God's Story
Donation protected
And so “God’s Story” begins, she is living “God’s Story.” At first, she thought it was vertigo; she started seeing less clearly; massive migraines became more persistent; words were coming out all jumbled; she simply was not herself. Our dear beautiful friend to all, Rachel Tidwell Gause’s life was about to change forever. On February 26, 2020, in excruciating pain and confusion, and at the insistence of her new place of employment, Rachel, with her Lord Jesus beside her, took the wheel and drove to the Chapin Urgent Care. There, they wanted to call for an ambulance, but Rachel refused the ambulance and insisted on driving herself to the ER at Lexington Hospital in Columbia, SC. Her CT/MRI showed a massive and aggressive 5-6-centimeter size tumor (the size of a lime) embedded in the right side of her brain. The initially assigned doctor to perform the urgently needed surgery was replaced by Dr. Johnathan A. Engh. Dr. Engh is one of the world’s most experienced neurosurgeons and was about to take our precious friend in his able hands; God’s Work. Dr. Engh explained the nature of the surgery he was about to perform, the tumor was growing and moving rapidly, and her life was at risk. Dr. Engh’s “expertise extends to many dedicated oncological procedures, including awake craniotomy, minimally invasive port surgery for brain tumors, stereotactic radiosurgery and ncysts and intraventricular tumors.” https://www.lexmed.com/find-a-doctor/detail/4352/johnathan-a-engh-md-faans He felt the tumor had been growing in her brain for the last six months to a year. Rachel was elated with the report and the commitment of Dr. Engh, praising her Lord loudly! Peace and joy consumed her. She finally understood what was making her feel so terrible and why she was in such pain; now her prayers were being answered; she was living God’s Story.
Surgery was performed Friday February 28, 2020, and lasted 4 ½ hours. Dr. Engh was meticulous in his work, only shaving a small portion of Rachel’s hair and in such a fashion that she is able to cover the incision for the most part. He artfully removed what he said was one of the largest and most aggressive tumors he had ever seen. From words of all, Rachel is a “miracle.” Upon awakening in NICU, Rachel was sitting up, laughing, and talking, surrounded by her sister Teresa “T,” brother Gene, and longtime friend, Pete Oswald. Rachel and the NICU staff “saw the work of Jesus and the love of Christ” through the outpouring of love and the caring support of friends primarily from her Sunday School class at Shandon Baptist Church; she’s amazing, she is so loved. After spending six days in the NICU/hospital, she was transported to friend’s home, Paula Buxton, with “T” by her side for 48 hours to ensure 100% observance and care. Paula graciously gave up her master bedroom and bath to Rachel. After a stay at Paula’s, she was welcomed into another friend’s home, Sherri Becker, to continue her convalescence. She is now in Anderson, SC, with her “sister-like-aunt” Pat Comptom and Pat’s pup Jake, where she will remain for a while. Another part of God’s Story, Pat had just gone through a complicated hip surgery, Rachel was in the midst of a divorce, and then the surgery occurred; so, they are convalescing together, healing each other. Her plans, however, are to be back to her home in Columbia by April 6.
The miraculous story continues. Rachel had worked merely two and a half days at her job with the SC State Corrections Department when she went to the hospital. She had happened to meet her new director while picking up a take-out meal. Ruthie Hooper Bishop, Division Director of Procurement Services for the SC State Corrections Department, was a former high school classmate and a cheerleader with Rachel. Rachel had been hired almost immediately. Ruthie and her colleague, Trina Free, worked tirelessly to secure the medical insurance for Rachel; of course, there are some caveats still to be worked out and an approval by Dr. Engh, but Rachel is living God’s Story.
On March 11th, Rachel had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Engh and Nurse Practitioner, Megan Tolar. Her recovery is going to be very slow, very regimented, very delicate. She has strict instructions to “heal her brain.” She is to use her mind as little as possible, must take numerous naps, and cannot be on task except for brief spans of time; then she must “rest her brain.” These are non-negotiable orders from Dr. Engh. After her initial three MRIs, if all remains clear, she will start having MRIs every two years for the next ten years. Her next scheduled MRI is July 1. Though her future is unclear, her commitment to healing, serving her Lord and repaying the gifts of others during this time is concrete; she IS living God’s Story and doing his WILL into eternity.
Rachel was very skeptical and uncomfortable to have a conversation about a GoFundMe campaign and people spending money on her. Nonetheless, Team Rachel was finally birthed after seeing the vast outpouring of support, willingness, and love for Rachel on social media from classmates, friends, family and many more. Through conversations among Julie Hentz Swink, Jacqueline Foster Ashley, Lisa Moon Roberts, Phil Evans, Mandy Hughes Joyner, Julie Pickens Kowalski, Rachel herself when possible, and myself, Sally Campbell, she at last agreed, especially when Julie H. Swink said to her, “it’s not our money it’s God’s money!” Though some of us have not seen each other since T.L. Hanna High graduation in 1981, no length of time nor distance was going to stand in our way from helping our “fallen soldier.” If your life path has crossed with Rachel’s, then you too have been blessed by her presence. She is one of the most genuine souls you will ever meet. Her smile is endearing, her beauty astounding and ageless, her laughter infectious, and her heart beats in rhythm with her Lord; Rachel is an angel on this great earth. Team Rachel may have started with very few. However, there is truly no identifiable number to the lives she has touched, and so we hope and pray that the number will grow in this campaign to help in the ease of healing with Rachel Tidwell Gause.
Rachel was insistent that additional endearing friends and family be thanked and become a part of Team Rachel unbeknownst to them: Aunt Pat and pup Jake, Terri and Jim Griffin, Pete Oswald, Sherri Becker, Larry Talbert, Meredith Kelly , Tammy Watts, the NICU staff, Dr. Engh, Megan Tolar, her entire Sunday School Class lead by Bruce Phillips and others from her church. Her list will undoubtedly grow, and she will in time thank each and every one of these blessed souls.
The expenses are unknown at this time and one truly cannot place a price tag on healing. Her bills to date are approximately $173,000. The outpouring of help and gifts has been immense from her church and others. Yet, Rachel will have greater unforeseen needs. Some may be life long, - additional surgeries, medicines, therapies, medical aides, transportation help, living arrangements, employment provisions, provisions afforded by Aunt Pat and Jake, etc. Therefore, Team Rachel is asking you to be an active participant in Rachel’s fundraising campaign. Please forward this GoFundMe to any and all groups you and/or Rachel are associated with – Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, churches, volunteer groups, former places of employment, classmates of grade school, high school, college, and post college, etc.
She is living God’s Story and she is living to tell God’s Story. As Rachel herself said, “the good Lord blessed me with a big mouth and not a hint of shyness” and she was on a mission to put both in full motion to tell His Story, to glorify Him in every way every day. “Jesus is absolutely the love of my life and that is Abundant Life!” To borrow from military jargon, please help us to help Rachel Continue her Mission: Charlie Mike, friends!
Thank you on behalf of Team Rachel for your gifts and prayers.
Surgery was performed Friday February 28, 2020, and lasted 4 ½ hours. Dr. Engh was meticulous in his work, only shaving a small portion of Rachel’s hair and in such a fashion that she is able to cover the incision for the most part. He artfully removed what he said was one of the largest and most aggressive tumors he had ever seen. From words of all, Rachel is a “miracle.” Upon awakening in NICU, Rachel was sitting up, laughing, and talking, surrounded by her sister Teresa “T,” brother Gene, and longtime friend, Pete Oswald. Rachel and the NICU staff “saw the work of Jesus and the love of Christ” through the outpouring of love and the caring support of friends primarily from her Sunday School class at Shandon Baptist Church; she’s amazing, she is so loved. After spending six days in the NICU/hospital, she was transported to friend’s home, Paula Buxton, with “T” by her side for 48 hours to ensure 100% observance and care. Paula graciously gave up her master bedroom and bath to Rachel. After a stay at Paula’s, she was welcomed into another friend’s home, Sherri Becker, to continue her convalescence. She is now in Anderson, SC, with her “sister-like-aunt” Pat Comptom and Pat’s pup Jake, where she will remain for a while. Another part of God’s Story, Pat had just gone through a complicated hip surgery, Rachel was in the midst of a divorce, and then the surgery occurred; so, they are convalescing together, healing each other. Her plans, however, are to be back to her home in Columbia by April 6.
The miraculous story continues. Rachel had worked merely two and a half days at her job with the SC State Corrections Department when she went to the hospital. She had happened to meet her new director while picking up a take-out meal. Ruthie Hooper Bishop, Division Director of Procurement Services for the SC State Corrections Department, was a former high school classmate and a cheerleader with Rachel. Rachel had been hired almost immediately. Ruthie and her colleague, Trina Free, worked tirelessly to secure the medical insurance for Rachel; of course, there are some caveats still to be worked out and an approval by Dr. Engh, but Rachel is living God’s Story.
On March 11th, Rachel had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Engh and Nurse Practitioner, Megan Tolar. Her recovery is going to be very slow, very regimented, very delicate. She has strict instructions to “heal her brain.” She is to use her mind as little as possible, must take numerous naps, and cannot be on task except for brief spans of time; then she must “rest her brain.” These are non-negotiable orders from Dr. Engh. After her initial three MRIs, if all remains clear, she will start having MRIs every two years for the next ten years. Her next scheduled MRI is July 1. Though her future is unclear, her commitment to healing, serving her Lord and repaying the gifts of others during this time is concrete; she IS living God’s Story and doing his WILL into eternity.
Rachel was very skeptical and uncomfortable to have a conversation about a GoFundMe campaign and people spending money on her. Nonetheless, Team Rachel was finally birthed after seeing the vast outpouring of support, willingness, and love for Rachel on social media from classmates, friends, family and many more. Through conversations among Julie Hentz Swink, Jacqueline Foster Ashley, Lisa Moon Roberts, Phil Evans, Mandy Hughes Joyner, Julie Pickens Kowalski, Rachel herself when possible, and myself, Sally Campbell, she at last agreed, especially when Julie H. Swink said to her, “it’s not our money it’s God’s money!” Though some of us have not seen each other since T.L. Hanna High graduation in 1981, no length of time nor distance was going to stand in our way from helping our “fallen soldier.” If your life path has crossed with Rachel’s, then you too have been blessed by her presence. She is one of the most genuine souls you will ever meet. Her smile is endearing, her beauty astounding and ageless, her laughter infectious, and her heart beats in rhythm with her Lord; Rachel is an angel on this great earth. Team Rachel may have started with very few. However, there is truly no identifiable number to the lives she has touched, and so we hope and pray that the number will grow in this campaign to help in the ease of healing with Rachel Tidwell Gause.
Rachel was insistent that additional endearing friends and family be thanked and become a part of Team Rachel unbeknownst to them: Aunt Pat and pup Jake, Terri and Jim Griffin, Pete Oswald, Sherri Becker, Larry Talbert, Meredith Kelly , Tammy Watts, the NICU staff, Dr. Engh, Megan Tolar, her entire Sunday School Class lead by Bruce Phillips and others from her church. Her list will undoubtedly grow, and she will in time thank each and every one of these blessed souls.
The expenses are unknown at this time and one truly cannot place a price tag on healing. Her bills to date are approximately $173,000. The outpouring of help and gifts has been immense from her church and others. Yet, Rachel will have greater unforeseen needs. Some may be life long, - additional surgeries, medicines, therapies, medical aides, transportation help, living arrangements, employment provisions, provisions afforded by Aunt Pat and Jake, etc. Therefore, Team Rachel is asking you to be an active participant in Rachel’s fundraising campaign. Please forward this GoFundMe to any and all groups you and/or Rachel are associated with – Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, churches, volunteer groups, former places of employment, classmates of grade school, high school, college, and post college, etc.
She is living God’s Story and she is living to tell God’s Story. As Rachel herself said, “the good Lord blessed me with a big mouth and not a hint of shyness” and she was on a mission to put both in full motion to tell His Story, to glorify Him in every way every day. “Jesus is absolutely the love of my life and that is Abundant Life!” To borrow from military jargon, please help us to help Rachel Continue her Mission: Charlie Mike, friends!
Thank you on behalf of Team Rachel for your gifts and prayers.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sally Campbell
Organizer
Memphis, TN
Rachel Tidwell Gause
Beneficiary