As the city prepared for a winter storm, our family was fighting a storm of our own.
What began as a simple stomach ache for our toddler quickly turned into every parent’s nightmare. One rushed trip to the St. Louis Children’s Hospital ER, and suddenly we were hearing words no family is ever ready for — a ruptured appendix. Within moments, our tiny girl was in surgery, and our world stood still.
The surgery team worked swiftly and skillfully. Five long days in the hospital followed — days filled with worry, prayers, and sleepless nights. Today, she is finally home, healing, safe in our arms. And we are breathing again.
I’ve always known this hospital had exceptional staff. I saw their care firsthand growing up with my own childhood bumps and injuries. But experiencing it now — as a parent — was something entirely different. The compassion, patience, and kindness of every doctor, nurse, and staff member turned one of the scariest moments of our lives into something we could survive. They didn’t just treat our daughter — they loved her like their own.
And who knows… they may have just inspired a future healthcare hero.
We are also overwhelmed with gratitude for our incredible community — family, friends, teachers, and colleagues — who stepped in without hesitation. They cared for our baby while we stayed at the hospital. They brought meals, sat beside us, prayed with us, and covered our responsibilities so we could focus on what mattered most: bringing our girl back home.
This experience reminded us of something powerful:
It truly does take a village.
And we are deeply blessed to live in a good one. 🤍❄️
