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Miracles in the ER: Extraordinary Stories from a Doctor's Journal
You've heard about them. Extraordinary, unexplainable, seemingly miraculous true stories that couldn't have happened, but did. Real-life stories of life changes, answered prayers, inner and outer healing where they appeared impossible.
Again and again, bestselling author Dr. Robert Lesslie has encountered such Miracles in the ER during his decades of experience in emergency medicine. In these vignettes, all true stories, Dr. Lesslie chronicles miracles of physical healing, joy and forgiveness restored, relationships, time granted and spent, angels, human and otherwise.
These touching, dramatic, thought-provoking snapshots of life will grace you with hope and prompt you to look more closely for the miracle stories around you that so often go unseen and untold.
Again and again, bestselling author Dr. Robert Lesslie has encountered such Miracles in the ER during his decades of experience in emergency medicine. In these vignettes, all true stories, Dr. Lesslie chronicles miracles of physical healing, joy and forgiveness restored, relationships, time granted and spent, angels, human and otherwise.
These touching, dramatic, thought-provoking snapshots of life will grace you with hope and prompt you to look more closely for the miracle stories around you that so often go unseen and untold.
240 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2014
97 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 8, 2018
This book was like meeting old friends and I read it in two days flat. WHICH IS A RECORD FOR ME.
I have read Angels in the ER and Angels on Call by the same author.
I adore Dr. Lesslie's writing and his heart that clearly shows through in his books. I got this one for my birthday and it couldn't have been a better present. The stories never cease to captivate me and again, I felt like I was back with old friends, Dr. Lesslie, Virginia Granger, and the other staff at the hospital warmed my heart. Each story was so special and I ended the book in tears over the last one.
If you like Medical stories, or even medical fiction, this book is for you. And even if you don't, the perfect balance of humor, sadness, joy and grief make this a must read. The true stories of these men and women who serve their communities never ceases to make me so thankful for their dedication and the way that they live out the calling God has put upon their lives.
I have read Angels in the ER and Angels on Call by the same author.
I adore Dr. Lesslie's writing and his heart that clearly shows through in his books. I got this one for my birthday and it couldn't have been a better present. The stories never cease to captivate me and again, I felt like I was back with old friends, Dr. Lesslie, Virginia Granger, and the other staff at the hospital warmed my heart. Each story was so special and I ended the book in tears over the last one.
If you like Medical stories, or even medical fiction, this book is for you. And even if you don't, the perfect balance of humor, sadness, joy and grief make this a must read. The true stories of these men and women who serve their communities never ceases to make me so thankful for their dedication and the way that they live out the calling God has put upon their lives.
November 13, 2015
This book would be better titled, "Chicken Soup in the ER". Not so much about medical miracles, as heartwarming stories of courage, forgiveness, and hope. Episodes of parents dealing with loss of a child, young adults turning away from crime and drugs, and dying from cancer with faith and grace. Writing is saccharine-sweet, but worth it. The stories highlight the influence for good we can have on each other through love and compassion. Will definitely read more.
September 15, 2025
This was very uplifting, in a surprising way. Probably because it celebrated the goodness in people instead of the badness. There were miracles of healing but also miracles of forgiveness, a change of heart, a change of ways. There were kind strangers and selfless sacrifices. (The 60-year-old patient with pancreatic cancer really hit close to home; that’s what my grandfather died of and at that same age, and he became a doctor because he wanted to end cancer.) There wasn’t a boring case in the bunch. Despite the topic, it avoided preachiness. It’s very hard for people in First Responder careers, that see people at their worst daily, to stay positive. Dr. Lesslie somehow manages it, probably because he has the gift to keep an Eternal Perspective.
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: Some descriptions of injuries somewhat graphic
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: Some descriptions of injuries somewhat graphic
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
January 24, 2016
Thank you to Dr. Robert Lesslie for sharing his life from the ER -- his vignettes show the faces and the stories, the fears and joys, of people whose visits and lives intertwine with members of the community and ER staff in a South Carolina Hospital. Hope, healing, disappointments, prayers, drama, and miracles all provide the reader with a chance to view events they may have otherwise never seen or discovered without reading Dr. Lesslie's collection.
April 12, 2021
Dr. Leslie's short stories of his medical career were very interesting. He also brought his Christian faith into many of the tales. I thoroughly enjoyed the book from start to finish, hearing about a doctor's life in South Carolina.
May 26, 2023
I gave this three stars because it was a legitimately good book. Not one I would’ve picked for myself but I’m glad I read it. There’s hope in these stories and I love that Lesslie collected them all in one place to share with everyone else.
October 8, 2025
What a great book!! I agree with other reviewers that this like Chicken Soup for the Soul ER edition. After reading a heavy book, The River is Waiting, I needed an uplifting book and this was it.
July 20, 2015
I happened to pick up this book at Barnes and Nobles while I was standing on the check out line. I read the back and thought naturally since I love and work in the medical field that I would love it. But honestly, this was such a let down.
First of all, there were only about two "miracles" in the book. The rest were just stories and nothing more than that. Second, this is NOT a journal in any way shape or form, which I was really bummed about. I would have loved to read from actual journals that doctors have kept. But these were just short stories. For all I know the author could have never even set foot in an ER.
The easiest way to describe this book is a cheap Grey's Anatomy filled with prayers and sayings from the bible and a major lack of miracles.
First of all, there were only about two "miracles" in the book. The rest were just stories and nothing more than that. Second, this is NOT a journal in any way shape or form, which I was really bummed about. I would have loved to read from actual journals that doctors have kept. But these were just short stories. For all I know the author could have never even set foot in an ER.
The easiest way to describe this book is a cheap Grey's Anatomy filled with prayers and sayings from the bible and a major lack of miracles.
May 1, 2017
I liked this book, but it wasn't my favorite. The thing I didn't like was that the short stories inside of the book, didn't go together. They are each totally different then the next one, so the book didn't really flow together. I did enjoy some of the beginning stories, but after that they weren't very good, because nothing exciting happened. I gave it 3 stars because it has good writing, but every few pages you have to start over with something new and it got boring/repetitive towards the end. (This was my nonfiction book)
June 8, 2018
So good! RTC!
May 1, 2025
Number of pages: 233
Genre: Non-fiction
Series: Dr. Lesslie also has other similar books that aren't technically part of a series and don't need to be read in any particular order.
Age recommendation: 14/15+; depends on maturity
Summary: As a physician, Dr. Lesslie looks to science to tell him the answers to his medical questions. However, some things cannot be explained by science, and he turns to God and His miracles to explain the impossible.
My thoughts: This is possibly my favourite of all the books by Dr. Lesslie that I’ve read so far. The stories are a lot nicer, as they are all miracles, so there’s a lot more happy endings. Not to say that everyone survives bad diagnoses; some don't make it, but there is a sense that they are at peace with God about what’s happening to them or their family which makes it so much better.
As this is a collection of medical stories, there are some descriptions of procedures and injuries that can be a little graphic. I didn’t find this book as bad as some of his others, but some of the content could be triggering or a little too descriptive for some people.
The book is a collection of individual stories that are only connected through the common theme of some kind of miracle. The stories are split up into different sections based on the type of miracle - i.e., the miracle of healing, the miracle of answered prayer, unseen miracles, etc. I really liked that setup because it showed that there are more types of miracles than simply being healed physically.
Many of the stories are about Christians with a deep faith in God and speak of how He was able to help them in their circumstances. Through life, sickness, and even death, they trusted Him to take care of them, be with them and do what was best for them.
I loved this book and would definitely recommend it!
My personal rating: 5/5 stars
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
Genre: Non-fiction
Series: Dr. Lesslie also has other similar books that aren't technically part of a series and don't need to be read in any particular order.
Age recommendation: 14/15+; depends on maturity
Summary: As a physician, Dr. Lesslie looks to science to tell him the answers to his medical questions. However, some things cannot be explained by science, and he turns to God and His miracles to explain the impossible.
My thoughts: This is possibly my favourite of all the books by Dr. Lesslie that I’ve read so far. The stories are a lot nicer, as they are all miracles, so there’s a lot more happy endings. Not to say that everyone survives bad diagnoses; some don't make it, but there is a sense that they are at peace with God about what’s happening to them or their family which makes it so much better.
As this is a collection of medical stories, there are some descriptions of procedures and injuries that can be a little graphic. I didn’t find this book as bad as some of his others, but some of the content could be triggering or a little too descriptive for some people.
The book is a collection of individual stories that are only connected through the common theme of some kind of miracle. The stories are split up into different sections based on the type of miracle - i.e., the miracle of healing, the miracle of answered prayer, unseen miracles, etc. I really liked that setup because it showed that there are more types of miracles than simply being healed physically.
Many of the stories are about Christians with a deep faith in God and speak of how He was able to help them in their circumstances. Through life, sickness, and even death, they trusted Him to take care of them, be with them and do what was best for them.
I loved this book and would definitely recommend it!
My personal rating: 5/5 stars
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
February 24, 2021
Wonderful book
I read straight through the night. What an inspiring, well written book! It's almost like an "All Creatures Great and Small" type of book, except the patients are human.
The author paints some really interesting, deep characters and tells us their stories.
It's not a collection of miracles like someone who died then came back to life, but more about miracles of human resiliency, the ability for people to endure or change or meet horrific circumstances with grace or forgiveness.
The book is from a Christian point of view, with a Bible verse starting each chapter, but it's not preachy or trying to convert the reader. That's just the culture of the town this guy lives in and his perspective on life. So non-Christians won't feel put upon. I mean, if I read about a Himalayan experience, there will be a lot of Buddhism in the book, but that's just a reflection of the culture there. So don't let that scare you off.
It's a book that grapples with life and death, has humor in it, and lots of great people, characters... It's a greatly enjoyable book, and I'll be buying his many followup books.
I read straight through the night. What an inspiring, well written book! It's almost like an "All Creatures Great and Small" type of book, except the patients are human.
The author paints some really interesting, deep characters and tells us their stories.
It's not a collection of miracles like someone who died then came back to life, but more about miracles of human resiliency, the ability for people to endure or change or meet horrific circumstances with grace or forgiveness.
The book is from a Christian point of view, with a Bible verse starting each chapter, but it's not preachy or trying to convert the reader. That's just the culture of the town this guy lives in and his perspective on life. So non-Christians won't feel put upon. I mean, if I read about a Himalayan experience, there will be a lot of Buddhism in the book, but that's just a reflection of the culture there. So don't let that scare you off.
It's a book that grapples with life and death, has humor in it, and lots of great people, characters... It's a greatly enjoyable book, and I'll be buying his many followup books.
March 22, 2021
If you are looking for a book about medicine - this is not it. The stories skip most of the medical aspect in favour of the miraculous recovery. As someone in the medical field, I found many of the stories overly simplified and was irritated by the lack of true explanation. Yes, sometimes there is no medical explanation for a patients outcome, but this book doesn't even try. If you want a nice feel-good book about sick people getting better, then give it a go.
July 16, 2023
this was a good book.. i like that it is separate stories.. made it easy for me to read a couple stories every night before bed.. some are miracles, some are crazy coincidences..
my only complaint was how every time the author referred to a nurse or doctor, he uses their full names & sometimes their job titles.. we get to know the people early on and it seems redundant to repeat these things.. [spiking word count?]
my only complaint was how every time the author referred to a nurse or doctor, he uses their full names & sometimes their job titles.. we get to know the people early on and it seems redundant to repeat these things.. [spiking word count?]
July 10, 2017
Awesome and enlightened as well helpfulness and peaceful! It blends mind provoking stories with scripture very well. At times you're saddened by what happens to good people, but then your heart I
Is warm by the people and helpfulness of they handle things. I realize this isn't a well worded review, but sometimes you can't explain in words, how a good book is sometimes.
Is warm by the people and helpfulness of they handle things. I realize this isn't a well worded review, but sometimes you can't explain in words, how a good book is sometimes.
March 7, 2021
This is a collection of true-life stories from Robert Lesslie, an emergency room doctor in the community of Rock Hill, South Carolina. As you read, you will become acquainted with the doctors, nurses, and EMS technicians working there; you will also meet some of the people who pass through the hospital doors ... including some you may never forget.
** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED **
** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED **
September 27, 2023
Wonderful
I just finished this beautiful, touching book. Miracles are gifts from God and they are happening all the time. I call them Godwinks, from a wonderful group that I belong to. These happenings in this book are beautiful, causing laughter, smiles and comforting tears. Thank you Dr. Lesslie, I am just now starting to read another of your books.
I just finished this beautiful, touching book. Miracles are gifts from God and they are happening all the time. I call them Godwinks, from a wonderful group that I belong to. These happenings in this book are beautiful, causing laughter, smiles and comforting tears. Thank you Dr. Lesslie, I am just now starting to read another of your books.
September 14, 2024
This book is exactly what the title indicates; stories from the ER, containing some kind of miracle. Each story is very short and interesting. It is a great book to renew your faith and knowledge that God has a plan for each of us. This is a quick read for anyone wanting to read uplifting true life events.
May 23, 2025
Disappointing. I expected more. It showed a few sparks of ( if you really stretch your imagination) what could be construed as miracles, but for the most part the book is full of stories about the plight of ordinary people making extraordinary efforts and sometimes sacrifices. Unfortunately, their stories and sometimes the moral of the said stories were uninspiring or askew. Not recommended.
October 1, 2017
This book takes relates to medical personnel who believe in a higher power. Is shows you stories of miracles witnessed by us. We are only mere men working for god and if you believe he will show you he is there.
August 2, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and all the stories by Dr. Lesslie in the ER. Some stories were sad, some made me smile, all of them are heartwarming. I would recommend this books to anyone, not just people who work in healthcare.
November 13, 2021
This book was everything I needed right now. Some stories broke my heart while others gave me hope. I came across two other books by this Dr and I can't wait to fly through them. These definitely help getting me through the tough times.
April 22, 2023
My mom worked in the ER for many years so this book caught my eye. These stories were very touching. The outcome was not always the miracle that one would expect but there came lots of hope and amazement at how the Lord works.
May 28, 2024
A Gift
Dr Leslie obviously is a very gifted man show by his compassion and insight in his profession and in his writing. I really appreciated how he could find God’s finger prints in messy and challenging world around us. Excellent book!
Dr Leslie obviously is a very gifted man show by his compassion and insight in his profession and in his writing. I really appreciated how he could find God’s finger prints in messy and challenging world around us. Excellent book!
February 27, 2017
That's what it is, stories from the ER.........miracles even! Great feel good read! Shout out to our doctors and nurses and ambulance drivers and paramedics! THANKS!
February 10, 2018
Great book
This is a great book with many stories from the ER. Some are very sad but most are filled with hope and a life lesson.
This is a great book with many stories from the ER. Some are very sad but most are filled with hope and a life lesson.
September 20, 2018
This was a really good book, I looked forward to reading each day. Would like to read Dr. Lesslie's other books if I ever come across them.
December 10, 2019
Robert Lesslie recounts some great stories about life in the ER and about the various people who work there. I don't think every story seems miraculous, but they are inspirational.
May 29, 2020
Some stories I enjoyed more than others, but it is a good book.
August 4, 2020
Wonderful read! So many inspiring stories and good metaphors for life. Especially with the related bible verse. Ordered the book for a friend’s birthday.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews