We Believe in Miracles

Our family believes in miracles.

Honestly, with the amount of loss and heartache that we have experienced in the past six years, it is sometimes easier to remember the pain and the difficult things than the miracles we have seen. But, when I consider how much we have been given and what blessings are ours, I am humbled and amazed.

Sweet Charlie for example. Her story hangs on the "Wall of Hope" at the IMC hospital where she was life flighted after her birth. Her story IS a miracle and one that now brings hope to other families with little ones in the NICU there.

Here is her picture on the Wall of Hope says:

Charlie was born on June 21, 2011, when we lost her loving Mother, Linda, to an amniotic embolism. Without oxygen for some time in her Mother's womb, Charlie suffered from severe hypoxia resulting in brain damage. Her lifeless body was resuscitated in the emergency room while the doctors tried in vain to save her Mother. With her first breaths Charlie's tiny body began to convulse with seizures.

Life-flight was dispatched and Charlie was rushed to IMC's NICU. Here she underwent a cooling process designed to lower her core temperature and reduce swelling to the brain. She spent many days learning to breathe on her own and after 3 weeks, was transferred to Primary Children's Hospital where a feeding tube was surgically placed in her abdomen. After a total of 6 weeks in the NICU, and with a feeding tube and pump in tow, Charlie was allowed to go home.

Therapists from Utah's Up-to-Three program worked with Charlie for 7 months until she passed a swallow study confirming she had learned to swallow without aspirating. It was a wonderful day in February 2012, when the feeding tube was surgically removed. From that point on, Charlie's progress has been nothing short of miraculous. She is walking, learning, jabbering, and throwing the most wonderful tantrums. Full of life and spunk, Charlie is overcoming the odds and is living life to the fullest with no indication of limitations as initially expected. 

Our family owes a great debt of gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff at IMC and Primary Children's Hospitals. Thank you for giving Charlie every opportunity to overcome the odds!

Sincerely, 

Brad Rowbury and family..... Carter, Ryen, Jack, and the amazing Charlie Linda Rowbury

(sorry these pictures are not the best quality. They were emailed to us and they were tiny in the email. Oh, well.)

I can't look at Charlie without becoming emotional and thinking about what a miracle her life is. 

Now our family is praying and hoping for another miracle. 

This isn't my story to share, so I won't include many details, but my Uncle Judd (Cortney, Che', Colby, and Carlie's dad and Sue's husband for those of you who have been around long enough to have heard about them) is in a coma after suffering a stroke in the early morning hours Sunday. His situation is critical, but already there have been small miracles in what we are hoping will be a large miracle. It could be weeks before we know much, but we are praying and fasting for his full recovery. 

This situation is consuming me. It has been so emotional for all involved. I feel so helpless. Che', who is one of my dearest friends aside from being my cousin, called me shortly after it happened at 2:30 am on Sunday morning. We have already been conditioned to know that middle of the night calls are never good, and well, this certainly wasn't good. Che' and Landon were already on their way to Idaho and have been there with their whole family ever since. It is so hard for me to know that I am here and can do nothing but pray while they are all suffering through so much. I know that being there wouldn't help either, because what can you do? But it is really tough going through the motions daily and pretending everything is okay when really I just want to fix the situation. We all know that isn't possible---but we can pray and ask for a miracle, which is what we are doing. 

Sue and Judd's whole community is behind them praying and fasting, as are both sides of the family and many more friends and loved ones. I believe in the power of prayer and believe that prayer buoyed our family up so much when Charlie was fighting for her life. I know this time can be the same. So, if you can, please add Judd and Susan, along with their kids, to your prayers. It would mean a lot to me. 

Judd and Charlie girl