IDAHO FALLS — It is a moment Benjamin and Eileen Parker will never forget.
Their 9-year-old daughter, Rosalie, was clinging to life in her bed at Primary Children’s Hospital when three nurses entered the room. One had a guitar while another grabbed a pink plastic container and tapped on it like a drum. They started playing music as the third nurse danced.
The family joined in and Benjamin turned on his phone to videotape the moment.
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
And I keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat
Months later, Rosalie she would leave that hospital bed with half of her body gone and a whole new world awaiting her.
The accident
Rosalie is the Parker’s oldest child. She has a 7-year-old brother, Micah, and 4-year-old sister, Charlotte.
“The day she was born, she decided to come and she’s had a fiery personality and strong spirit ever since,” Benjamin recalls. “She definitely likes things her own way.”
The Parker family in August 2018. | Courtesy Eileen Parker
Eileen refers to Rosalie as her “mini-mom” because she takes charge and watch over her siblings.
Last December, the Parkers were looking forward to Christmas when a fellow church member asked Benjamin if he could come over for a few minutes. It was Dec. 4, Charlotte’s birthday, and Eileen was at a PTO meeting with the two youngest kids. Benjamin picked up Rosalie, went to his friend’s house and then made his way home.
“I was turning into the driveway and I didn’t see an oncoming car and we got t-boned in front of our house,” Benjamin says.
Benjamin and Rosalie Parker were struck by another vehicle while turning into their driveway on Dec. 4, 2019. | Courtesy Eileen Parker
He had some minor injuries, but Rosalie’s rib was fractured and her liver was torn so she was taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
“All I remember after the car crash is they had to pick me up and put me on this little bed thing and then they put me in the ambulance,” Rosalie says.
The doctors weren’t too concerned about Rosalie’s injuries and said it wouldn’t be too long until she was back to full health.
“Within 2-3 days they said we’d be able to go home,” Eileen says. “They told us they just had to watch her for a few days and then we’d be good to go.”
The crash happened Wednesday. Rosalie felt fine Thursday but on Friday, she developed a fever, wasn’t talking very much and the doctors became concerned. Her situation then took a dramatic turn.
“We were downstairs (at the hospital) because some friends had come to visit. We heard on the intercom a code blue and they said her room number,” Benjamin says. “We raced to the elevator and someone was there. I said, ‘This is an emergency. Our daughter is dying.'”
The Parkers raced to Rosalie’s room where “tons of doctors and staff” were trying to revive Rosalie. The worried parents held each other – crying and praying their daughter would be ok.
Hoping for a miracle
Rosalie was brought back to life and flown to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. It was Micah’s birthday so Benjamin stayed home with him in Idaho Falls while Eileen went to Utah.
Rosalie Parker in Primary Children’s Hospital. | Courtesy Eileen Parker
“As soon as we got there, they immediately started working on her and she coded a second time. That’s when I called Ben and said they weren’t sure if she was going to make it through the night and he needed to get up there,” Eileen recalls.
Doctors discovered group A Streptococcus bacteria had formed in Rosalie’s blood and spread throughout her body. The Parkers were told their daughter’s organs were shutting down.
“They basically said she’s not going to make it but if she does, you’ll be on dialysis for years, she’s not going to have any brain function, her kidneys will be shut down and you just don’t even know what kind of life she’ll have,” Eileen explains.
Benjamin remembers arriving at the hospital and going into his daughter’s room. He sat down next to Rosalie’s bed and began talking to the nurse.
“I told her, ‘Please tell me she’s going to live. Please tell me she’s going to live,'” Benjamin says. “The nurse said, ‘I can’t tell you that but I can tell you I’ve seen the sickest children come here and leave and children that weren’t as sick not leave. She’ll let you know. She’ll let you know.'”
The next day was agonizing as the Parkers were faced with a sobering choice: if Rosalie’s heart stops again, should doctors resuscitate or let her go?
“We came together and said there’s no way we could make that decision. We’re going to trust in our Father in Heaven. It’s in his hands and we just put all of our faith in the Lord,” Benjamin says.
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