Sadie Heath made her grand entrance into the world on October 8, 2015. On that day, they discovered she was born with multiple rare congenital brain malformations. As she was whisked away to the Intensive Care Unit, the doctors prepared Sadie’s parents, Britney Hargrove and Jay Heath, for what life would hold for their little girl. They warned of regular seizures, speech and learning impairments, and the possibility that Sadie would never walk. Heartbroken and without hope, they turned to God. They prayed for a miracle; they prayed for strength. They prayed to give their daughter the best possible life, despite the challenges they may face. Growing up in the church, Britney often heard the phrase “giving it all to God,” but this was the first time in her life she had no choice but to do so. She surrendered all her worries and pain to God, and that day, He changed her heart forever.
Britney had a picture-perfect pregnancy with Sadie. After raising boys, she was ecstatic to have a little girl to dress up with bows in her hair. She even snuck a peek at the gender before her big reveal party. Britney spent months shopping, decorating, and transforming a bedroom into the nursery of her dreams. The name was an easy choice. She had the name Sadie picked out for years after hearing it on the T.V show “The Bachelor.” Sadie’s middle name, Klyne, comes from a deep love of the country music artist Patsy Cline. The couple readied themselves for the arrival of a newborn; their life was going to be changing soon, but nothing could have prepared them for the news to come.
On a regular check-up at 36 weeks, they spotted an abnormality on the ultrasound. The OB/GYN feared Sadie had a prenatal stroke. Britney describes it as the most panicked feeling she had ever experienced in her life. She says, “I felt so helpless because I couldn’t get to her; I couldn’t comfort her or help her.”
There was so much unknown in those moments. Britney was referred to Norton Hospital in Louisville, where they could provide her and the baby more specialized care. Once in Louisville, the doctors discovered Sadie had hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid in the cavities deep within the brain. The staff at Norton’s tried to comfort the couple while preparing them for the worst. Sadie’s physical appearance and behavior might be irregular. Britney was on bed rest for the final portion of her pregnancy. Time crept by, and the weight of the news lingered. Jay supported Britney in every way he could. He kept reminding her, “God’s got this.” The unwavering support from friends, family, and their trust in God carried them through.
The day Sadie was born, their lives stood still. Although her tiny body was being rushed out to the NICU, Britney was able to see her sweet face and place a kiss on her head. Her worries washed away when she laid her eyes on that beautiful little girl. Sadie had no abnormalities physically, but their journey had just begun. The pediatric neurosurgeon explained to Britney and Jay that none of Sadie’s brain had developed ordinarily. Along with the fluid build-up, her cerebral cortex was thicker than normal with additional folds, her lateral ventricles were enlarged, and the white matter that connects the two hemispheres of the brain was completely missing. Britney felt like the world was crumbling around her. Jay desperately wished he could take her place. They both grieved for their baby. Britney spent the day feeling defeated and scared until the moment she was finally able to hold her little girl. She describes it as the first time she had actually breathed since that ultrasound. She entered into a bubble where nothing else in the world mattered. It was just her, Sadie, and God. Britney knew everything was going to be okay.
Over the next few days, the family rotated, staying in the hospital to be close to Sadie. No one knew what to expect, but they all had hope. Britney describes the comfort and strength God provided in those days. She heard a voice in her heart telling her, “no matter what Sadie’s life on Earth is like, she will be perfect in heaven.” After just a week, they were able to bring Sadie home. Prepared for the worst, they monitored her closely and loved her with every fiber of their being. But the seizures never came. She started attending physical and occupational therapy at three months old, but her swift progress made it unnecessary. Soon Sadie was discharged from therapy. She had regular checkups with neurologists, but every visit just left the physicians in disbelief. Sadie’s development was regular; she was exactly where a child without congenital malformations would be. No one could explain how it was happening. A miracle is defined as a highly improbable or extraordinary event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws. A miracle is when every nurse, doctor, and expert has no answer. A miracle is when a little girl defies every odd against her.
Sadie is now a healthy, energetic six-year-old. She has a huge personality and doesn’t know a stranger. She enjoys cheerleading, getting her nails done, and competing in beauty pageants. When describing Sadie, Britney tells the story of a day they spent together. They were heading to watch a children’s movie in the theaters when Sadie asked, “actually can we go to Starbucks and TJMaxx instead?” The mother-daughter pair ended up getting their nails done and spent the day shopping. Britney describes her as a diva that loves all things girly. She loves clothes and posing for her picture to be taken. It was no coincidence that Sadie ended up being a beauty queen. She comes from a family of pageant women; Britney was even previously crowned Miss Marshall County. In their day-to-day life, it is easy to forget about Sadie’s condition. Just this year, she entered kindergarten with a beaming smile, eager to meet new people. She does not need any accommodations and is already a star in her class.
Sadie’s story is unique, beautiful, and inspiring, but it is not the experience of many families with this diagnosis. Britney explains, “I do not know why God chose us, but I feel so unbelievably blessed.”
For this reason, she has decided to use their story to better the community and the world. Britney is active in support groups, helping people all across the country. She talks with mothers that receive heartbreaking news and fundraises for families in need. She shares Sadie’s story to raise awareness but also to show the miracles God can provide. In the beginning, Britney prepared herself for a child with disabilities. She looked at the world differently, realizing places were not as accessible to everyone. Britney became the Director at Marshall County Parks Department, allowing her to serve her community the way they support her and Sadie. She wanted to make the community more accommodating to individuals with disabilities. Her first big project in her role was to start the Miracle League of Western Kentucky in Marshall County. The Miracle League is a baseball league and complex for children with physical, cognitive, and/or emotional disabilities. Britney worked hard, raising enough funds that the project would soon be underway. She is using her experience to transform the lives of her community.
When asked about the future, Britney says she is just taking one day at a time. There is still a chance Sadie could have issues down the road. She says that the family is prepared for that, but they are just enjoying life right now. She gets to watch Sadie cheer with her MatPack family, laugh with her school friends, and live life to the fullest. Britney says, “we never understand why things happen, but if God can use my life to reach someone else, it makes it worth it.”
