A living breathing miracle walks among us

When you think of miracles, your thoughts may turn to the Bible. Jesus turned water into wine, healed the sick, walked on water, rose from the dead, fed five thousand with a few fish and loaves, just to name a few. 

In 2009, an airbus landed on the Hudson River. Everyone on board survived. The event was labeled “Miracle on the Hudson” 

We don’t have to go very far to see our own living miracle. He walks among us. If you go to Bob’s Diner & Bakery in Greybull, he might even cook a meal for you. 

Ayden Skillman was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Without treatment, HLHS is fatal within days or weeks of birth.  He survived the surgeries against the odds. The first miracle.   

At four months old, he went into cardiac arrest. Again, he survived. Miracle number two. 

Children with HLHS may survive to age five with surgery. Ayden is in his teens. Miracle three. 

In 2023 Ayden got a mysterious leg infection. He was in the hospital for a long time.  Doctors were baffled. A variety of treatments were tried. Specialists reviewed his case. The infection was bad enough, but then there was also stress on his battered heart. Without the prayers of many, the infection could have been fatal. Miracle number four. 

On July 26, 2025, Ayden received a new heart. We often hear of complications, rejections, etc., when talking about transplants. Ayden didn’t experience any of these. One year later, his family celebrated with a camping trip on the Big Horns. The young man that was once blue at times and easily winded, both from lack of oxygen, was hard to keep up with on hikes. Miracle five. 

 Years ago, Ayden and I started calling each other “Loser.” Last month he had t-shirts and hats made for us that say “Team Loser.” We have often worn them at the same time in public. Me walking around with a loser hat and t-shirt is not a miracle, but it is pretty amazing. It is another sign of just how special Ayden, the loser, is. 

Seriously though, Ayden is walking proof in the power of prayer, God’s healing grace and miracles.