UPDATED: Trussville child critically injured in wreck, community rallies support

By Scott Buttram, publisher

Updated – Friday 12:30 p.m. Trussville 6-year-old dies from injuries suffered in car wreck

Scroll to the bottom of the article for the latest updates.

TRUSSVILLE –A wreck in Trussville on Saturday critically injured a 6-year old Trussville girl and she remains at Children’s Hospital of Alabama in critical condition on Sunday morning. The family has requested prayers and the community has responded with overwhelming support.

“There were three vehicles involved in the wreck,” Trussville Fire and Rescue chief Tim Shotts said. “It occurred just after 2 p.m. on Saturday near the intersection of Happy Hollow Road and Riverbend. One vehicle was struck from behind. We transported the little girl in that vehicle and she was critical at the time.”

Maggie Bowles, 6, was critically injured in a wreck on Saturday. The community has rallied with prayers and support.
Photo via Leigh Stovall’s Facebook page.

Shawn Bowles, along with their daughter Maggie, were traveling on Happy Hollow Road when they slowed down to turn into a driveway and were struck from behind, according to Kelly Bowles’ sister, Leigh Stovall.

The collision left Maggie Bowles unconscious as personnel from TFRD arrived to render aid.

“We’re praying for a miracle,” Kelly Bowles said through her sister.

Stovall created a private Facebook group, Miracle for Maggie, to keep friends and family updated on her condition. By 10 a.m. on Sunday, the group had swelled to over 700 friends pledging prayers and offering support for Maggie.

At 4 a.m., Stovall posted an update on the page stating, “Maggie is still in critical condition. The doctors and nurses have given her great care. Her Inter-cranial pressure is staying in the low 20’s. Her blood pressure rises when people mess with her- seems pretty typical for her to fuss when she doesn’t like something. The fluid draining from her drain is now clear- a good sign. Shawn is sore and beat up from the accident. He has slept on and off all night.”

Stovall said support from the community was immediate and noted a message from Staci Evans whose mother is a nurse who stopped at the scene of the accident before first responders arrived to render aid.

“Vince Bruno was one of the EMTs on scene,” Stovall said. “He stayed at the ER with us for a while and prayed over the family when we finally got to see Maggie. The Trussville police officer on the scene called me and followed up to make sure his information was correct and made sure we knew we were taken care of.”

Stovall posted another update at 10 a.m, saying, “The next two days will be rough. Swelling of Maggie’s brain is the main concern. Her brain has had severe trauma. Praying for miracles.”

Update – By 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, the Miracle for Maggie Facebook group had grown to over 1,700 people.

Update – 2:35 p.m. Posted by Leigh Stovall on Miracles for Maggie, “Prayer Warriors – now is the time. Her brain swelling is not decreasing- it must go down – prayers for the swelling to decrease.”

Update – 4:52 p.m. on Sunday, the Miracle for Maggie Facebook group has grown to over 4,000 supporters.

Update – 5 p.m. on Sunday, from Shawn and Kelly Bowles on Miracles for Maggie Facebook group, “We appreciate your support- it has been overwhelming. The praise is- the neck brace was removed and there was no neck damage. We are not out of the woods so we would appreciate your continued prayers. Specifically for reduced swelling in her brain that remains lower and stable, for the doctors to have discernment and wisdom; for the nurses as they are so attentive and caring (especially Hillary on the night shift). Most of all we are praying for no brain damage.”

Update – 8:31 p.m. on Sunday, from Shawn Bowles on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, “Your prayers matter. They have picked us up off the floor today more times than you know and they keep us moving forward. Kelly and I appreciate each prayer you say. We have a long way to go and know our God can heal Mags. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

Update – 5:24 a.m. on Monday, from Leigh Stovall on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group which has now grown to over 7,300 people, “Prayers needed- Maggie is not improving.”

Update – 5:43 a.m. on Monday, from Kelly Bowles on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, “The swelling didn’t go down they are taking her off her meds and paralytics. We are praying for response and reflexes. we are hoping.”

Update – 7:12 a.m. on Monday, from Kelly Bowles on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, “They are going to do test today to see what her reflexes are like. We need prayer we want Maggie to show them who she is.”

Update – 8:15 a.m. from Leigh Stovall on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, For those of you wanting to know the connection, I’m Kelly’s sister and use self proclaimed title of Maggie’s best aunt ever (sorry, Karen, KellyJ and Val).

It is comforting to Shawn and Kelly to know that so many people are praying for them. They have found hope in your stories, comfort in your responses, and strength in your prayers.

The City of Trussville has rallied and shown so much love and support.

For those of you around the country and the world, thank you for caring about this sweet girl you haven’t met.

People have responded in so many ways to provide care and needs…

Yet… I’m not surprised about all this generosity because God mobilizes His people to be earthly hands and feet.

Thank you for showing love to all of us here on the front lines, for supporting us all with fervent and round-the-clock prayers.

God is Jehovah Jireh- providing for all our needs- we lack for nothing here.

God is Jehovah-Raah, our shepherd tending this flock around Maggie.

God is Jehovah-Rapha, He can heal. And right now He is the one who can heal Maggie.

We covet your continued prayers.

Update – 12:50 p.m. on Monday from Leigh Stovall on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, “We are in a holding pattern with not much news. Staying strong, trusting God and praying for his divine hand to heal Maggie. Continue praying for her.”

Update – 2:38 p.m. on Monday from Leigh Stovall on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, “I’m sitting with Shawn and he has been so encouraged by the prayers and posts you have made on Maggie’s update page. I’m opening the page back up for posts- so send them on!”

Update – 6:11 p.m. on Monday from Leigh Stovall on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, “I know many of you get anxious hoping for more updates. Know that this healing process is slow. Maggie’s condition has stayed the same throughout the day.

“In the last hour, her dad, nurse and doctor saw a response to touch that they were able to replicate. This is our glimmer of hope.”

Update – 3:58 a.m. on Tuesday from Kelly Bowles on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, “I think this about sums it up ( Halloween 2016) #wonderwoman #miracleofmaggie
Praise be to God!”

Maggie Bowles via Facebook.

Update – 6:37 a.m. on Tuesday from Leigh Stovall on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, Maggie had a quiet night. Her vitals were stable. Because she showed movement last night, they are suspending the neurological test.

Today, pray for next steps.

Sending a shout-out to our fabulous night-shift nurse Hillary. She has been amazing and wonderful.

When she returned Sunday night, Shawn and Kelly were so thankful to see her familiar face. Last night, she swapped shifts so she could take care of Maggie again. She and fellow Trussville-ian nurse Rhiannon treated Maggie to what I think was a luxury spa hair wash (I was jealous). Hillary made sure she had a cute gown, bow and socks to wear. She has shown exceptional care for our sweet Maggie and we thank God for her.

Update – 6:21 a.m. on Wednesday from Shawn Bowles on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, Take refuge. Rest. Sing for joy.

It’s a new day. It’s another day we get to sing to Mags. We aren’t the best singers, but we have fun. Whether it’s songs from vacation Bible School or one of Maggie favorite movies, we turn up the volume and have fun. Today is a new day. Today is a day to find refuge and sing for joy.

But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. Psalms 5:11

Update – 9:18 a.m. Wednesday from Kelly Bowles on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, Mama Bowles here! This is an unofficial update as we are trying to put together specifics for prayer.
Swelling hasn’t gone down and they are suggesting tests that will give an accurate picture of brain activity. Basically they are wanting to prove their case( that there’s no activity) which is understandable.

But we want to show them that God ultimately decides the outcome not their test.

Army of believers, our meeting with the neurologist team and our wonderful pediatrician is this afternoon. We will give a time when that is made available.

Please storm the gates of heaven on behalf our baby girl!

We believe
We hope
In Jesus Name

Update – 6:21 p.m. on Wednesday from Leigh Stovall on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, Your prayers are felt. They are needed and God has provided for so many needs.

There has been no change today, but our hope continues. No test today, but will have one tomorrow morning. The test results will take a long time to get back.

Thank you to Paine Primary and Publix for lunch.

Thanks to Misty Westover for dinner. Many thanks to the numerous friends who have brought us snacks and drinks. We have also received some precious gifts for Maggie- thank you for the bears, blankets, quilt, and prayer shawls.

God’s care over our family and friends is overwhelming.

Praise to The Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation.

Update – 8:36 p.m. on Wednesday from Shawn Bowles on the Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, The day has turned to night. We are still standing. The prayers from around the world for our family are our strength.

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9?-?10

Update – 6:54 a.m. Thursday from Shawn Bowles on the Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, We have been given a new morning.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14?-?19

Update – 8:17 a.m. Thursday from Kelly Bowles on the Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, Mama Bear from the ” front lines”…

First, from coast to coast the love is known and felt.
I am at a point that I’ve prayed, begged, cried so much that I am dependent upon the Holy Spirit to intercede on my behalf. And your prayers- they carry us.
We have a profusion test at 11 am. This is the test to look for brain activity. Of course you know our prayer and what we want them to see. The test takes a few hours to read so it will be another wait after that.
Then we meet to hear/ see results and talk next steps.
It’s a day of hope! And will hope because she deserves that!
I have an incredible support system and they are carrying us in so many ways. The staff here at Children’s is INCREDIBLE. Please pray for them too! They are very weary and struggle with what to say. When really all I need is a lap to collapse into or someone just to sit by me. I actually want my people to be hopeful and talk and laugh because it’s a sense of normalcy. Sadness and grieving is not my friend at this time.
So Army of believers, storm the gates.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
??Hebrews? ?10:23? ?NIV??

Maggie Bowles.
Photo via Kelly Bowles Facebook

Update – 5:43 p.m. on Thursday from Leigh Stovall on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, Today’s test results were not what we were wanting.

A second test will be done in the morning to confirm that Maggie is no longer with us but with Jesus.

Please continue to pray for us as we process this news.

I can say that God’s grace and peace are here. We are strengthened and sustained by your prayers.

Until you hear otherwise, we’re requesting no visitors, texts or direct messaging to Kelly and Shawn.

Your prayers are heard by our Living God, Jehovah Shalom, God is Peace, He has provided and will continue to provide. Our night shift nurse is Hillary again- this is God providing comfort. Food arrives just in time- God provides. Thank you Briscos for lunch and Julian and Kirsten for dinner.

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 86:5-14
You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.

When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.

Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.

All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.

For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.

Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of death.

Update – 10:42 a.m. on Friday from Leigh Stovall on Miracle for Maggie Facebook group, There once was a strong and sassy girl. She was not afraid to meet you and talk, laugh and cry, joke and learn. Her light was bright. So bright that her light shone across the world.

The events that unfolded around her touched people and mobilized the body of Christ. They cried and prayed. Her story made people talk and hug. These events reminded everyone how fragile and precious life is. People loved more and found it easier to be honest and vulnerable in a world that expects you to be perfect and without fault or trouble.

The body of Christ found unity around her story and renewed strength in the Lord God.

She could love because she was so deeply loved. Her love will continue making a difference — through her donations and the miracles of modern medicine, many children she didn’t even know will experience a more abundant life — and she lives on.

She was fierce and we will be fierce as we tell her story.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

On 7/14 from room 714 of Children’s Hospital of Alabama, we know you are praying for us, so instead of those words, post a scripture or song lyric that will share God’s love to us and everyone reading.