The doctors of little Lacey Bower didn’t anticipate what a determined, cheerful, and clever baby girl she was when they first met her in utero. Now, at nearly three years old, Lacey is making big strides, literally and figuratively. She's proving her doctors wrong and making her parents proud beyond measure!
In December 2019, and after two years of trying to conceive, Michael and Michelle Bower of Indiana were thrilled to learn they were going to be parents. And they were super excited to find out they were having a daughter.
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However, their hopes were dashed when, following an ultrasound at 20 weeks, the couple was given devastating news.
The scan revealed that Lacey Bower had spina bifida, a neural tube defect that can cause paralysis, change to the brain, and nerve damage and injury. Michael and Michelle received the terrifying report only one day after learning they were having a girl. Michelle said, “We wanted a girl. We went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in under 24 hours.”
Doctors advised Michelle to terminate the pregnancy. They predicted that Lacey would likely never talk, eat, walk, or breathe on her own. But the Bowers were committed to giving their baby a chance at life.
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That decision led to a complicated, 3-hour surgery while Lacey was still in her mother’s womb. On April 27, and with a team of 35 medical professionals, doctors at St. Louis Children’s Hospital closed the opening in Lacey’s spine before she was ever born!
Michelle spent the remainder of her pregnancy on bed rest,. And nearly three months later on July 20, Lacey was born via cesarean section.
Lacey spent 18 days in the NICU, where doctors determined that she is partially paralyzed from the waist down, but that hasn’t slowed Lacey down!
Lacey astounds everyone with her accomplishments. She was able to communicate like an average 3-year-old by the time she was nineteen months. She’s learned how to roll over, sit, and pull herself up, and at almost 3, she is taking steps with the help of a walker!
Lacey Bower almost always wears an infectious smile, and she seems to have been born with innate resilience and determination. Mom and Dad credit that for her amazing progress.
Living with Lacey allows her parents to see God's power at work each day.
"Every day you get to witness a miracle," Michael said. He added, “It really is incredible because one year ago, she was standing for the first time. I truly believe we’re going to get to a point where she doesn’t even need a walker. She has that drive.”
Bless you, Bower Family! We can’t wait to see just how far Miss Lacey will go!
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“You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” Psalms 77:14
h/t: InspireMore
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/laughlikelacey
Hally is a freelance writer, blogger, and mental health advocate. A former school counselor, Hally works for a nonprofit that distributes tax dollars to mental health and prevention education providers that serve her county's kids and families. She's a contributor to a devotional and two essay collectives, and she shares resources and wisdom regarding parenting teens, mental health, faith, adoption, and more at http://www.hallyjwells.com where she strives to "Dig Deep and Reach High." She and her husband have three adult children and one rascally beagle pup. Hally loves travel, her book club sisters, personality tests, and a great glass of iced tea.