After Tragedies, Hope Is Born

For one Michigan couple, a newborn daughter is helping to heal some terrible wounds.

Daniel and Colette Decker once had a full house in Bangor,

The Deckers had four kids: Nicolette, 17, Danny, 16, Melissa, 14, and Carolann, 11.

As Colette put it, "Everything a mother would want."

But five years ago, that all changed, Kauffman says.

The three girls were on their way to school. Nicki was driving. They'd just left home and were about a mile down the road, when they collided with a semi-truck.

"Collette said, 'That's Nicki's car,' recalls Dan, "and we got out, and I started walking up to it, and the police just surrounded me and stopped me about 10 feet from the vehicle. And our whole world changed."

"They told us there was no survivors," Colette says, "and you sit back, and the first thing you think is, 'What did I do so rotten that somebody or God would want to do this to do you?' "

They became extra-protective of their remaining child, Danny.

"We bought a cell phone for him. We all kept track of each other," says Dan.

But tragedy struck again. Just a year later, Danny was driving with three friends, Kauffman says. They sped over railroad tracks, lost control, and hit a tree. The vehicle burst into flames. Danny and two of his friends were killed.

"Your mind starts going, 'Oh, no. Not again. Not again," Dan says.

The Deckers buried their son even as they were still grieving for their daughters."I'd find myself up there at the cemetery for hours just on end, just talking to them," Dan remembers.

"It was too much pain every day, just even get up and do something," Colette says.

In their home, there are reminders of the four everywhere: Melissa's cheerleading pompoms, Carolann's dolls.

"You'd walk to the other side of the house where Danny and Nicki's room is," Dan says, "and you go through it all over again. And I mean, what a living hell. …Then you look around, and there's pictures that are half-drawn. And you're, like, they will never have the opportunity to finish this."

Despite their devastation, the Deckers were determined to try again.

But age was against them. Dan was 19 the first time they started a family.

Now, it would take surgery to reverse a vasectomy. After that, four attempts at in vitro fertilization failed.

"It's kind of like being a kid at Christmas," Colette explains, "the anticipation of what you're gonna get. And then, to have it dashed."

They tried to get pregnant one final time. And it worked.

"Heaven sent a little miracle" on June 27, Colette exclaims.

"The joy was just overwhelming," Dan adds.

How did they pick the name Zoe? "It's in the (baby names) book," Colette says. "When I was going through, its meaning is actually life or life giving. And I thought, 'Yup, that's exactly what she is.' She's giving us back our life."

Because in vitro is expensive, Dan and Collette almost went broke trying to conceive and, notes Kauffman, they couldn't care less.

"If we get behind on our bills, who cares?" Dan asks.

Neighbors care, Kauffman points out. They've been showering the Deckers with gifts.

"People have been really sweet sending stuff," observes Colette, "because we had absolutely nothing, not even a crib, cradle. Nothing."

Now, blankets homemade by grandmothers who've never met the Deckers are among the items pouring in.

But much more help is needed.

The Deckers have set up The Zoe Decker Foundation. If you'd like to contribute, please contact the Consumer Credit Union in South Haven. The account number is 42712. The federal identification number is 06 174747459.