Meet the Burgess family. Over the past seven years, they’ve opened their hearts and home as foster and adoptive parents, offering love and stability to children in need. Their latest foster journey brought them to Birmingham, where their most recent placement—a baby girl born with only half a heart—became gravely ill. In a critical moment, the Burgesses were asked if they intended to adopt her. Without hesitation, they said yes, a decision that unlocked the possibility of a life-saving heart transplant for their daughter.

For over three and a half months, the Burgess family stayed at Children’s Hospital, unable to take their daughter home as she fought for survival. The days were long and filled with uncertainty, but their hope and faith remained unwavering. Then, on September 18, 2024, the miracle they had prayed for arrived—she received a new heart.

While the road ahead is long, the Burgess family is filled with gratitude and relief. Yet, the journey has not been without its challenges. The months of waiting, with their family separated, weighed heavily on them. It was painful to be apart, unable to offer each other the support they usually could.

That’s when Red Mountain Grace provided the vital support to keep them close. Their apartment became a refuge—a sanctuary where the Burgess family could unite during their daughter’s recovery. This gift of togetherness, in a time when being near one another means everything, has been a priceless source of comfort and strength.

“We could never thank you enough for the gift of this apartment during our stay. Being apart as a family for so long was heartbreaking, but this gift allowed us to be together, and that is priceless. It has sustained us through the strain of separation. God is so good and has truly used you to heal all of us through this! Thank you!!!”

Their story took another joyful turn recently. After months of waiting and hoping, they were finally able to take their baby girl, Auberionna, out of the hospital. Discharged last Saturday, they savored a precious family weekend together in their Red Mountain Grace apartment—something they had longed for since the beginning of her medical battle. Reuniting after months of separation was a moment they will forever treasure.

Now, as Auberionna continues to recover, she faces important tests in the days ahead. The family leans on their faith, asking for prayers as they move through this critical phase.

The strength, resilience, and love of the Burgess family are nothing short of inspiring. They are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from the Red Mountain Grace community. Through the kindness of those who adopted their apartment, they found more than a place to stay—they found hope, comfort, and the ability to be together during their most difficult days.