Carmel Prows

This world lost an angel yesterday afternoon and heaven became more powerful and sweet!  Carmel can only be described as a warrior!  She has overcome everything thrown at her with a beautiful smile on her face and now she has overcome the world.  As I sat by her last Saturday she reminded me about the power of love as she said, “We are all dying!  I am one of the lucky ones that gets to see all of the people that I love celebrate my life.”  As she and I talked, her eyes scanned the crowd, a tear rolled down her cheek and a big smile broke across her face…that is the essence of Anything for a Friend and the power of people combining their love towards the support of one in need.  My heart was changed and I felt of the power of this sweet daughter of God.  This picture was taken of Carmel just after all of you joined together and bought Owen the play-set at the Live auction.  Cancer is not in charge.  Fear is not in charge.  Love conquered the grave…and is IN CHARGE!  It is comforting to think of Carmel visiting with loved ones pain free and on the Heavenly errand of caring for her loved ones left on this earth!

Please share your thoughts and prayers on behalf of Carmel’s little family.  May the most tender of Heavenly Father’s blessings visit their home and heart during this difficult time. 

 

Preliminary Event Results are in!!!!!  With all of your help and love the event for Carmel and her family raised more than $26,000 in cash and products.  Thank you so, so much for doing Anything for a Friend.

For Carmel Prows, 34 years old, family comes first.  She has been married to her sweetheart Jeffrey Prows for eleven years and is mother to miracle boy Owen, who is almost six years old. When Owen was born at 27 weeks and weighted only 1 lb. 13 oz., she remained upbeat and enthusiastic. As Owen’s hospitalization continued, and he experienced ups and downs, and Carmel continued to remain upbeat despite the worry and concern she had for him.  Owen is now a thriving, active little boy. Carmel is close to her parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins.  In addition, she is extremely active in her local community and church, serving as a Compassionate Service Leader, volunteering with the Primary Children’s NICU Parent Support Group, and truly demonstrating her love for others through countless small acts of service to those around her. To know Carmel is to know you are loved and cared for. As a friend described her, “Carmel has a talent for noticing what other people are experiencing and perceiving what kind of help they may need.  She’s usually the first one to bring someone a meal, the first one to welcome someone new and the shoulder you can cry on when life is going hard.”

 Carmel has persevered through several major medical crises her entire life. She was born with only one kidney and fought through delayed motor development. She did not walk until she was two and a half years old.  She has diabetes.  At seventeen, the doctors discovered she had End Stage Renal Failure and she began dialysis immediately.   She received a transplant kidney the following year and despite missing 3 months of school graduated high school with her class.  Her failing kidney had damaged her heart due to uncontrolled high blood pressure.  During a procedure to help rectify this, a node on her heart was damaged resulting in Carmel needing a pacemaker.  In 2016, it became apparent her transplanted kidney was failing, and she prepared for more dialysis and hoped for another transplant. In May 2017, her sister donated a kidney and Carmel was given hope for a few years without major medical issues other than rejection.  However, by fall 2017, it became apparent that Carmel was seriously ill, though doctors were unsure of what was causing her pain and weight loss. On January 12, 2018, during an extended hospital stay, she received the diagnosis of Stage 4 Gastric Adenocarcinoma. This is a non-tumorous stomach cancer, which leaves no surgical options and the best course of treatment will be chemotherapy. Despite facing rounds of chemotherapy and other medical procedures, one of her most pressing concerns is for others - whether she carries a gene for stomach cancer (her father died of a non-tumorous stomach cancer at the age of thirty-three) and what it would mean for her son and siblings.

 As one family friend put it, “She purposely chooses to be happy despite life’s challenges.” Our goal with this Anything for a Friend Fundraiser is to show our community’s love and support for an incredible woman and her family. Carmel has touched countless lives and continues to lift and help those around her, despite her own trials. This our way to return the favor. While her diagnosis is terminal, we know Carmel will continue to fight this battle valiantly, and we want her to know we are in this fight with her. #CarmelKicksCancer

 

About the Event: 

Date: March 10th 2018

Time: 12pm-4pm

Activities:

Location: 

 Syracuse Arts Academy
2893 W 1700 S,
Syracuse, UT 84075
 
 

Organizing Committee Meetings!  

If you are interested in serving on the organizing committee for this special event for Carmel and her family please contact Brandie at pagefamily2005@gmail.com.  The next meeting will be held Wednesday the 28th @7:00, 811 S. 1025 W., Clearfield, 84015.  There will be another meeting the following Wednesday (same time, same place) and a meeting to put baskets together on Saturday the 3rd at 9:00am, 4119 W. 1425 s., Syracuse.  See you there!  Thank you for doing Anything for a Friend!

 Prows Family.jpg

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