By Mark Ellis —
In a remarkable testimony of God’s protection, 20-year-old Aidan Perry of Marion County, Florida, survived a point-blank gunshot to the chest, and he credits a gold cross necklace—gifted by his father—for shielding his heart.
On June 7, 2025, Aidan visited a friend’s apartment in The Villages when tragedy struck. His friend, showing off a .40-caliber pistol, accidentally discharged the weapon, sending a bullet straight toward Aidan’s chest, just an inch above his heart.
“I looked down, I see tons of blood,” Aidan told WESH 2 News. “I thought I was going to die, honestly.” Rushed to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, Aidan faced a grim prognosis—until doctors discovered the bullet’s path was altered by an unlikely protector: a gold cross necklace.
The necklace, a Christmas gift from Aidan’s father, Aaron Perry, bore the brunt of the bullet’s force. “They said about an inch above my heart, and then from there it hit the cross,” Aidan recounted. The cross split in two, but its metallic strength slowed the bullet, causing it to ricochet and lodge in Aidan’s fatty tissue, sparing his heart and lungs.
Dr. Khafra Garcia Henry, a trauma surgeon at HCA Florida Ocala, called it a miracle. “Because of its metallic component, it shielded a lot of the force,” Dr. Henry explained. “It could have been way worse, entering his pleural space or injuring his lung or heart.”
Aidan’s survival stunned medical staff, who labeled it “divine intervention.” The bullet, which exited near his armpit and broke his upper arm bone, could have been fatal without the necklace’s intervention.
“I look at it as a lifesaver,” Aidan said, holding the broken cross. “I probably wouldn’t be talking to you guys right now.” Despite the pain of recovery, Aidan remains in good spirits, testifying to God’s grace. “Even with a little bit of pain, I’m still here, so it’s fine,” he shared. “I think God played a big role in this. He’s the reason I’m still here today.”
Aaron Perry, who gave his son the necklace last Christmas, was overcome with emotion. “So many emotions,” he told reporters. “It wasn’t just a gift; it came from the heart.” The father, a man of faith, believes God used his gift to work a miracle. “I never imagined it would save his life,” Aaron said, echoing the gratitude of a family touched by God’s hand.
Sadly, the friend who fired the gun faced legal consequences. He was arrested and charged with culpable negligence causing injury. Yet Aidan’s focus remains on gratitude and faith. “It’s a reminder to never stop believing,” he told FaithPot. “Keep believing, and God’s definitely real.”
As he recovers, Aidan hopes his story encourages others. “God sees what’s coming before we do,” he said. “Trust Him with all your heart.”
The incident reminds believers of God’s covering hand of protection: “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.” (Psalm 91:4)
