Rachel Standfest, a 26-year-old mom from Michigan, narrowly escaped with her life and that of her unborn child after a horrifying fire broke out in her parents’ barn where she was living with her husband Travis. The couple was working on their own home at the time, and Rachel was 36 weeks pregnant. The fire occurred only four weeks before her due date, and Rachel was woken up by smoke billowing through the barn one night. She quickly alerted Travis and her mom before the situation escalated.
In a moment of desperation, Travis managed to lower his wife out of a second-story window, causing her to suffer a skull fracture and a brain bleed upon impact. She credits this bold act with saving both of their lives and the life of their unborn baby. Travis then made his own escape through the flames and both were eventually rushed to the hospital for treatment. Doctors had to perform an emergency caesarian on Rachel, cutting through a third-degree burn to deliver their daughter Brynlee. Surprisingly, Brynlee was born healthy and suffered no ill effects from the traumatic event.
The fire was intense, burning through six feet of space every second once fully ignited according to fire fighters who were on the scene. The barn’s open door fueled the flames, but also allowed Travis to escape. The couple spent time recovering in the hospital, with Rachel needing to stay for nearly a month while Travis was released after about a week. Despite the harrowing experience, both Rachel and Travis feel incredibly grateful to have survived and cherish the time they spend with their miracle baby Brynlee.
Shortly after the incident, the couple announced that they are expecting another baby. They feel blessed and grateful for the support they received from friends and family during this difficult time. Their faith was strengthened when they learned the meaning of their daughter’s name, Brynlee, which translates to “burned clearing” in Old English. This revelation brought a sense of peace and confirmation to the couple, reinforcing their belief that their survival was more than just a coincidence. Rachel and Travis continue to appreciate each day they have together, knowing how close they came to losing everything.
