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After surviving being burned on 100 per cent of his body at just 9-years-old, John O'Leary's powerful story of recovery and faith is set to hit theatres this fall.
Soul on Fire is a new Christian film based on O'Leary's book On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life.
As an inspirational speaker, O'Leary's book became a No. 1 national bestseller and has been translated into 12 languages.
It was back in 1987 that O'Leary's house in St. Louis, MO, burned down, and left him barely alive as burns covered his entire body. Taken to the hospital, doctors didn't expect O'Leary to survive.
Through grueling recovery, family, faith in God, and the support of Baseball Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck, O'Leary beat all the odds and lived.
"We’ve followed John’s developing story for years," said Rich Peluso, head of AFFIRM Films, the company that made the movie. "The life-changing elements of this story are what we look for at AFFIRM and what our audiences connect to so enthusiastically."
After the explosion in his garage, O'Leary spent 5 months in the hospital before being released.
"I woke up in a hospital bed where doctors had given me a 1 percent chance to live," said O'Leary. "Through all the pain, I remember hearing my mom’s voice and asking her if I would be OK. My mom had the courage not to comfort me with a lie, but to instead ask: ‘John, do you want to die? It’s your choice, not mine.’ I thought for a moment and answered: ‘Mom, I don’t want to die. I want to live.’"
Soul on Fire was filmed right in St. Louis and is set to hit theatres across North America on Oct. 10.
"I make movies about miracles. I believe in miracles. John O’Leary is a walking miracle," said the film's director, Sean McNamara. "I've been blessed to film his extraordinary story that has inspired people to overcome extreme loss. While making Soul On Fire, I watched John speak to a group of ‘Wounded Warriors’ and was blown away at his speaking talents, and his ability to transform lives by telling them his amazing story detailed in his book, On Fire. I can't wait to share with the world the story of John O'Leary's miraculous life."