Dan Davis has spent his life capturing stories that stir the soul. As an award-winning filmmaker, founder of Stir, and director of hundreds of documentaries around the world, he’s helped raise millions for charity and amplified voices of purpose, pain, and healing. But in the middle of filming one of the most emotional projects of his career—a documentary on a young woman’s six-year cancer battle—Dan’s life took an unexpected and deeply personal turn.
While telling the story of "Breaking Into Beautiful," Dan received devastating news: his own health was failing, and doctors couldn’t explain why.
(Listen to the complete podcast between K-LOVE's Crystal Thornton and film maker Dan Davis Below.)
For years, Dan had pushed through unexplained pain, relying on grit and faith to power his growing company and love his family well. But a sudden blood clot and escalating symptoms became impossible to ignore. Eventually, he found himself directing films from a zero-gravity chair for 18 months—because sitting upright was too painful.
“I would talk myself into getting through the day,” Dan shares. “Running a business, being a husband, a father, it all became a question mark every morning.”
In the chaos of uncertainty, Dan’s faith became both a lifeline and a battleground. He had walked alongside countless people in their pain through his films, and now, God was inviting him into his own valley.
And still, a quiet scripture whispered through the dark: “I will go and do.”
“I realized,” Dan says, “if I just kept doing what I could—loving my family, building my business around purpose—God would pick up the rest. I had nothing left in the tank. But I knew He had us.”
Then came a moment that changed everything.
While filming an interview for "Breaking Into Beautiful," Dan jokingly told the on-camera physician about his mysterious symptoms. That doctor paused, looked at him seriously, and said, “You have Nutcracker Syndrome: A rare vascular disorder where the left renal vein is compressed, typically between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery. This can cause abdominal pain, blood in the urine, and kidney issues. You have POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome): A condition that affects blood flow, causing a significant increase in heart rate when moving from lying down to standing. It often leads to dizziness, fainting, fatigue, and brain fog. You have multiple rare conditions.”
That same night, while shopping with his wife at Target, Dan got the email that confirmed it: the doctor was right. After years of mystery, he finally had answers. Through Kim’s story—through following a divine nudge to tell someone else's story—God saved Dan’s life.
“We were crying in the middle of Target,” Dan remembers. “Not because of a sale—but because of a miracle.”
Dan's friendship with Kim, the young woman at the center of the documentary, became a sacred thread in both of their lives. “I sent her a text once, telling her I knew we were meant to meet before this life, that this was our divine assignment. And she just said, ‘I know.’”
Through Kim’s journey and her trust in God, Dan was learning how to surrender. “She taught me what it looks like to live with your spirit on the surface,” he says.
After undergoing two life-preserving surgeries, Dan now walks with a renewed fire—one that doesn’t go out when he sleeps and burns brighter when he wakes. “That’s what happens when you live in alignment with your calling. There’s peace and purpose in every step, even when you have to crawl instead of run.”
Today, Dan continues telling stories that stir—carefully, prayerfully, and with deep empathy born from his own pain. His message for others walking a similar path?
“Your purpose can come through the pain. And when you give what little you have to God, He will amplify it. Don’t focus on surviving—focus on surrendering. That’s where the miracles begin.”
Dan Davis’ story is a reminder that sometimes, the storyteller becomes the story, and when God is the author, even the darkest chapters lead to something beautiful. You can follow Dan Davis @stirydan on Instagram and at www.stiry.com.
Breaking Into Beautiful is now streaming on Angel Studios. Check out the link: https://www.angel.com/watch/breaking-into-beautiful