10 - The Miracle of Meredith

In this episode, Ashley Bartels shares her remarkable journey through infertility, foster care, and the unexpected gift of adoption. Born with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, Ashley was told she’d never have children. Yet at 21, she fought to carry her first daughter, Shelby.

Years later, after longing for another child, Ashley and her husband Michael opened their home to two young sisters through foster care. The joy, heartbreak, and eventual reunification reshaped their understanding of love and surrender.

Just when they believed their fostering chapter had closed, a call came: a newborn baby girl who needed a family. Two days before Ashley’s 41st birthday, Meredith was placed in her arms—an answer to prayers she had nearly stopped praying.

Her story is a powerful reminder that even in the hardest detours, God is writing something beautiful.

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