But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause befor him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed Miracles that cannot be counted Job 5:8-9

On March 25th 2007, my family's world would change forever. Our beautiful daughter, Makenzie, suffered a very serious brain injury. As our family was heading out to meet with friends, she asphyxiated on a gold fish cracker in the car. It took six minutes to restore her airway which deprived her brain of precious oxygen. This very ordinary family outing sent us all down a new path full of uncertainty, fear, and hope. The accident left Makenzie unable to sit, eat, stand, talk, walk, smile, or laugh. She had to spend two weeks in the ICU to get stabilized and another five weeks on the Rehabilitation floor at Children’s Hospital in Denver. Seven weeks later we were discharged, and Makenzie was severely neurologically impaired. She had to eat with a G-tube, suffered from severe acid reflux and neuron-agitation. This caused her to cry nearly every waking moment. She was unable to be comforted, spastic, rigid, and unable to move. Makenzie had no awareness of her environment, and it seemed like she was stuck in the shell that had become her body.

The doctors had no ideas about further treatment however; our family couldn’t believe this was God’s design for our precious baby. We soon turned to hours of research to help Makenzie. Through this work, we found the Hyperbaric Oxygen Center in Pheniox, Arizona. This (HBOT) therapy forces oxygen into blood plasma to help the body regenerate new tissue and nerves, reduce inflammation, detoxify heavy metals, and countless other benefits. In mid May, we headed to Arizona for three and a half weeks. Makenzie received forty of one-hundred twenty sessions of HBOT during this period. We were blessed that Chris’ work, Discount Tire Company, funded the $30,000 dollars for travel and treatment. Upon our return from the first forty treatments, Makenzie was eating small amounts of baby food with her improved oral motor skills, she could bend her legs, and had overall less rigidity and spacitity. We were home for three weeks and headed back to Arizona for forty more HBOT sessions and a round of Sensory Integration Training at the Sensory Integration Research and Rehabilitation Institute in Tempe, AZ. It was after this round of therapies we began to see miraculous changes in Makenzie . HBOT WORKS! She now has the ability to move her arms and legs; she is trying to roll over, push up with her hands, and can turn her head more freely. She is tracking with her eyes and watches everything that is going on around her. She now rolling over by herself, and very close to sitting independently. The most wonderful transformation for us is that the incessant crying has stopped. She is comforted by touch and sound and her favorite place to be is in her mommy’s arms. God is transforming our child back into the same feisty little girl we remember. We can look into her eyes and see her spirit now.

Through all of the doctors, therapists, HBOT of Arizona and of course the support of all of you, God is giving us our Makenzie back. We may never know why this happened to our little girl but, we know God is with us and holding us up each step of the way. God is turning our tragedy into a testimony of His grace and mercy. We have come so far, however; we still have so far to go. This has been a huge financial undertaking for our family. Most of the treatments Makenzie needs are not covered by insurance or limit the amount of times she can be seen by qualified therapists. Currently, Makenzie is undergoing Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapy 13 hours a week at home and at Children’s Hospital. Makenzie will also need eighty HBOT treatments a year for many years. The treatment and travel expenses will cost well over what we can afford. Makenzie is also now taking nutritional supplements that insurance doesn’t cover but, assist the healing and regenerative process. We are hoping to raise enough money to buy our own hyperbaric chamber that costs around $50,000. We are also trying to defray the out of pocket expenses for her additional therapies and supplements. Whatever you are able to give will be a great blessing and so appreciated by our family Our angel has come so far and has so much time to return to the original creation God placed on this earth. However, we can’t do this alone. I would like to invite all of you to be a part of God’s miracle through Makenzie. We don’t know what the miracle will be but what we do know that God will provide healing and touch many people!

Thank You so much'
Chris, Pam, Zach, Josh, Kaleb, and Makenzie Rogers

Back to Sponsored Children