com/