As writen by Leeann's mother:

Leeann is 2 1/2 years old and has cerebral palsy, she is g-tube fed, blind, non- verbal, and wheelchair bound, and absolutely beautiful. At 30 week pregnant I was picked up at work by my uncle. He knew of a faster way home because there was a lot of traffic that night due to a snow storm the night before. As we were about to go around a bend, a drunk driver hit us head-on speeding from the other direction and using our lane.

After being pulled out of the smashed car and being rushed to the hospital, an ultrasound reveled that my baby was dying. There was not blood going to the baby because the placenta had ripped off the uterine wall. She was bleeding out and so was I. At this moment my room filled up with doctors and they rushed me out of the room into the O.R. A nurse sat my mother down and told her to call her family because they didn't know if either of us was coming out of the O.R. alive. A few hours went by and I had woken up, alone and scared. None of the doctors or nurses could tell me if my baby made it, mostly because they didn't know.

Finally I was able to meet my little girl, very tiny, very bruised, and very beautiful. My husband by my side, tears felling with no end. Many doctors came to our room, seemingly endless. All with the same grim news. They said this baby will not make it. It was hopeless and worthless to try. I didn't give up hope. I prayed... we prayed. Friends, family and every person we know came to us to pray with us. To help us through that time of need. Prayers did not cease and as the days went by she would do a little better and then have a rough time, then show us hope again.

Leeann came home from the NICU at 12 weeks and 1 day old. April 12, 2004. The day after Easter. I don't know if Leeann will ever be what others call "Normal" but she can love. She is happy and she made it through that cold January night that was medically impossible. With the Grace of God, All things are Possible. And He won't give you more then you can handle with him by your side.

In Christ, Shelly Szymanski

www.caringbridge.org/visit/leeannkeil