What makes a hero? The answers to this question can be quite numerous. But people don’t have to be rich, famous, or larger than life to be a hero. This is the story of Jenet Lowers. This is the story of a hero.
Nearly six months ago, Lowers was in the middle of a wonderful life. She had just gotten engaged to her boyfriend Jeremy Antill and the young couple were expecting their first child in the summer. Growing up with a loving father and stepmother, Lowers, 19, was a “good girl” and was even voted prom queen at her little West Virginia high school. She then attended West Virginia Northern Community College and studied to become a pediatric nurse.
But on the morning of December 23, 2006, just two days before Christmas, everything changed.
At 10 weeks pregnant, a tragic car accident caused Lowers several serious injuries and left her in a coma. For the next five more months, she was sent back and fourth from West Virginia to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Despite severe neurological damage, Lowers was able to make some progress and held out until June 7, when despite being in her comatose state, doctors were able to perform a cesarean section to deliver her and her fiancée Antill’s child. Jayden Mathew.
Due to his condition, as well as the bacterial infections he had acquired, Lowers was unable to experience any moments with his son.
On Tuesday, June 19, he passed away due to complications derived from his vegetative state.
As Lower’s father Jim said, “She wanted to hang on long enough to make sure he (Jayden) was okay.”
Jenet Lowers’ unwillingness to let her son die with her was a pure and incredible act of love, strength, and yes, heroism. So the next time you’re pondering what makes a hero, you might want to reminisce about Lower’s incredible story.
