Lucy Shimmers and the Prince of Peace: Ending & Plot Explained

Few holiday films ask viewers to sit with a child’s death, but Lucy Shimmers and the Prince of Peace does exactly that. Released in 2020, this faith-based drama follows a terminally ill five-year-old who befriends a hardened prisoner during the Christmas season. What seems like a straightforward story of innocence redeeming sin takes a surprising turn when Lucy dies of pneumonia rather than from her underlying illness — a choice that raises questions about the film’s narrative priorities.

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10 ·
Runtime: 1 hour 27 minutes ·
Release Year: 2020 ·
Genre: Drama ·
Director: Kevan Otto

Six facts, one pattern: the film’s plot deliberately avoids naming Lucy’s disease while still making her vulnerability central to the story.

What terminal illness does Lucy Shimmers have?

Lucy’s medical condition in the film

The movie deliberately withholds the name of Lucy’s disease. IMDb (film database) describes Lucy as a five-year-old who becomes sick and is diagnosed with a pneumonia infection that proves “very difficult.” Her immune system is compromised by an underlying terminal condition, but the script never specifies whether it’s cancer, an immune disorder, or something else. Dove.org (family media review) notes that Lucy spreads love in the hospital, including to “the sad man,” Edgar, a prisoner with kidney failure.

How the illness affects the plot

Lucy’s frailty is the engine that drives the story. Her hospitalization creates the setting where she meets Edgar, and her eventual death from pneumonia — not her terminal illness — becomes the emotional climax. Screen Rant (film analysis site) reports that doctors tell Lucy’s family she will soon die as her condition worsens, leading to her final wish that one of her kidneys be given to Edgar — a request that cannot be fulfilled because she is too ill to donate.

The implication: the film prioritizes emotional impact over medical specificity, leaving the audience to fill in the gap.

Did Lucy give Edgar her kidney?

The kidney donation question

No. Lucy never gives Edgar her kidney. According to Screen Rant (film analysis site), Lucy’s final wish is that one of her kidneys be given to Edgar, who suffers from kidney failure and reportedly needs dialysis to survive (Fiction Horizon (entertainment blog)). However, the doctor explains that Lucy is too weak for the procedure — her body cannot withstand it.

Plot twist outcome

The organ donation subplot is resolved not by a transplant but by Lucy’s death. After Lucy passes away, Edgar survives and is reunited with his family (Screen Rant (film analysis site)). The doctor says the kidney procedure can save Edgar’s life, but this claim is not depicted on screen — the film leaves the outcome of Edgar’s kidney failure ambiguous (Fiction Horizon (entertainment blog)).

The pattern: the film dangles a redemption-through-transplant arc but then withdraws it, relying on symbolic sacrifice instead of a literal cure.

What happens to Lucy at the end?

Lucy’s death scene

Lucy dies of pneumonia in the final act. Grandpa Jackson walks Lucy into the afterlife, a moment portrayed as peaceful and redemptive (Screen Rant (film analysis site)). Dove.org (family media review) calls it a “heavy death scene,” acknowledging its emotional weight for a family audience.

The role of the angel

The “Prince of Peace” — understood as an angelic figure or Jesus Christ — appears to guide Lucy. Fiction Horizon (entertainment blog) frames the film’s message as one of faith and accepting Jesus Christ as savior. Whether the angel is meant to be literal or metaphorical is left open to interpretation.

Final messages

Lucy’s death brings redemption to Edgar. Her bravery and kindness inspire the adults around her. The film ends on a note of hope: Edgar is reconciled with his family, and Lucy’s sacrifice — though not her kidney — gives him a second chance (Screen Rant (film analysis site)).

The catch: faith-based storytelling often uses sacrifice as a path to salvation, but here the sacrifice is literal and permanent, not symbolic.

What happened to Lucy Shimmers?

Overview of Lucy’s story

Lucy Shimmers is a terminally ill five-year-old who meets Edgar, a hardened criminal undergoing treatment for kidney failure. IMDb (film database) summarises the plot: Lucy befriends an incarcerated man who needs a kidney, and during the holiday season, she changes his heart through her kindness and faith.

Her interactions with Edgar

Edgar, described by Dove.org (family media review) as a “stubborn prisoner with kidney failure,” initially resists Lucy’s warmth. Over the course of the film, Lucy’s unwavering faith softens him. Lucy’s bravery inspires the adults around her, including Edgar, prompting him to seek redemption (Screen Rant (film analysis site)).

Her fate

Lucy dies at the end. The death and the subsequent reunion of Edgar with his family are confirmed (Screen Rant (film analysis site)). The impact of Lucy’s life — not her death — is the lasting message, but the film does not shy away from showing its young protagonist’s final moments.

The implication: the narrative treats Lucy’s death as a necessary catalyst for change, a choice that may unsettle viewers expecting a lighter holiday tone.

Where can I watch Lucy Shimmers and the Prince of Peace?

Streaming options

As of 2025, the film is not available on Netflix. IMDb (film database) lists alternative titles including “Lucy Shimmers’ Christmas Miracle” and directs viewers to digital retailers. The film can be rented or purchased on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV (via IMDb’s links).

Availability on Netflix

Despite user interest, Lucy Shimmers and the Prince of Peace is not currently streaming on Netflix. The film was released independently in 2020 and has not been picked up by the platform as of early 2025.

Purchase or rent

Digital purchase or rental is available on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. The price may vary by region.

The pattern: the film’s limited distribution reinforces its niche appeal to faith-based audiences seeking an emotionally intense holiday story.

“Second chances blossom when a hardened criminal crosses paths with a precocious little girl during the holiday season.”

— Apple TV synopsis

“Lucy Dies Of Pneumonia At The End Of The Film.”

— Screen Rant article

“Lucy spreads the love of Jesus in the hospital, including to ‘the sad man,’ Edgar.”

— Dove.org review

For viewers seeking a family-friendly holiday drama with a heavy dose of mortality, the choice is clear: brace for an emotional ending where innocence is sacrificed for another’s redemption, or look for lighter fare.

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