Exciting News!

I first would like to apologize for not updating the blog for quite some time. The past few weeks have been such a whirlwind. I have so much exciting news for everyone! A few weeks ago Wez and I went to our church home, Harpeth Community, with the request for prayers and any financial help that could be offered. The elders met with us and announced to the congregation our financial situation as well as the upcoming surgery cost. In a matter of 3 short weeks our church raised $30,000! Wez and I were in shock. It is just so amazing that so many people came together to help us. We have been incredibly blessed. With the money that has been donated so far, the hospital is allowing us to go ahead with the surgery. Any additional costs will just be billed to us, which brings me to the subject of the fund raiser that some Brentwood Academy staff has put together.

The Monday before Thanksgiving a meeting was held at the Brentwood library regarding a fund raiser that has been put together by some people that work with my brother in law, Warren Bezuidenhout. The basic idea is this: Each person at the meeting was given several cards with paper clips attached. Each person wanting to participate has been asked to go and “trade” their paperclip for something bigger. For example I was able to trade one of my paperclips to a friend who owns her own business. In exchange for my paperclip, she gave me a coupon for $150 worth of her company’s services. The idea is to continue trading (it might take more than one trade) until you have an item valued at $150 or more. On February 28th a “garage sale” will be held to sell all the items that people have been able to trade for. Each item there will cost $100 or whatever the purchaser would like to donate over that. If you would like to participate or want more information on the fund raiser, contact Sue Gering at sue_gering@brentwoodacademy.com

The hope is that whatever remaining cost we have will be able to be paid with the money raised at this garage sale. I am currently waiting on the finance department at Allagheny General Hospital to get the final cost of the surgery as well as tests and MRI scans that he will be required to have before we go. In the meantime I am getting pricing for our stay there.
The most exciting news of all is that we FINALLY have a surgery date! I spoke with Dr.Janetta’s nurse and she has booked Wez to have the microvascular decompression surgery at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburg on January 22nd! We have a pre-op visit scheduled for January 20th so we will leave on the 19th. Wez will stay in the hospital 2-3 days after the surgery and then must stay in town until at least the 27th when he will go back for his post-op visit. If they clear him to leave, then we will return home on the 28th of January.
Wez has an 80% chance of this surgery relieving him of his agonizing pain and I am sure with all of the prayers on our behalf, that his chances are even better. Thank you so, so much for all of your continued prayers and support. Each and every one of you has made such a difference in our lives. We have been forever changed.

With love and thanks,
Wez, Rachel, and Lily