One Family's Fight to Bring Their Daughter Home -- And Bridge Colorado's Rural Healthcare Gap

, /PRNewswire/ -- After more than 250 days in the NICU and nearly a year in temporary housing in Denver, Amy Humble and Corey Smith are doing what any parents would do: fighting to bring their daughter home, is what we call Marlowe's Road Home.

Their daughter, Marlowe, was born at just 25 weeks — barely over a pound. She spent the first eight months of her life on life support, undergoing surgeries and medical procedures that most parents never dream of. Today, she's thriving — playful, feisty, and full of light.

Now, Amy and Corey are fighting a different kind of battle: trying to build a safe, stable life for Marlowe in their hometown of Steamboat Springs — and discovering just how difficult that is for rural families with medically complex children.

"We love Denver," said Amy. "We're incredibly thankful to the doctors, nurses, and therapists who saved Marlowe's life. But our home — and our future — is in the mountains. That's the life we set out to build, not just for ourselves, but for our three children."

Despite being a world-renowned resort town, Steamboat Springs — like much of rural Colorado — lacks the infrastructure to support families with medically complex children. Private duty nurses are virtually impossible to find. Home health agencies often won't staff rural cases due to low Medicaid reimbursement rates and long travel times.

More than 700,000 Coloradans live in rural areas, yet:

• 12 counties have no psychologist or social worker
• 6 counties lack a dentist
• 1 county has no physician at all

Families across rural Colorado are quietly navigating impossible tradeoffs: stay close to specialized care in the city or pursue the life they dreamed of in the mountains.

Amy and Corey are choosing to stay — but they're asking for help. Not just for themselves, but to change the system for every rural family trying to do the same.

They're currently searching for a pediatric nurse — "a Mary Poppins with medical training" — to help care for Marlowe in their home. And they're working to launch a statewide initiative that will begin in Colorado and aims to build a stronger care network for medically complex children living in rural communities.

"This isn't just about one little girl," said Corey. "It's about the thousands of families who want to raise their kids in small towns and rural areas and still access the care they need. We believe it's possible — and we want Colorado to lead the way."

About Amy and Corey:
Amy is the co-founder of Disruption Advisors, a national coaching and leadership development firm. Corey is an entrepreneur with deep roots in Colorado. Originally from Rifle and Englewood, they made the leap to Steamboat to raise their three children — Steele, Bodie, and Marlowe — close to nature, community, and the values they hold dear.

SOURCE Marlowe's Road Home