Ross LaPointe - Prayer Request

A great brother in Christ and a good friend, Ross LaPointe is in need of your prayers.  Ross is not conscious in the ICU at Sarasota Memorial Hospital following emergency surgery last week.  Please check out his Blog on Facebook .
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ross-A-LaPointe/246799778727584#!/pages/Ross-A-LaPointe/246799778727584?sk=info

Ross has a wife, Faye, children Nicci, Rossi, Seth, Jennifer, Stepehen, Alice and Jonathan.  Rossi and Seth are both serving our country in the military but are currently on family leave.

Ross LaPointe is quiet, steadfast in the Lord  and a great example of spiritual leadership in his family.

We love these guys and we thank you so much for joining us in praying for them.

Rachael's Rescuers Receive Phoenix Award

Those blessed folks being used by God to revive Rachael were honored today by the Sarasota County Fire Department. There is so much more to share but I wanted to get this post up for you all to see.  This link will take you to the website of ABC Affiliate WWSB in Sarasota.  Rachael was able to thank each one for their grand work.  We were told that everything that could go right did go right that night.  That everything "lined up".  Many factors occurred at that time that night on the side of the Sarasota County Fire, EMT's and Sheriffs Departments to permit quick response, the equipment and people to make it happen.  We will share our thoughts on this and more in another post, for now, see the story as it was broadcast.

Life-saving awards handed out at Sarasota fire station

 

 

Old Things Pass Away Behold, New Things Come

Sandra Peterson of Sarasota County Fire and Rescue with Rachael at Venice Fire Station 52 on 1/1/2012.  Thanks also to Keith Peterson, Mike Kern, Scott Bertrand, Rich Nichols, Rob Rigananti all from either Sarasota Stations 21 and Venice 52 and Donny Daubert of Sarasota County Sheriffs Department.  You guys were used to save Rachael's life!  THANK YOU!!  There were many more of you servants there that night a year ago and we do not know your names.  We would love to, please pass them along to burtandnancy(at)gmail.com.

First off – Tonight, January 2nd,  Rachael said she wanted to thank all the paramedics that helped revive her.  It took us some time to figure out what she was saying but that is it.  So once again, for Rachael, thank you for saving her life.

It has been a year!


Friday night, I shared with Rachael all the details of the accident.  It was the first time that she was putting things together.  She had a few questions, wanted to know if I had been injured and if I was ok dealing with it.  She spent a lot of time thinking about it over the past few days.  John was by on Saturday and Rachael was noticeably deep in thought at times, when John asked her what she was thinking about, she said "the accident".  She has no memory of that night or of the wonderful day she had with us on 1/1/11.

Keep in mind that it takes patience to understand what Rachael is saying.  We are getting pretty good at it and the Lord has answered many prayers for us to be able to understand what she is saying.  The longer the sentence, the longer it takes.  Sunday she gave us her longest sentence so far.  Remembering that I had told her how Nancy had performed CPR on her, Rachael thanked Nancy this morning out of the blue by saying "thank you for saving my life."

She is keeping her legs apart more as they have been pretty tightly closed most of the time.  She is also able to respond better to her speech therapy as she is clearly speaking 'mom' and a fairly good 'me'.  She is learning each day and continues to work hard.  Most of all, she is so joyful.  She frequently wakes up laughing!

Last night Nancy and I went over the blessings from this terrible event.  We were with Rachael, reminding ourselves of the opportunities that have been given to share Christ with so many.  We talked of those who have considered their walk because of this trial and of those that responded in faith born works in meals and donations.  We told Rachael how God was continually being glorified in all of this.  Then Nancy asked Rachael  if it was worth it.  Was it worth the pain and inability to talk and move correctly?  Is it worth all that she has gone through?  She said, loud and clear with a jerk of all that moves in her to punctuate it clearly and delivered with a great grin, "YES!"

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Nancy, Rachael, Daniel, Hanna and I would like to thank the people listed below.  Now I know that we have missed some.  There was a lot of activity going on in 2011!  Please do not take offense if you were missed or be saddened by it.  We created this list by revisiting the events of the past year.  Specific donors and gift givers are not listed as there are too many.  Let it be known that every muffin, every meal, every gas card, every Publix card, every gift card of any kind, every call, every visit, any donation, large or small and most of all ANY PRAYER did absolutely help get us through this time so far.



Our gratitude goes out to:

Pastor Bob Wulfing and his wife Barb for countless hours, prayer, support and Biblical Gudiance.  Thank you Bob for being here moments after the accident and all points aft and fore.  Brianna Wulfing –You are a great friend to Hanna and came over when the going was weird.

We have been blessed with 2 great pastors  and their wives in our time the other being Pastor Don and Lynette Haskins of Calvary Chapel Christian Fellowship in Sarasota.
To the churches of Manasota (sounds so Revelation like!)

• Calvary Chapel of Venice, Florida


• Calvary Chapel Christian Fellowship


• Calvary Chapel of Sarasota


• Refuge - Calvary Chapel of Bradenton

Thank you for your generosity and prayers!

WOLBI – Word Of Life Bible Institute
Though many people here in Venice/Sarasota were impacted by the sudden news, many close friends of Rachael at Word of Life were struck and saddened.  The school is located in Hudson Florida, about 2.5 hours drive away.  We had several visits from her friends that made for great worship when they visited and the prayers in NY and in Florida were so appreciated.  Thank you Tom Phillips for your uplifting visit and Becca Robinson for your counsel to Rachael, your friendship and visits.  WOLBI holds a special place in our hearts and is one of the best kept secrets in Florida!  Thank you for the prayer vigils thank you for the love.

• Ian Lawless for his help in fronting for us at the waiting room at ICU during the first week.


• Calvary Chapel Pastors and friends that showed up at midnight last year for prayer during a critical moment for Rachael.


• Big D (Denise) for the song ‘Why Should I Worry’


• Dr Arents who looked at two weary parents astonished and confused at what was being said and repeated his words as a simple matter of fact saying “yes, she is breathing on her own.”


• The staff at Venice Regional ICU - thanks for letting us make her bed a church and for your great care!


• Dr. Anchetta – Neurologist


• Dr. Rodman’s office


• HealthSouth Hospital


• Marcus Braz, CEO Healthsouth Rehab for a personal approach and visiting Rachael on several occasions.


• · For the staff at Healthsouth Hospital Thanks for letting us make a room a church!

Calvary Chapel School

• An incredible family - Unfathomable flexibility, grace, prayer and support!  We love you so much!


• The 2010-2011 3rd Grade Class - You kids hold a very special place in my heart.  Each of you.  We talked about trials and why they happen, we talked about Grace and why it had to happen and what it is (Romans 7 Dawg!) Your cards, your prayers your love!


• The 2010-2011 K5 Class - Thank you for your prayers, cards and love.  Mrs. Wizeman cherishes each of you!  Thank you Mrs. Lightner!  You are on the frontline!


• There is a plaque in heaven hanging on a pretty tall mansion and on it is written "Coach"


• To all the kids at Calvary Chapel School.  You kids are so important to us!  Your prayers helped and continue to do so.  Your genuine concern and your love is a large part of our lives.  Thank you Christine Sullivan for being the communication central during those weird and loathsome early days.  Thanks for ‘lovetorachael’!


• Pastor Cameron and Carol McGough - For your constant prayer, encouragement and constant prayer and constant prayer and constant prayer...


• The families!  Wow the families.  I am afraid to mention any for fear of missing others.  So please take no offense but you guys were such a support beyond measure!  Thank you Mrs. Brink and friends for a wonderful send off on the last day of school!


• Nick Sommer for prayer circles with the kids in the morning and being there for a very tough morning.


• Faith Beachemp – Thank you for the worship!

 

Friends New and Old

• Glenn and Claudia Albert for being there at the start and for Glenn helping to mod the house and provide the incredibly helpful lift!


• Kristen Thostenson for juicing and delivering carrot juice to keep Rachael strong while on her tube fed diet at the Hospital. Chris Thosteson for worship in the room, rides and friendship.


• Deb White for frontline jumping in helping us at the house, hanging with Rachael to give Nancy a break and a lot of other blessings!


• Mandy Yoder for passion, compassion, video, support and a great night out for Nancy and I!


• All those who brought meals!  It was a huge blessing to have meals prepared.


• Milt and Harriet Seiler for teaching Rachael, being her friends and coordinating meals at Calvary Chapel Venice.


• Tom and Darryl Weaver – You gave us hope and continue to encourage us!
  Nadine and George – We love your love!


• Steve and Liz Rinehardt for the benefit!


• Jan Roth – for help around the house – BIG help!


• Eddie Aguliara – For Worship and Friendship and gentle correction!


• Vicki Sauder – Thanks for your support to Nancy, the great deal on the van and your testimony with Steve.


• Dr. Emese Simon.  She saw potential when we saw futility, though we continued to pray, she was used to give us hope and proved to be correct!


• Rachael's friends Caitlyn and Crystal for consistent words that bless us so!  Check them out under Encouraging Words

Family

• Diane Miller, Nancy's sister for coming by the hospital regularly after work to see Rachael after we had gone home for the night.


• Carol Miller, Nancy's sister for Friday, it's Friday! Almost all her Friday nights she has and continues to give to Rachael.


• Mary Miller Nancy's sister (she has 8 siblings!) for her participation in Rachael's care, major fund raising, research, and keeping us focused. For flying down to Florida almost monthly, traveling with Nancy to Hyperbaric treatments in Palm Harbor and for "Monkey Powder with caldesine. For stocking us up on staples, redoing the bathroom and loads of cleaning and mich more (sic).


• Samantha, Sierra, Alex Miller


• Jose – For Food, joy, love and taking great care of Joy!


• Alan Miller – You came through Big, thanks for getting the funds for the Van together!

Heartland!

Wow - You were our second home!

• Valerie!


• John Hepler! (That is Helper spelled sorta side ways)


• Ivan!


• Kathy!


• The incredible therapy team - Bill and Susan and the rest!


• Sunilda – From the moment we met you it was obviously ordained!  Thanks you for your supportive words and cards, thank you for your sisterhood to Nancy, thank you for the most excellent dog any 9 year old could have!  You are truly a woman of the word!

Last but not least we all need to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  For all he does in us and continues to do and what He did for us.

Thank you to all of you that make up the body of Christ!

but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16       from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Eph 4:15–16). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

 

Like...ah...what's new?

 

 

DING DONG THE TUBE IS GONE, THE OLD PEG TUBE IS GONE!!!

The PEG Tube was removed last week!  She is now eating and drinking through her mouth only.  Even taking fish oil capsules, and you know how big those things are!

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The Loft Benefit was fantastic. $2500 was raised that night and the gospel message was shared with many! We want to thank the Steve and Liz Rinehart, the staff at The Loft, the best blues in town from a variety of bands and most of all the people who we knew and did not know that showed up and blessed our family with your fellowship and offerings. Part of the money went to pay for Rachael's Hyperbaric treatments and the other part will go to a much needed portable Hoyer lift. The Protable Hoyer will allow us to lift Rachael out of her chair when we are away from home for extended periods. Being that she is not at all ambulatory yet, we have to lift her out of her chair and bed. We are going to the 2012 Southeast Calvary Chapel Pastors Conference in Merritt Island. AS A FAMILY!! It will be the first time we have been able to all go together for more than a few hours and with the portable Hoyer, we are able to do it!
Thank you to the Loft, the musicians and the people that helped to make this a great success.
Daniel is home! It is great to have another guy around the house. Even the dog and cat are girls. Not that there is anything wrong with that. He is here for a month + then driving back to California.

The Lord blessed us greatly by allowing the Medicaid Waiver to come through. It allows money for assistance with Rachael, respite time for us as a family and a break for Nancy. She is amazing and has poured herself out for Rachael and the family for the past year. We are told to focus on things honorable and true. She is a living example. She finally gets a bit of a break. It has been a long year for my most excellent wife. God Bless you folks at APD for getting this through! Thank you Melissa! Thank you very much Geri! and Shelia!

Team Rachael as Rachael's Aunt Mary calls us all is expanding. John, a CNA at Heartland that was mentioned many blogs ago for his focus and attentiveness that was used to helped bring Rachael out of her coma, is a regular visitor now. The Gang from Shekinah Glory Home Care rock and are great sisters in Christ.

So how is Rachael doing??? Well, here is the rundown:

• Speaking sentences


• Learning to tap buttons on the iPad to make words


• Praying at dinner for us.


• Singing during Koinonia and worship in church


• Chewing


• Sipping through a straw


• Joking around alot!


• She is gaining more control of her right leg and right arm.


• She is gaining some movement to her left extremities.


• She is eating very well.

When I say she is speaking sentences, singing etc., you must understand that it takes many tries for her to allow us to understand what she is saying.  She is patient with us.  We see an upward trend with her speaking.   Her movements are slow, stiff and deliberate.  She still suffers pain quite regularly and we have been battling a large bed sore for weeks now.  With the equipment we had, it was difficult to keep it from happening.  We now have some new gear and hope that it will heal soon.

Rachael is verrry alert, quick to reply, and quick to thank us.  The first sentence she said was "Thank you very much."

I need to get to bed but wanted to get this out to you so you know what is going on and to thank all involved in the Loft Benefit.

May the Lord make His face to shine upon you!

 

 

See You At The Loft!

Rachael is resting prior to our departure.  We have lots of folks coming and lots more to meet!  Here is the map if you need it. The benefit starts at 4:00 pm.

View Larger Map

Happy Thanksgiving! Watch This!

 



Every morning Nancy will take Rachael through a workout regimen.  It is painful but Rachael knows that it is what is going to keep her from contracture of her muscles.  Today, she was able to control her left arm.  We have not seen this before.  As an added bonus, at the start of the video, she moves her right arm down to her side.
We have much to be thankful for.  We just received the medicaid waiver that will help with keeping Rachael in Rehab, her Insurance ceased support for rehab as she was not making big enough gains.  This waiver will provide Nancy with help and the ability to get out of the house for several hours and even give Nancy, Hanna and myself  7 hours a week to take a break together while Rachael is watched by a professional health care worker.  It is another new normal!  We hope to see you at the benefit as the expenses don't stop the current needs as shared in the previous post.

You might wonder how anyone can endure the pain Rachael goes through, endure the extreme effort that it takes to care for her and tend to her.  This verse may help to explain.

1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2       fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

How do we endure?:

"let us also lay aside every encumbrance" The word that is translated 'encumbrance' in this verse is the Greek word for tumor, a weight or burden.  What heavy lumps are we carrying?  If I am burdened then my eyes are on the burden and I am not looking where I am going.  I am thinking about it, focused on it, spending time on it.  It is a weight that slows me down.  Do I spend a lot of time talking about or thinking about my burdens?  Maybe it is something that is not so bad.  It could be something culturally acceptable like spending untold hours on Facebook, watching TV or playing video games.

• Can you maneuver as well through the Bible as you do through your video game?


• Can you recite people and reports from the Bible as well as the latest episode of your favorite TV show?


• Do you seek Facebook for the details on many other lives, diligently scrolling down your wall reading all the tidbits but call the book of Judges boring?

Encumbrances- we have to choose to put these things off in favor of His Kingdom.  We need to regularly take a look at our day and make the majority of our time talking, teaching, reading, praying or mediating on His word.

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

If today, this Thanksgiving Day,  you were asked or you ask your believing spouse or your believing friend what they are finding in His word, will there be a solid answer?  Or will there be a tightening of the stomach and a rushed babble of a response as they scurry for a fig leaf to cover the conviction?

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. John 15:4

Abiding does not mean a visit.  The branch can't break off for a bit, dally about as it wills and then connect back to the vine and bear fruit. It is constant abiding.  If right now you are trying to justify the time in a day, the interruptions, the duties etc, stop!  Rachael's care is a physically exhausting effort that moves from task to task throughout the day.  Yet, each morning Nancy takes time and abides in His word.  Throughout the day she muses on it, prays and discusses it.  We talk or text about the blessings, what the Lord has revealed, what we are challenged by, all of it.  It is intertwined in our daily discussions like a strand in a cord of three.  Yes there is much to do but the abiding is intertwined throughout the day, not just during 'Jesus time' or only on Sunday.  I encourage you to stop justifying, just abide.  Do your best to abide.  Let God's grace extend to you from His will and not your schedule.

"and the sin which so easily entangles us" Sin starts as a thought and turns into an action against God.  (James 1:15, Genesis 3:6,) We are not Sin proof.  As we have  'So great a cloud of witness' from the Old Testament that demonstrated saving faith, so much more are we surrounded by the traps leading to sin.  The words "easily entangle" are busted out from the translation of the Greek word euperístatos-meaning to surround!  From Hebrews 11 we have a cloud of witnesses that surround us from the reports of faith to demonstrate what faith can do in light of sin. On the inverse we have a physical and current world that tries to surround (euperistatos) us with the potential to sin.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 1 John 2:16

Read that "ALL that is in the world"  Friends, we are surrounded by sin and the potential to sin, and so by the enemy, as were Elijah and Elisha:

Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
16       So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17       Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17

First Elisha only saw the surrounding enemy and felt the weight of fear of a huge army "Alas!" and then he sought quick counsel from 'the man of God' "What shall we do?"  That is an excellent prayer to pray when you are surrounded  'God, what shall I do?'  Elijah's prayer opened Elisha's eyes to the spiritual realm and just who was surrounding whom.
If you are adopted by God, being that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9), you have that help available to you to lay aside the sin and the encumbrance.
By being saved you have "Chariots of Fire" to help you battle the sin that surrounds you.  If you believe. Hebrews 11:1 lets us know that we do not need Elisha's eyes to see for Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. I don't need to see chariots of fire to know they are there.  Faith opens the eyes of my heart to know.

Yet, there are sins that can become such a weight to us.  We need to realize that our sin, no matter how bad we think it is, has been taken care of at the cross. In the days after Christ, the Jewish Priests stilled carried out the Mosaic Law of sacrifices for sin.

By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11       Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;
12       but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,
13       waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. Hebrews 10:10-13

Once I realize my sin, I need to confess it to the Lord, and repent, or turn away which if sincere are pretty much simultaneous.  I may need to make amends with another as part of my repentance but as far as Jesus is concerned He forgave me at the Cross.  When I am encumbered or have unrepentant sin, it gets in the way of my relationship with the Lord.  I am still saved if my confession of Christ was true,  but until I put off those things that are in the way or holding me down by their weight, I am not able to stay focused on where my focus needs to be.
We need to seek holiness in our lives and keep our minds and hearts from sin and proximity to sin by abiding in Christ.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14       As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 1 Pe 1:13–16
15       but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
16       because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

and in so doing we will apply the precepts of our Lord as given to us in His word, the Bible.

By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; John 2:3-4

We need to choose to do abide.  When we mess up, we do not need to carry the guilt.  Jesus died once for all.  That sin was foreseen by Jesus and He died for it. Done.  If we have unrepentant or habitual sin in our lives or are carrying around these tumors of troubles or traps, we are not in a tight relationship with our Lord and we are not going to endure, we are not abiding.

By putting off the encumbrances and the sin, we can endure!  We are free from the weight of the encumbrance as we have help and sin because it was already dealt with at the cross!  We are free indeed!  With our nose in His word, we will develop a stronger relationship, a tighter bond and more understanding of his simple and pure nature.  The fruit of abiding?  Obedience.  If I am abiding, I don't have to strive for holiness, it happens.  Holiness Happens.  We will have help when we are surrounded in this world by the enemy.  We have one greater than the enemy with us.

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

We are surrounded by the witnesses of past and the witness of the Holy Spirit in us to the fact that if we have faith in Christ, we are going to endure.  Endure for what?  For the joy set before us in being in Glory with our Lord:

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus, the perfect example of faith in action.  He endured the terrible suffering, and though He is God, He felt every shard of the the whip, every plucked hair from His beard, every thorn stabbing His skull and every nail in his body.  He did so for the joy set before Him.  We have His example.  We can endure because up the not to distant road, is Christ!  Live and in person and eternity with Him.  So we have these simple tidbits to help us get  through the tough times and endure:

• Remember examples of faith and the results of that faith.  We are surrounded by those reports.


• Know that you are surrounded by the options of encumbrances and sin in this world vs. remembering what faith in Christ can do.


• Choose to abide in Christ.


• Your sin was forgiven at the cross, don't carry around guilt, repent and continue the race.


• Keep your eyes fixed on Christ.

In the end it is stated so simply by Jesus

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

As confirmation to what I was doing, sitting here writing out what I considered to be a word from the Lord, Nancy said after dealing with several issues today, "the only reason I can get through this is I know that one day I will be with Him in heaven."

That is how you endure.

Abide, fix your eyes on Jesus and you will endure.

I am so thankful for what Jesus did for us on the cross.  Though there is so much to be thankful for this day.  It is all wrapped up in Him.  How wonderful that we have such a great joy set before us as to be in the presence, forever, with the author of our faith!

Happy Thanksgiving!

About The Loft Benefit

From Nancy:

Some people have asked what the gathering at the Loft Restaurant is for  We are trying to raise funds to continue her Hyperbaric treatments since they are showing improvements in both speech and movement.  These treatments are not covered by insurance and cost $5000.00 per 20 session increments.  She has already had 40 Treatments and we are hoping for 40 more.  In addition to this, the gas to get to Palm Harbor which is 1 1/2 hours away and the only location that would accept Rachael, costs $550.00 per month.  Rachael's insurance no longer pays for all the therapy she needs because she was not making functional progress at the pace the insurance requires.  Burt and I do most of her therapy at home.  I spend up to 2 hours a day doing her therapy with her in bed.  It is difficult and not as effective as having a therapy table which costs around $1000.00.  The last need that we have is a portable Hoyer lift if we need to lift her to tend to her needs when we are not at home.  Currently, we can only take her on short jaunts to the doctor or church.  A portable Hoyer costs about $1300.00.  It is our hope that the funds raised will go towards these expenses.  Thank you very much and we hope to see you there!!

From Nancy's Sister Mary:

Dear Rachael, I am so happy to see this fund raising benefit come together that will indeed benefit you, hopefully in many, many ways. Thanks so very much to everyone who is putting in their time and effort to make this happen, as this is so important to Rachael’s recovery. Nancy and Burt have worked very hard to get Rachael access to treatments and therapies that are truly working in allowing her to progress in her healing, most of which are either not covered by insurance or only covered for a limited amount. Rachael knows these things are helping her gain more function with speech and motor control and she is eager to continue the hyperbaric oxygen treatments and works very hard at her therapy sessions. So it is essential that these treatments and therapies remain available and accessible to her. I encourage all who read this to pass the benefit date and place information on to family, friends and co-workers and invite them all to come participate in this event as part of TEAM RACHAEL! With your support, Rachael can continue to have the best opportunity for a significant recovery of her speech and motor function If you cannot participate and contribute as part of the benefit on Sunday (or even if you can), you can also make a difference in helping Rachael recover by making a contribution to the special needs trust that is in place for her. It is an irrevocable trust and all money in it goes directly to Rachael’s care and treatment. To donate to the trust, please make checks out as shown: Rachel Kaye Hinkle Irrevocable Special Needs Trust. With much love and gratitude to all for your compassion and support of Rachael and her family, Aunt Mary GO TEAM RACHAEL!!