A Senior's Story - "A Missed Step"
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A Seniors Story…….. “A Missed Step”
Deteriorating health, malnutrition, lack of shelter, fear, depression, senility, isolation, boredom, non-productivity, and financial incapacity are the most common problems that senior citizens face today.
Working hard all our life is not a guarantee of security in our old age. The number of seniors in Canada exceeds any other population for the first time and the challenges are big.
I am a senior….my friends Don and Rose Mary are seniors.
Don Ballantyne is a man we have known for over 20 years….a man who speaks truth, preaches salvation through Jesus only and had served in Christian ministry for over 30 years. He was our pastor for more than 10 of those years while we attended King Bible Church and our friendship with him and his wife is based on trust, transparency and truth. Their ministry together impacted our lives to the point that they are certainly the reason we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary last year.
As a couple, Don and his wife Rose Mary model a life lived by faith. They are givers, listeners, and prayer warriors. They practice forgiveness, accountability and believe in second chances. They are people, have needs, have wants, are imperfect, make mistakes, and miss steps. Community and family are important.
They are missed.
Not able to afford to retire in Canada, they, like many seniors, decided to move out of country where the cost of living is much more manageable. Research was searched, plans were planned, and arrangements were arranged. Hopes and dreams took them to Ecuador to settle for their senior years together.
Hopes and dreams, though, can be dashed in a flash. Dashed by one missed step.
A missed step landed him at the bottom of the stairs with several large gashes in his leg…….leading to infection……..and more infection…… followed by numerous other health complications …..leading to emergency surgery and a lengthy hospital stay……not covered under their health care.
Urgent heart surgery and related medications, along with vascular complications that could possibly result in amputation of Don’s leg have put them in a desperate situation. Isolation, deteriorating health and financial incapacity are the challenges they now face. The choice to return to Canada is not an option at this point.
Rose Mary, in her kind, gentle, caring way, continues to nurse Don at home and together, hand in hand, they take one day at a time.
$40,000.00 in direct medical costs has left them unable to provide for themselves. The situation is serious and urgent. I am reaching out to you and asking you to prayerfully consider how you can help.
History
Don served our country in the military on HMCS Ottawa in the mid 1960’s. Following 5 years of service, he worked as an engineer at an oil refinery in the Kitchener area while Rose Mary worked as a nurse at St. Mary’s. In 1974 he followed his calling to the ministry with Rose Mary, both leaving respectable careers. His new path took him to Bible School in New Brunswick for a few years and meant living in a very small motor home with 3 small children during that time. Committed and faithful to his calling, he graduated and ministered through many churches and youth camps (Camp Ambassador at Camp Widjitiwin, Muskoks Bible Centre), while Rose Mary developed her own special ministry to the most precious people in our society…..children and seniors. She developed a home daycare where she loved and nurtured numerous little people over many years as well as provided ministry to seniors as a Foot Care Nurse.
They are special people and together, their wisdom, leadership and complete submission to what they believed has enabled their ministry to powerfully impact many lives, including mine.
Don and Rose Mary need support….please prayerfully consider how you can help.
Deteriorating health, malnutrition, lack of shelter, fear, depression, senility, isolation, boredom, non-productivity, and financial incapacity are the most common problems that senior citizens face today.
Working hard all our life is not a guarantee of security in our old age. The number of seniors in Canada exceeds any other population for the first time and the challenges are big.
I am a senior….my friends Don and Rose Mary are seniors.
Don Ballantyne is a man we have known for over 20 years….a man who speaks truth, preaches salvation through Jesus only and had served in Christian ministry for over 30 years. He was our pastor for more than 10 of those years while we attended King Bible Church and our friendship with him and his wife is based on trust, transparency and truth. Their ministry together impacted our lives to the point that they are certainly the reason we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary last year.
As a couple, Don and his wife Rose Mary model a life lived by faith. They are givers, listeners, and prayer warriors. They practice forgiveness, accountability and believe in second chances. They are people, have needs, have wants, are imperfect, make mistakes, and miss steps. Community and family are important.
They are missed.
Not able to afford to retire in Canada, they, like many seniors, decided to move out of country where the cost of living is much more manageable. Research was searched, plans were planned, and arrangements were arranged. Hopes and dreams took them to Ecuador to settle for their senior years together.
Hopes and dreams, though, can be dashed in a flash. Dashed by one missed step.
A missed step landed him at the bottom of the stairs with several large gashes in his leg…….leading to infection……..and more infection…… followed by numerous other health complications …..leading to emergency surgery and a lengthy hospital stay……not covered under their health care.
Urgent heart surgery and related medications, along with vascular complications that could possibly result in amputation of Don’s leg have put them in a desperate situation. Isolation, deteriorating health and financial incapacity are the challenges they now face. The choice to return to Canada is not an option at this point.
Rose Mary, in her kind, gentle, caring way, continues to nurse Don at home and together, hand in hand, they take one day at a time.
$40,000.00 in direct medical costs has left them unable to provide for themselves. The situation is serious and urgent. I am reaching out to you and asking you to prayerfully consider how you can help.
History
Don served our country in the military on HMCS Ottawa in the mid 1960’s. Following 5 years of service, he worked as an engineer at an oil refinery in the Kitchener area while Rose Mary worked as a nurse at St. Mary’s. In 1974 he followed his calling to the ministry with Rose Mary, both leaving respectable careers. His new path took him to Bible School in New Brunswick for a few years and meant living in a very small motor home with 3 small children during that time. Committed and faithful to his calling, he graduated and ministered through many churches and youth camps (Camp Ambassador at Camp Widjitiwin, Muskoks Bible Centre), while Rose Mary developed her own special ministry to the most precious people in our society…..children and seniors. She developed a home daycare where she loved and nurtured numerous little people over many years as well as provided ministry to seniors as a Foot Care Nurse.
They are special people and together, their wisdom, leadership and complete submission to what they believed has enabled their ministry to powerfully impact many lives, including mine.
Don and Rose Mary need support….please prayerfully consider how you can help.
Organizer
Audry Barton
Organizer
Schomberg, ON