Miracles happen every day, which is part of what makes life so magical. A story is currently going viral that shows this in a big way.

This story is about a doctor who refused to give up on his patient, even when all the odds seemed to be stacked against the patient’s survival. The story is now inspiring other people in the medical field to battle against the odds to save someone’s life whenever they can.

Justin Smith, 25, was walking home one cold winter night in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, but he never made it to his destination. Ten hours later he was found laying frozen in the snow, and paramedic Emmett Thomas thought that there was no hope for the young man. Justin’s father Don, who had spent hours looking for his son, refused to give up on him. Even though the coroner had already been called, Don kept shaking his son to try and wake him up.

Though everyone else at Lehigh Valley Hospital had given up on Justin, Dr. Gerald Coleman thought that there was still a chance that he would survive. The doctor decided to perform a risky operation on Justin, and his father could do nothing but kiss his forehead and say “I love you.”

Sure enough, Justin’s heart started beating again as his body warmed up. Twelve days later, Justin finally woke up. Though he lost some fingers and toes, he was grateful just to be alive again!

Dr. Coleman is now being praised for refusing to give up on his patient. Many did not know that nine years before, Coleman had lost his baby daughter after she was born prematurely. The little girl only lived for a few weeks, and some think this experience inspired Coleman to not give up on his future patients like Justin.

Find out more about this incredible story in the video below!