Honoring Mothers: A Mommy's Miracle

As soon as I heard of Laura's "Honoring Mothers" week over at Heavenly Homemaker, I immediately thought of my friend Katy Crews. I grew up with Katy- now a 21-year old wife and mother- and I felt that her story is definitely worth sharing.



I always knew her as Katy Byerley- a pretty, blondish-brownish haired girl in our church youth fellowship. She was always smiling, always participating in church activities, and always excited about living for the Lord.


I grew up, went to Bible college, married, and mainly kept in touch with Katy through her cousin, who eventually became my sister-in-law. Katy married a few years later and she and her husband, Kenneth Crews, moved to Neosho, Missouri, in fall of 2007 in order for Kenneth to finish his degree from Ozark Bible Institute. Katy was five months pregnant with their first child.

Katy & Kenneth Crews
The young couple had barely settled into their new surroundings when, during a church service, Katy unexpectedly suffered a stroke. After a battery of tests, doctors determined that the stroke had been caused by a Arterial Venous Malformation; known as AVM for short, the disorder is actually a birth defect that had remained dormant in Katy's brain for years and evidently had been triggered by her pregnancy.


At 20 years of age, Katy was suddenly rendered paralyzed on the right side of her body, unable to communicate, show emotion, read, or perform the most menial of tasks. More testing revealed a ray of good news; apparently the child Katy was carrying- a baby girl- was unaffected by Katy's health issues.


Katy and Kenneth's world was suddenly turned upside down. Kenneth was forced to quit his job and college studies in order to be with his wife. Katy's mother temporarily moved from her home in South Texas to care for her daughter, and family members traveled the 13-hour distance on numerous occasions in order to offer support and encouragement.


As the initial scare of Katy's condition subsided the first steps of recovery were initiated. Brain surgery was imminent but non-optional until after the birth of the baby. Family and friends began to earnestly pray for a completely healing, as well as strength for the young family to endure the months of waiting and recovery.

Katy remained in the hospital for 2 1/2 months, during which time she underwent rigorous therapy to regain the use of her body and speech. With the birth of their daughter a few months away, Katy was determined to regain as much use of her right arm as possible in order to be able to care for her baby. Doctors predicted that surgery to remove the AVM mass would take place immediately following the birth, which posed an even greater obstacle for Katy being able to care for and nurse their baby.


By Thanksgiving, Katy was still unable to perform such basic tasks as brushing her teeth or fixing her hair without assistance. Undaunted, she pressed on. Therapy continued throughout December. On New Year's Day, Katy called her cousin, Ashley, with ecstatic news: "I brushed my teeth with my right arm today!"

Progress continued to escalate over the next four weeks and by the time Hannah Kinsey Crews was born on January 31, 2008, Katy's speech and physical abilities had returned to nearly full strength. Katy's health had improved to the point that her doctors postponed the brain surgery. Katy was able to nurse and completely care for Hanneh on her own- no small miracle!

Beautiful Hannah Kinsey


Results of a recent angiogram revealed that Katy's AVM mass has diminished considerably- another miracle. Brain surgery has now been postponed until summer of 2009. We are believing for yet another miracle: that the mass will be completely gone before then.



Life is slowly returning to "normal" for Katy and Kenneth. Hannah is now 3 months old and the light of her parents' world. The little family plans to return to Missouri again this fall in order for Kenneth to resume his studies. Only God knows what is in store for this couple and their precious baby girl!


When I think of all the "little" things that we mothers take for granted- preparing a meal, changing a diaper, even holding a baby- I'm reminded of the fight Katy endured to be able to grasp her own tooth brush or cuddle her newborn child. Truly every mother is a hero and every baby a miracle; but some endure a greater challenge in order to embrace the calling so many of us take for granted.


This Mother's Day, Katy will hold her little Miracle in her own arms. That, in itself, is a miracle.