Michael and Michelle Bower, like many parents, were overjoyed when they found they were expecting their first child.The Indiana couple was overjoyed to learn they were expecting a girl, but a 20-week ultrasound cast doubt on their family’s future. The scan revealed that their baby, Lacey, has spina bifida, a form of neural tube abnormality that can cause paralysis, brain abnormalities, and serious nerve harm.
“We had just found out the day before that we were having a girl,” Michelle recounted. “We desired a female. In less than 24 hours, we went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.” Doctors told the distraught parents that their baby would most likely never be able to walk, talk, eat, or even breathe on her own. They advised Michelle to terminate the pregnancy, but the pair was adamant about giving Lacey a fighting shot in life.
Michelle conducted a dangerous 3-hour procedure to close the opening in Lacey’s vertebrae while she was still in utero to accomplish this.On April 27, 2020, Michelle and Lacey had surgery. Over 35 medical personnel were present in the room as the delicate operation was performed, and Michelle was confined to her bed for the remainder of her pregnancy on strict bed rest.Lacey was born on July 20th via cesarean section.
The baby was hurried away to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where she spent the next 18 days learning to eat and move her toes and ankles. Doctors discovered she is mostly paralyzed from the waist down, but Lacey has been defying the odds since day one!Lacey began developing on a relatively typical schedule, much to the surprise of everyone in her life. In fact, at the age of 19 months, she was speaking at the level of a typical 3-year-old.
She never let her partial paralysis slow her down physically, learning to turn over, sit, and pull herself up to stand on her own. She has even taken her first steps with the assistance of a walker now that she is almost three! “She does more than that doctor ever imagined,” Michelle boasted. “She is pulling to stand and is now supported in standing on her own.” She can crawl onto the couch and ride her rocking horse.”
“Every day you get to witness a miracle,” Michael explained. Lacey is rarely seen without a smile on her face, and her laughter has the power to soften even the hardest heart. She is astute and curious, but most importantly, she is determined. Her parents believe that her determination has enabled her to overcome the odds and learn to walk on her own.
“It’s truly incredible because she was standing for the first time a year ago,” her father exclaimed. “You know, doing something we never expected Lacey to do. And now it’s been a year, and she can walk in her walker, entirely bearing her own weight, which is amazing, and I genuinely feel we’ll get to the point where she won’t even need a walker. She’s got that drive.” Some people seem to have a “never say never” attitude from birth! We can’t wait to watch how far this young star will go in life.