Asher Gabree Chmiel, 12, of Pensacola, FL passed away Sunday, August 18, 2013. Asher started his life in Henderson, Nevada, on May 25, 2001. His birthday was planned because he was getting too big for his efficiency apartment (my belly) and it was time for him to move out. We picked the 25th because it fit perfectly between Andrew's (the 21st) and Madeline's (the 29th). I like to keep things orderly and Asher obliged. His first couple of days were uneventful, but then he had his first of many seizures. After a 21-day NICU stay and an exhaustive battery of tests and medication changes, Asher joined the rest of the family at home with a pretty grim prognosis: "Asher has severe seizures and we aren't sure what his cognitive or physical abilities will be..." one of the NICU doctors told us. I hadn't earned my Google University Medical Degree yet, but I could read between THOSE lines: "Yeah, we're sorry, there's not much hope for him. Don't expect much." Immediately Asher began showing us he hadn't been reading the same books the doctors had. He flourished. He gained weight. He learned to sit up. He interacted with toys. And he smiled. And he kept smiling. Even through the bumpy roads and difficult decisions, he kept smiling. Then he learned to laugh, mostly because his older brothers and sister were always by his side playing with him, holding him, including him in their games. Alex, Andrew, and Maddi taught their little brother how to laugh. During our time in Nevada, we met some of the most amazing people who enriched our lives and Ashers. Our neighbors, the Carlsons, became an extended family. It was hard to tell where our house ended and theirs began. Troy (who welcomed Asher when he got to heaven) spent many nights on our couch when David and I had to rush Asher to the hospital in the middle of the night and Sherry gave me much needed breaks and sat at the hospital with Asher while I went home to sleep. Beth Bower was Asher's developmental specialist whose positive attitude and belief Asher made so many milestones possible. The Tolans, Podhaiskys, Dukes, and Gallagher's kept my family fed, ran them to soccer practice and school, and occupied the kids while David and I spent time at the hospital or doctor appointments. Even with all that amazing help, however, by the time he was two, we decided it was time to move back home to Pensacola. Our biggest concern about moving back was finding a good pediatrician who could handle all of Asher's medical issues AND be patient with his very involved family! We didn't worry one bit after we met Dr. Philip Dean, exactly the right person for the job. Asher started school when he was three and his awesome teacher, Lynn Griffin, was the perfect blend of "gramma" and "teacher." She pushed him just enough, but was ready with hugs when he needed them. He also made his first forever friends and one very special girl friend (noooo, not THAT kind...he was only three, sheesh), Haley. Asher sailed along for a couple of years without any major health problems, thanks in large part to Dr. Dave Suhrbier who wore funny shoes and shared Asher's love of Disney and Super Heroes, and worked hard to get Asher's seizures under control. His good health allowed Asher to go to school and play and continue to learn. After school and during the summer he hung out with Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists, learning to use a stander to help his legs grow strong, working on using his hands to push buttons, and helping us learn his language. It's also when we discovered Asher was partial to blondes. Kelton was his favorite Speech Therapist by far, with long blonde hair, sparkling eyes, and a sweet, gentle, encouraging voice. She could get him to do anything! While Kelton charmed Asher (and vice versa), it was Buddy, Asher's Physical Therapist, who brought out the constant laughter. Buddy worked with Asher at his level - literally! - and Asher loved him for it. He would entertain Asher with silly voices, stories, and songs while helping Asher stretch tight muscles, strengthen his bones, and build up his tolerance for all the things that were difficult for him to do. He was able to continue to enjoy his walks through the neighborhood with Gramma Berta and Papa Nate, greeting everyone with his infectious grin. He became quite a celebrity and the neighbors looked forward to seeing him as much as he enjoyed them. Asher loved cars; watching them on the front porch, watching races on TV, but mostly riding in them, so he loved road trips to Houston, Texas, to visit Granny and Pa, and his huge extended family, Aunt Robin and Aunt Terry, great aunts and uncles, and hundreds of cousins - seriously, hundreds. He even got to see Uncle Steve and Aunt Shari! On May 21, 2005, Asher took his first ambulance ride to Sacred Heart Pediatric ER where a team of amazing doctors and nurses worked tirelessly to save his life. It was the first time our family met some very special people, and Sharon Holler, and the incredible team in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Asher would have many more visits to the Pediatric Emergency Room at Sacred Heart over his lifetime. And many more weeks in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit surrounded and cared for by some of the most amazing people we know; Dr. Rex Northup, Dr. Rob Patterson, Dr. Jason Foland, and the nurses, respiratory therapists, and house keeping crew. These people became part of our family because of the genuine love they showed our son. All of us witnessed a true miracle on April 1, 2011, when God and Asher decided he had a few more things to accomplish: a once-in-a-lifetime trip to meet the President of the United States and Miss America in 2009 with the Children's Miracle Network; attending Middle School and learning so many knew things including love and compassion from his teacher, Rachel Payne; an amazing Make-a-Wish road trip to Orlando to meet his favorite Super Heroes and Sponge Bob (yes, the REAL Sponge Bob!) and ride roller coasters; and to go horseback riding with the most gentle horse, Doc, and his friends at the Leaning Post Ranch. All along this journey we were told, "You're amazing! I don't know how you do it!" from the very people who are helping us "do it." The people who shuttled the other three kids around, who mowed our grass, who did our laundry (and individually wrapped our underwear in tissue paper - I am NOT kidding!), who cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner for us, who prayed every single night with all their might for us and Asher. THAT'S how we did it. We were never alone. Asher was laughter wrapped in a little boy with milk chocolate brown eyes like his daddy, thick, curly brown hair like his mommy, and a smile that flashed a sweet dimple, like his brothers and sister. He is missed, but it's a little bit easier to be happy when you look at life through his grinning eyes. Memorial Mass will be held 6:00pm Thursday, August 22, 2013 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart with a Celebration of Life to follow in the Parish Hall at the Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Children's Hospital at Sacred Heart Hospital, www.sacred-heart.org/foundationsite