Friends and family--

We, the families of Katelyn and Lance Wilde, want to share the miraculous story of Katelyn and baby Memphis June. Some of you having been following along via social media, and we are incredibly grateful for all of the prayers, support, and love we have received. Now we want to share how all of our prayers are being answered!

The story begins 22 years ago when Katelyn was four years old. It was once again the beginning of lent. A routine heart surgery turned into 40 days in the hospital, Katelyn receiving Last Rites, and doctors telling her family to say their goodbyes. God acted in big ways that Easter, and by Pentecost Sunday, the holy spirit was guiding Katelyn on the road to recovery.

Fast forwarding to February 15, 2021, at 34 weeks pregnant Katelyn suffered a stroke while driving a few miles from home and lost control of the right side of her body. Inexplicably and only by the graces of God, she was able to use the limited mobility of the left side of her body to drive home. In the car with her and witnessing this traumatic event was her seven year old Paxton. Katelyn couldn’t communicate, but he knew something was wrong and quickly jumped out of the car to get daddy’s help. Rather than waiting on an ambulance, Lance raced Katelyn to the hospital in Sioux Falls while grandma and grandpa Wilde ran over to watch the three kids: Brayden (10), Paxton (7), and Arizona (20 months). Doctors were amazed at how quickly Lance arrived, and they were able to successfully remove the clot that was lodged in the speech center of Katelyn’s brain. Tests revealed she had another large clot attached to her artificial heart valve. On top of this, her valve was failing. There was too much pressure being placed on it, and it needed to be replaced with a larger one.

Acknowledging the critical and urgent nature of the situation for Katelyn, combined with her pregnancy, she was life-flighted to the Twin Cities to a medical team and hospital better equipped to save both lives. After nearly 24 hours preparing Katelyn’s body to deliver and inducing labor, too much stress was being placed on her heart. Everyone quickly shifted gears, and a baby girl was safely delivered via c-section on February 18 at 4 pounds 10 ounces. Baby Memphis June is being supported by breathing and feeding tubes in the NICU, but she is a fighter just like her mama.

Katelyn was given one night to recover and a few moments with her newborn baby girl before her open heart surgery to replace her valve. The operation took longer than expected due to a few complications, including a hole that needed to be patched from a previous surgery and difficulties coming off the bypass machine. Katelyn is now recovering in the ICU. She was successfully taken off the ventilator, and she’s able to breathe on her own, sit up, and she’s even started walking! Her medical team is amazed at her strength, progress, and recovery. We all know it could be much different.

After three open-heart procedures replacing her heart valve over the years, it seems as though the chambers of Katelyn’s heart no longer want to communicate with one another. Because of this, Katelyn is scheduled for another surgery to place an internal pacemaker this week. In spite of all this, and with no mind toward the trauma her body has endured this last week, Katelyn remains a dedicated mama pumping milk for little Memphis June to help baby be as strong and healthy as possible. Baby Memphis is having a few issues with her blood sugar levels, but there have not been any surprises and she remains strong. Lance has been super-husband and super-dad. As the only family member allowed to visit due to COVID restrictions, he has been diligently walking back and forth between two hospitals to support his two girls while keeping all of us updated.

In Lance’s words, “This type of week is not magic, this was seriously the power of prayer. These two girls would have never been in the positions they are now without it. I could have easily lost a daughter and wife, that was an option earlier this week. Granted we still have a long painful road to recovery, and we know it. We also know we are 90% ‘out of the woods’! Our entire family appreciates this.”

God’s hands are involved in every bit of this story. From her recovery 22 years ago, to all of the events of this last week, it is clear He has big plans in store for Katelyn and baby Memphis. God was moving when Katelyn had her stroke. As scary and traumatic as it was, it got her to the hospital where doctors were able to diagnose a much larger and deadly problem. God was working when doctors initially diagnosed some complications in this pregnancy eight weeks ago. It was because of these complications that Lance, an airman in the Air Force and Air National Guard, stayed back from his scheduled deployment this month, and was home to get Katelyn to the hospital. God has been faithfully by her doctors’ sides as they worked quickly and creatively to save Katelyn and baby, even admitting when they were in over their heads so Katelyn could be transferred and cared for by doctors who have been on her medical team for 22 years. God has brought each of you into our lives to pray for, love on, and support all of us throughout this journey. Witness of God’s love and faithfulness abounds.

This journey is far from over. Katelyn still has one more surgery, and she will spend weeks with baby recovering in the hospital. Her recovery will continue for months as she builds up strength, even to just pick up her babies. As we continue to pray for healing, recovery, and strength for our family, we hope our story serves as a witness of Christ’s work in the world. He is alive and the power of prayer is supernatural. For those who feel compelled to contribute financially, these funds will be used to cover the cost of trips between Sioux Falls and Minneapolis, medical expenses, and support for the family during Katelyn’s recovery.

Thank you, immensely, for your prayers and generosity. We pray you all know how much your prayers have meant to us and how grateful we are to have two beautiful ladies on the mend because of them. God is so good and so faithful. To Him be the glory (Romans 11:36)!

God bless! In prayer and gratitude,
The families of Lance and Katelyn Wilde