Chrissy Metz Says She 'Could Relate' to Mom in 'Breakthrough' Who Believes God Saved Her Dying Son

This is UsstarChrissy Metzfelt drawn to play Joyce Smith in the new movieBreakthrough.In 2015, Smith’s son, John, then 14, had been playing with friends on frozen Lake Sainte Louise in St. Charles, Missouri, when he fell through the ice and was submerged for 15 minutes. His lifeless body was recovered and doctors performed CPR on him for 43 minutes to no avail.As doctors prepared to tell Joyce, now 68, that her son was dead, she began to pray loudly over his body. “I remembered in church all my life hearing this scripture that says, ‘The Holy Spirit will raise Christ Jesus from the dead,’ ” she recalls. “The minute I prayed ‘Holy Spirit, please come and give me back my son!’ his heartbeat started.”Breakthrough.Twentieth Century FoxHer son was stabilized and airlifted to a hospital in St. Louis, where he arrived with little to no neurological function. Despite his grave condition, John continued to improve and defy the odds against him. Less than three weeks after the accident, he walked out of the hospital on his own without any brain damage.When Metz, 38, first heard the Smiths’ incredible story, she was instantly moved. “Believing in miracles myself, I could just relate,” the actress tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s issue.“I’ve always been sort of a positive Polly and that’s how I’ve gotten through so many of the things that I’ve been through in my life. Just changing my perspective and staying positive and knowing things are happening for me and not to me. It’s not easy but you have to do it,” she says.Yuri HasegawaFor more from Chrissy Metz and Joyce Smith, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands FridayShe’s also grateful for the opportunity to be a part ofBreakthrough.“We all want something to believe in, that we’re stronger together than apart,” Metz adds. “It’s so interesting how your tragedies become your triumphs. That’s what’s sort of astounding about this story, the way that it’s affecting people’s lives no matter what you believe in. We all are looking for our purpose and our path in life.”Breakthroughopens April 17.

This is UsstarChrissy Metzfelt drawn to play Joyce Smith in the new movieBreakthrough.

In 2015, Smith’s son, John, then 14, had been playing with friends on frozen Lake Sainte Louise in St. Charles, Missouri, when he fell through the ice and was submerged for 15 minutes. His lifeless body was recovered and doctors performed CPR on him for 43 minutes to no avail.

As doctors prepared to tell Joyce, now 68, that her son was dead, she began to pray loudly over his body. “I remembered in church all my life hearing this scripture that says, ‘The Holy Spirit will raise Christ Jesus from the dead,’ ” she recalls. “The minute I prayed ‘Holy Spirit, please come and give me back my son!’ his heartbeat started.”

Breakthrough.Twentieth Century Fox

Her son was stabilized and airlifted to a hospital in St. Louis, where he arrived with little to no neurological function. Despite his grave condition, John continued to improve and defy the odds against him. Less than three weeks after the accident, he walked out of the hospital on his own without any brain damage.

When Metz, 38, first heard the Smiths’ incredible story, she was instantly moved. “Believing in miracles myself, I could just relate,” the actress tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s issue.

“I’ve always been sort of a positive Polly and that’s how I’ve gotten through so many of the things that I’ve been through in my life. Just changing my perspective and staying positive and knowing things are happening for me and not to me. It’s not easy but you have to do it,” she says.

Yuri Hasegawa

She’s also grateful for the opportunity to be a part ofBreakthrough.

“We all want something to believe in, that we’re stronger together than apart,” Metz adds. “It’s so interesting how your tragedies become your triumphs. That’s what’s sort of astounding about this story, the way that it’s affecting people’s lives no matter what you believe in. We all are looking for our purpose and our path in life.”

Breakthroughopens April 17.

source: people.com