Together—Saturday, 9:30 am

Robert experienced no significant changes overnight, so we're using this post to share a little family information.

Immediate family members have spent a considerable amount of time at the hospital. We've had our own space in a conference room, where we can pull together and meet with visitors. Robert's wife, Tracy, and her three children - Brooke (15), Jedd (13), and Grace (10) - have been in a good share of the time. She has had to deal with a multitude of things, including insurance, business issues, and on and on. We are relieved to know that Robert's business, Morgantown Masonry, is in very capable hands and hasn't missed a beat.

Robert's mother, Verna (Vernie), has been a rock through this. It's cut deeply for her, as her first husband, Tom, was killed in a car accident at the same age that Robert is now (42), but God has been faithful. In fact, she spends about as much time encouraging distraught visitors as others invest in lifting her up! Her husband, Kenny, often comes in the evening.

Robert's oldest sister, Cindy, has been a regular at the hospital, along with her husband, Lanny (a school teacher), and son, David. Her daughters, Emily and Katie, are currently away. Between Cindy and Robert in age is his sister, Connie. She works out of her home as a medical transcriptionist, and has been in as much as possible, along with her daughters, Rachel and Rebekah. Robert's younger sister, Karen, has also been in much of the time, joined evenings by her husband, Joe, a dairy farmer.

Vernie, Cindy, and Karen are all RNs, so they get the medical updates from doctors or nurses. We (whoever is at the hospital at the time), go over the report, decide what is most important or relevant to include in the blog, come up with a theme and Bible verse, then post the blog. Vernie calls in for the early morning report and relays it before we put out the blog.

A big thank you to the many people who have visited, called, sent notes, prayed, spread the word, prepared meals, organized blood drives, etc! We are truly in this together. As we daily see graphic evidence of how intricately the body parts and systems must work together to be whole, we realize anew how fitting the analogy is of the church as the body of Christ.


From [Christ] the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:16

5 comments:

  1. My prayers are with you all. I don't know Robert, but I do know Connie, Sid and Sarah, and Tracy, and am deeply concerned for all of you. I appreciate your efforts in keeping the blog up to date - it is so helpful in knowing how to pray. May God give you strength daily, and I pray He will perform a miracle in Robert's life.
    In Jesus' love, Mary Ellen Mumma

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  2. Thank you so much for investing the time and effort to keep us up to date. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Praying that the peace of the Lord, which passes all understanding, would truly guard your hearts and your minds! Jed, Brock has been asking and praying for your dad a lot! Love to all of you! ~ Phil & Vonda Stoltzfus and kiddos

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  3. We know most of you, but it's been AGES since we've seen each other. We've been following the blog daily and praying for MANY miracles to be done! Our God is big and CAN DO IT !
    Keep on trusting in Him as he does know best.
    May He continue to be your rock and sheild over this time.


    With much love,
    Gary & Andrea Martin

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  4. Continuing in prayer for each of you even as we did when Tom went home. Thanks for bringing us up to date on the whole gang. I'm sharing your circumstances throughout the world this afternoon. People will be praying everywhere!
    For both of us, Nancy and Paul Nelson

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  5. To all caregivers, family and friends, who have been by Roberts side, know that prayers for you and your health and strength are being sent to the heavens as well.
    Times like these are just as hard, maybe even harder on YOU at this given moment than for Robert. Please take care of yourself and your needs as well. Theresa Schweitzer

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