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Serious challenges in life call for serious solutions and actions, and Rachel Birkmire goes to all those lengths for her 16-year-old daughter, Scarlett, who has Hydrocephalus and requires special care. Rachel has stepped up and taken that responsibility since Day 1 while also working to earn money for her family, sharing a positive outlook with everyone in her life, and caring for her 2-year-old son Bodie.
But while there isn’t a hoop Rachel wouldn’t jump through to help her two kids live their best, happiest lives, she maintains her sense of humor through the unique rigors she and her family face. It’s something Rachel’s partner Adam loves most about her.
He sees first-hand what she does for her kids and the time and energy it takes to be such a good mom, but is blown away by her ability to have fun and share good times with all of them.
“I admire how responsible Rachel is, yet at the same time she has a way of trying not to show how heavy life can be,” Adam said. “She has a wondrous sense of humor and a childlike spark that makes every day fun. She never misses a chance for a good laugh or smile, and I admire her dedication to our family and kids.”
One jaw-dropping example of such dedication was just how far Rachel was willing to go to help Scarlett when she was diagnosed with blindness. She hustled and raised the $30,000 necessary to take Scarlett to China for stem cell therapy to gain sight, though she remains legally blind.
Rachel saw a need and didn’t shy away from addressing it head-on, and it changed the course of Scarlett’s life as a result. The remarkable sacrifices she made then have become commonplace for both Scarlett and Bodie ever since, as is her boldness to tackle new adventures. That variety has been the spice of her family’s life.
“The fun thing about Rachel is, she is always trying to learn to do something new,” Adam said. “Just recently, she learned how to use a sewing machine. She likes to scrapbook and organize our family’s memories. She enjoys going to amusement parks and carnivals. Rachel enjoys different things from planting flowers to reading some good books.”
Nearly a decade has passed since Rachel and Adam met at a mutual friend’s wedding and they danced together for the first time. They both worked at Cracker Barrel at the time but their hours rarely overlapped, so it took unique circumstances to nudge them toward one another. Now, they have a home and a family and Adam simply couldn’t be happier.
And while Rachel has made it her life mission to elevate their children and make them the focal point of her life, she has also had a profound impact on Adam. He says he’s a better person through being with her.
“She brings out the best in me,” he said. “If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have accomplished nearly what I have with her in my life. Rachel has always seen the best in me, even when I doubted myself. She makes every day of my life better by just being in it and reminding me how far we have come together.”
They have come far together, yet still have so much farther to go, which is an exciting possibility. Never has Adam met someone with Rachel’s unique mix of adventure and responsibility, and he sees constantly how she uses that to be the best mom she can be.
This Mother’s Day, Adam knows Rachel deserves to hear just how special she is to him and their children. Their family is the happy, tight unit it is today because of all the love, thought and effort Rachel pours into it.
“Rachel, you are the most special person in my life,” Adam said. “The way that you care for our kids and our family is so appreciated and dear to my heart. I love you with all my heart. You are the best woman and mother a child or their father could ask for. Thank you for everything you do every day for all of us.”
