Cheryl Baringer lost her vision, her mobility, and her job after a serious infection that caused severe brain trauma. Now she’s about to lose her home.

Cheryl has always been there for others, ready to fill a need, stand by people who are up against the odds, and simply pray. Now she needs people to help her. In November, Cheryl underwent emergency surgery at the University of Michigan hospital for an infection that happened when a normal bacterial flora was able to penetrate her jaw through a cracked tooth and then spread throughout her jaw, neck and brain. She spent several weeks in the Intensive Care Unit, unresponsive, and fighting for her life. When she finally started to regain consciousness, it was (and still is) an uphill battle to get her life back.


There was damage to her optic nerves, and she has lost her vision. The brain trauma has left her unable to sit, stand, or walk by herself. She can’t even turn over in bed unassisted. Because of the trauma to her jaw, she still can’t eat on her own, and relies on a stomach feeding tube for nourishment.

In December, she was moved to an acute care rehab center, where she currently is now.

Cheryl has always had a strong faith in God and has been a vivacious prayer warrior for others. She’s creative, artistic, an amazing writer, dedicated to her job as Communications Director for a large company, and madly in love with her husband Randy. She also has a great sense of humor, which is keeping her medical team laughing, and they all love her. And we know when she’s laying there in bed, she’s praying for us all. That’s just who Cheryl is, always thinking of others. Now Cheryl needs us.

Cheryl and Randy had always wanted to live on a lake, and spent years saving up for the perfect home. They lost everything during the recession, and had to start over from scratch. But then, five years ago, after looking at dozens of homes, they found a small house on a quiet lake that spoke to them both.

And now they might lose it.

Cheryl’s company recently ended her salary, so their household income has been cut drastically. They face considerable costs, into the hundreds of thousands, including insurance premiums and co-pays. When Cheryl finally gets to come home, there may be the costs of making the home handicap accessible, or bringing in a home-care nurse.

We are praying for complete recovery, and as with most brain trauma, the doctors can’t tell us if that will happen or not. With Cheryl’s effervescent personality, strong faith in Jesus, and community of friends and family praying for her, she can do this. But not alone. She has already lost so much with her health, let’s not have her lose her home as well.

Please donate to help support Cheryl if you can. And whether you can help financially or not, we welcome your prayers for both her and Randy, as they fight this battle together.