Cassie and Skyler Kilzer are the parents of two adorable kiddos: Ruth, almost 2, and James, who’s just a month old. Any parent of two under 2 will tell you that’s a rough ride, at best; those close to the Kilzers would tell you that you have no idea, that the Kilzers’ journey has been especially bumpy. And the Kilzers? They’d probably tell you that there are people who are worse off, and that they thank God for their lives, their incredible children, and even their situation. As always, Skyler and Cassie buckle up and rely on their faith to take them through.

Staying positive and strong

Cassie and Skyler welcomed their beautiful daughter Ruth in February 2021. As she grew, Ruth’s parents began to notice that developmental milestones were difficult for Ruth to meet. That was concerning enough, but then really scary stuff began to happen. This last summer, Ruth could no longer hold her head up, and a trip to the ER in Lincoln was followed by an ambulance ride to Children's Hospital in Omaha. Testing and more testing revealed that this adorable little 18-month-old had an arteriovenous malformation, or AVM, which is an abnormal connection between her arteries and veins in her brain and spine. This condition had been present since Ruth’s birth, but it took the onset of symptoms for it to be discovered and a treatment plan mapped. After multiple surgeries and hours a week spent in various types of ongoing therapies, Ruth’s doctors are satisfied with the results of her MRIs and pleased with her progress. No one could be more pleased than Cassie and Skyler, who have stayed positive and strong, refusing to fall into despair. During the process of uncovering Ruth’s diagnosis, Skyler and Cassie made a discovery of their own: They were expecting again! A sonogram revealed possible kidney issues for their baby boy, but at least they know what they’re up against. They welcomed their sweet baby James in November of this year, and have determined that perfect children do indeed run in their family.

Their love knows no bounds

Skyler and Cassie are very active in their church and have felt so blessed to be surrounded by their church family during this time. Sandy Walz, good friend and member of that church family, nominated the Kilzers for a Magic Moment, telling us that Cassie and Skyler are awesome; their resources are limited, but their love knows no bounds. She felt that this little family could use an extra dose of sparkle this year. UBT, our generous partners, and the Magic Moments team couldn’t agree more and set about to make the Kilzers’ holidays extra bright! A date night at Casa Bovina followed by a movie is in order for sweethearts Skyler and Cassie, plus Cassie will receive a much-deserved spa day, and Skyler will be grilling up a storm with some new grilling gear! Swings, a wagon, and assorted baby gear will have the fam caring for the kiddos in style, and gas gift cards will help offset travel expenses to appointments. We also slipped in a few special surprises for each family member. Kilzer family, we wish you all the wonder of the season!