Encountering God in Life's Storms: True Stories of His Presence in a Pediatric ICU

by Dan Falco, Jennifer Edwards (Editor)

“If God is both good and all-powerful, then why do children suffer?” In the high-stakes world of the Pediatric ICU, tragedy often strikes. Some children survive, but many do not, leaving doctors, nurses, and parents alike feeling defeated and wondering why this happened. In the aftermath of loss, Pediatric Intensivist Dr. Dan Falco (“Dr. Dan”) felt compelled to write about his experiences, unsure if he was writing to remember the events or in order to forget.

Approaching the age of fifty, the weight of those experiences led to PTSD and burnout. That’s when a long-whispered question clawed its way to the forefront, threatening to undermine Dr. Dan’s If God is both good and all-powerful, then why do children suffer? The answer he received was unexpected—a gentle reminder of God’s unwavering awareness and presence amidst the pain. Reading these real-life stories, a powerful realization emerges—Dr. Dan’s writings are not just about loss but testaments to the presence of the Divine in human suffering.

Encountering God in Life’s Storms shares true stories of courage, strength, and determination of some of Dr. Dan’s most heroic patients and their families. Throughout its pages, readers will discover God’s heart for His children and what He wants us all to understand about suffering and His presence in it.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2025

Reviews

[Ivey Rodigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredibly inspirational and authentic! Regardless of whether you are in the medical field, Dr. Dan conveys his message in a way that you can relate back to your own life with very thoughtful reflections and keeping God at the center of it all. It was a quick, but powerful read and I was thankful for the explanations of medical jargon so that I was not confused!!

[Lauren Brice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I know I am biased as I am his daughter, but I cannot say enough praise for this powerful book. I've read in many times in its many versions over the years, and I believe it has progressed into something that is going to change lives for Christ. My father has remained incredibly humble all throughout this process, and I must echo that all praise is to God. That being said, he's done an incredible work compiling all these stories and lessons that anyone could benefit from. It is not the most cheerful book by any means, but it is filled with things that we as a society need to hear. We must prepare for a storm before it hits so that we can lean into God's presence and overflow with joy and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit.