8 years ago I expected to have a baby who had no chance of surviving. Diagnosed with multiple birth defects and a heart that was “incompatible with life” at 24 weeks gestation, my husband and I simply wanted the opportunity to hold our precious girl, to see her face, and prayed that she would feel our love for her.

8 years ago, with out medical intervention, my daughter’s heart stabilized long enough for the doctors to close her spine. With her spina bifida closed, she wasn’t at risk for meningitis. Along her road to recovery a surgeon suggested an adult size mitral valve replacement. It was a risk, but our daughter had proved everybody wrong already.

Yesterday Kailey celebrated her 8th birthday. Last night was a celebration for the whole family. Kevin and Kailey are the same age for 4 days. My Irish Twins. TJ & Alison were equally as excited as the older two were. How cool that they are the same age, and yet they aren’t actually twins. To my kids AGE was the amazing part of the night. To our friends and family who have held our hands along the way, we know that Kailey is the amazing thing. Precious, little firecracker. My Kailey Rose 8 years 1 day old. 8 years ago today (Valentine's day) was the first time we dared to hope for a tomorrow for our baby. Today I am here to say that miracles do happen, and I do not take that for granted EVER.