By BRIDGET MEADE
Bedford Now

Four-year-old Abigail Berry is a walking miracle.

And the fact that she's walking at all is something doctors can't explain.

"She was never supposed to last the pregnancy," said her mother, Angela Berry, of Temperance. "Every organ in her body is damaged."

Abigail is believed to have cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome (CFC), a rare genetic disease caused by mutations in the genes. A few of her ailments include impaired hearing, abnormal spinal curvature, defective teeth, lung disease, holes in her heart and lack of hair on her skin.

In the past year, Abigail has made strides that even her family never thought they'd see.

The family used to use sign language to communicate with Abigail and had a special wheelchair they would use to get her around. But today, she's walking and has begun to talk.

Because Abigail is developmentally delayed, Mrs. Berry said that the 4-year-old functions as a normal 2-year-old.

"She's going through the terrible twos," Mrs. Berry said while trying to keep Abigail out of her purse.

"She's a little princess, a girly girl," Mrs. Berry said. "She always wants to put makeup on."

Abigail also has a passion for music, and she loves to sing. Her mother described her as strong-willed.

"She's very rambunctious," Mrs. Berry said. "She's just a fighter."

Abigail has four siblings who range in age from 6 to 16. Because the family is constantly traveling to hospitals, Mrs. Berry home schools her children.

One of the hardest things for the mother was admitting to herself that her family's life would never be normal.

"The kids have grown up with feeding tubes and IV poles," she said. "Life is very unpredictable for us. Each day I don't know where it could be ending."

Over the years, she has learned to keep her car stocked with things such as laundry detergent, toys, overnight bags, quarters for vending machines, water and changes of clothes.

"I've been stuck too many times for a week in the hospital," she said.

Although Abigail is covered by three health-insurance policies, Mrs. Berry said that much of her money goes for things insurance doesn't cover, such as food, gas and parking when Abigail has to go to the hospital.

"I'm in debt millions," she said.

But Mrs. Berry believes that Abigail has enhanced her family's life.

"When people say to me, 'I'm so sorry,' I say don't be sorry," she said. "We have more things other people will never experience. The kids have just grown up knowing how precious life is."

The family has had the opportunity to meet professional athletes and other celebrities when Abigail has been in hospitals, and they will take a trip to Disneyland in March, sponsored by Make-A-Wish Foundation.

"We have an exciting life," Mrs. Berry said. "I just had to realize that there is no routine for our family."

Mrs. Berry is always with Abigail, refusing to leave her side when she's in critical condition.

"When she's too weak to fight, I fight for her," she said.

On top of taking care of Abigail, Mrs. Berry is going through a divorce. The mother said that she finds the strength to keep going and help Abigail from several sources.

"First and foremost, I have my faith in God," she said. "We're very strong Christians, and I always say she's a testimony that nothing's too big for God."

She also looks to her parents and children, her church family at Bedford Christian Community Church, and to supporters throughout the Bedford community.

This summer, Mrs. Berry hopes to take Abigail to an international CFC conference in Florida to meet with doctors from around the world.

To help pay for traveling expenses, Bedford-based GERT Ministries (God's Emergency Response Team) and Bedford Christian Community Church will host a benefit concert for Abigail on April 27 at the church. Unshaken, a Toledo-based Christian group, will play the concert.

Mrs. Berry originally contacted GERT Ministries founder Margaret Raker to see if she could volunteer in the ministry.

"The community has been so amazing to us," Mrs. Berry said. "GERT ministries is all about helping people, and I want to be able to give back."

She enjoys sharing Abigail's story, and if the little girl gets well enough, she hopes to travel and use the story to inspire others.

"Abigail has touched so many lives," Mrs. Berry said. "Wherever we go, people are intrigued. Whenever someone asks about her, I tell her story."

Does the mother ever wish she could change things?

"Abigail does suffer a lot of pain, and that hurts as a mom to watch your child suffer," she said. "It's a road I would have never chosen, but I would never turn it back. I feel completely blessed that God chose me to be her mother."