- S
Be the Good in the World
That is Barry Roy.
Please allow me to tell you about Sergeant Barry Roy. Sergeant Roy recently retired from the Arkansas State Police after serving the citizens of Arkansas for over 25 years. For all those years, Barry was the face of good to many victims. Barry devoted the majority of his life to being the light in a world shrouded in darkness. As a road trooper and later as a criminal investigator, Barry saw some of the worst people that society has to offer, but he also saw, in the faces of many victims, the resiliency of the human spirit. His devout love for God and church was the torch he carried to be the light of all that is still good in the world.
The unfortunate part of his departure was the manner in which he left. You see, Barry still had plenty of years left to work with a strong desire to continue his fight for good. But that fight turned into a fight for his life. In 2012, Barry was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (yeah, I had a hard time rolling that off my tongue too!) IPF is an often fatal disease of the lungs in which scar tissue hardens the lungs and they aren’t able to function. “Idiopathic” means the cause is not known. Over the course of the next few years, Barry’s lung functioning decreased and as a result, his health declined as well. Barry’s condition required a double lung transplant. Due to other existing conditions, the only hospital in the nation that would perform the surgery was in Pittsburgh, PA. The surgery required Barry to be within four hours of the hospital and because of the distance to Pittsburgh, Barry and his wife had to move to Pittsburgh. For several months he and his wife lived in Pittsburgh. (If you don’t know, there is a huge difference in the cost of living in Brinkley, AR compared to Pennsylvania.) The expense of living in Pittsburgh was a financial strain to say the least. After several months of waiting, Barry had a successful transplant and Barry once again felt the feeling of fresh air in his lungs. After almost a year of living in Pittsburgh, Barry was able to come back home to heal, but his home was not conducive for him to live because of mold, which required a complete renovation of his house (another major expense) In March 2015, Barry was finally back home and it appeared as all would finally be normal. Until….
Recently Barry has had a series of setbacks with infections and other unrelated illnesses. He was diagnosed with lymphoma and due to chemotherapy has lost the ability to verbally communicate.
On November 19, 2015, Barry was taken to the emergency room in Little Rock. Based on the ER doctor’s consultation with the physician’s in Pittsburgh, an immediate flight to Pittsburgh was scheduled for Barry and his wife. His condition is still not fully known, but it is likely their stay in Pittsburgh will be lengthy.
Medical bills for an average person can be overwhelming but Barry’s condition has caused severe hardships for him and his family. The cost of receiving medical care in Pittsburgh is astounding.
We are asking for donations to help offset the cost of an extended stay in Pittsburgh and to help cover the cost of medical care not covered by insurance. The money would also be used to help support his wife’s stay in Pittsburgh so she can continue to support Barry’s recovery. Barry needs her face of hope every day. The money would also help with travel expenses for his five children to visit.
My words and this short narrative could never convey the true need that Barry has for your donation. Barry has been the good to so many people and also to me. When I was a newly promoted lieutenant, Barry was one of the good things I knew I could always count on. His support of me has prompted me to wave his S.O.S (Save Our Sergeant) Flag. Barry would never expect anyone to donate on his behalf, frankly he would be embarrassed. But I also know how desperately his family needs it.
The quote “Believe there is good in the world” is often shortened to “Be the Good in the World.” Barry believes there is still good in the world and now you have an opportunity to Be the Good in the World. Trust me, no donation is too small.
Thanks for you support!
Lt. Stacie Rhoads
That is Barry Roy.
Please allow me to tell you about Sergeant Barry Roy. Sergeant Roy recently retired from the Arkansas State Police after serving the citizens of Arkansas for over 25 years. For all those years, Barry was the face of good to many victims. Barry devoted the majority of his life to being the light in a world shrouded in darkness. As a road trooper and later as a criminal investigator, Barry saw some of the worst people that society has to offer, but he also saw, in the faces of many victims, the resiliency of the human spirit. His devout love for God and church was the torch he carried to be the light of all that is still good in the world.
The unfortunate part of his departure was the manner in which he left. You see, Barry still had plenty of years left to work with a strong desire to continue his fight for good. But that fight turned into a fight for his life. In 2012, Barry was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (yeah, I had a hard time rolling that off my tongue too!) IPF is an often fatal disease of the lungs in which scar tissue hardens the lungs and they aren’t able to function. “Idiopathic” means the cause is not known. Over the course of the next few years, Barry’s lung functioning decreased and as a result, his health declined as well. Barry’s condition required a double lung transplant. Due to other existing conditions, the only hospital in the nation that would perform the surgery was in Pittsburgh, PA. The surgery required Barry to be within four hours of the hospital and because of the distance to Pittsburgh, Barry and his wife had to move to Pittsburgh. For several months he and his wife lived in Pittsburgh. (If you don’t know, there is a huge difference in the cost of living in Brinkley, AR compared to Pennsylvania.) The expense of living in Pittsburgh was a financial strain to say the least. After several months of waiting, Barry had a successful transplant and Barry once again felt the feeling of fresh air in his lungs. After almost a year of living in Pittsburgh, Barry was able to come back home to heal, but his home was not conducive for him to live because of mold, which required a complete renovation of his house (another major expense) In March 2015, Barry was finally back home and it appeared as all would finally be normal. Until….
Recently Barry has had a series of setbacks with infections and other unrelated illnesses. He was diagnosed with lymphoma and due to chemotherapy has lost the ability to verbally communicate.
On November 19, 2015, Barry was taken to the emergency room in Little Rock. Based on the ER doctor’s consultation with the physician’s in Pittsburgh, an immediate flight to Pittsburgh was scheduled for Barry and his wife. His condition is still not fully known, but it is likely their stay in Pittsburgh will be lengthy.
Medical bills for an average person can be overwhelming but Barry’s condition has caused severe hardships for him and his family. The cost of receiving medical care in Pittsburgh is astounding.
We are asking for donations to help offset the cost of an extended stay in Pittsburgh and to help cover the cost of medical care not covered by insurance. The money would also be used to help support his wife’s stay in Pittsburgh so she can continue to support Barry’s recovery. Barry needs her face of hope every day. The money would also help with travel expenses for his five children to visit.
My words and this short narrative could never convey the true need that Barry has for your donation. Barry has been the good to so many people and also to me. When I was a newly promoted lieutenant, Barry was one of the good things I knew I could always count on. His support of me has prompted me to wave his S.O.S (Save Our Sergeant) Flag. Barry would never expect anyone to donate on his behalf, frankly he would be embarrassed. But I also know how desperately his family needs it.
The quote “Believe there is good in the world” is often shortened to “Be the Good in the World.” Barry believes there is still good in the world and now you have an opportunity to Be the Good in the World. Trust me, no donation is too small.
Thanks for you support!
Lt. Stacie Rhoads