Wednesday, May 24, 2023, is a day that Rachel and Travis Standfest will never forget.
On that day, the Standfests, who live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, woke to find their house/barn on fire.
"We had to quickly find a way out of a two-storey building," said Rachel in a post on social media.
Rachel, pregnant at the time, jumped out of a two-storey window, and Travis ran through the fire.
"We both sustained severe burns, and I had a brain injury," Rachel explained. "Once we got to the hospital, I had an emergency C-section to ensure our little girl was safe."
Once the pair were conscious and able, Rachel and Travis were introduced to their baby girl, Brynlee Rose, who came out completely healthy.
"We have seen God work in ways we couldn’t even imagine," said Rachel. "Including when we figured out the meaning of her name!"
When the pair discovered they had a girl, Brynlee was the first name to come to mind.
"When we announced her name to our family for the first time, we were shocked once again as God blew us all away. Brynlee means “burned clearing” and a balance between darkness and light," said Rachel. " Her name is just one more way that God was able to prove that his hand has been in this all along, that he never left, and that he has always protected all of us."
Even with all the miracles surrounding their family, Rachel says, as time dragged on and they remained in the hospital, their strength waned.
"Strength is getting harder to find the longer we are here, but we will never stop giving God the glory!"
June 14 was the first day that Rachel was able to walk without a walker.
"With the amount of burns I have, I didn’t think I would be able to walk for a long time," said Rachel. "Pushing through the pain is so tough, but so worth it knowing we can soon be out and start our new life together."
On June 20, almost a month after the fire, Rachel and Travis were able to walk out of the hospital with Brynlee, a perfect new addition to their family.
"God is SO faithful! None of this would have been possible without God," Rachel explained. "This past month we have seen and experienced the power of prayer in ways we never have before. God is so good!"