Twins ‘Made for a Miracle’ to help Coachella Valley families

Twins Matthew and Callia were born two months early. Doctors warned they wouldn’t survive, but they did. Their family calls them their miracle babies.

“It was hard and it was scary. And we had so many odds against us, but we knew that they were going to survive,” said Angelina Castleberry. “They have a purpose and we knew that from the beginning before they were born.”

Callia spent two months and Matthew spent five months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital. Their parents drove back and forth daily to be with them and their four other children in Indio. They received support, financial help and prayers from their church and loved ones.

“Everyone who has helped us has inspired me to try and reach out to other families out here in the Coachella Valley because a lot of the support groups and a lot of the therapies were all held out in San Bernardino,” said Castleberry.

With the children out of the hospital, Callia is healthy and Matthew will forever deal with kidney disease, but the Castleberry’s want to pay it forward. They’ve started a nonprofit called “Made For a Miracle.” They hope to be a resource, a support group for local families caring for a sick or premature babies in the hospital.

They’ll provide care packages with gas and grocery gift cards for families with babies at Desert Regional Medical Center or Loma Linda.

“I remember I was given a pen and a journal and a pack of gum and it was the greatest thing,” said Castleberry. “Only us parents that have had that experience can truly say, ‘I know how you feel. I’m here for you. I know what it’s like to walk through those NICU hallways by yourself.”

Callia and Matthew beat the odds and will celebrate their first birthday July 1. As Matthew prepares for his ninth surgery a big party isn’t in the picture, instead the Castleberry’s will deliver the first round of care packages to families at Loma Linda.

For more information on how to donate, get help or volunteer, visit www.madeforamiracle.org

To donate gift cards for gas and groceries, email Angelina Castleberry at info@madeforamiracle.org