UPDATE 6/9/2025

As you can see, from the updates that Sarah has posted on this page, Barry and Sarah’s life has taken a drastic turn since Barry’s surgery in September. What they believed to be a 6-12 week recovery has turned into a lifelong journey. The past 8 months have been a continuous struggle for Barry and Sarah.

It is believed that Barry suffered a spinal stroke as a result of his surgery. The 2 week Mayo Clinic visit (Minnesota), turned into a 71 day stay. He has endured months of Physical Therapy, both in-patient and out-patient. He has worked hard to relearn basic and daily tasks in order to live at home with Sarah. He lost his job because of this spinal cord injury. Due to daily needs, Sarah is also unable to work at this time. Currently, they are living on Social Security Disability payments. They feel very blessed that it was approved quickly and there was only a 5 monthwaiting period. Thankfully, they were able to keep his insurance, but it is through Cobra. It adds a significant burden to their monthly budget.

Barry has had a chronic form of Leukemia for over 3 years. It has been controlled by a daily oral chemo pill. However, in October, while in Rehab, concerning leukemia numbers were found

in his routine bloodwork. This new information led to more bone marrow biopsies and a new diagnosis of a much more serious form of Leukemia, AML.

Each day has brought new challenges, whether financial, medically or emotionally. They have spiritually remained loyal and faithful to God. But frankly, they need help. If you can’t give, please remember them in your prayers and share this on your Facebook page. In sharing this

you are helping them so much. If anyone needs references for this family, please reach out to me and I will be happy to provide those.

Update 10/9/2024. The Fultz family and myself are very grateful for your generosity and as hard as it is to increase the amount and ask for your help again I feel we must. The need has become so great due to the spinal cord injury that the amount we first requested will nowhere near meet the immediate needs: Barry will need to be off longer and more equipment will be needed when they return home.

Please read Sarah's updates if you have not which can better help you understand what they are facing. If you can't give, please remember them in your prayers and share this daily on your Facebook page. In sharing this you are helping them so much. If anyone needs references for this family please reach to me and I'll provide those.

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Seventeen years ago, our Birmingham neurosurgeons refused to operate on tumors in Barry's neck and it turned out to be a huge blessing to us! They guaranteed us he would be paralyzed from the neck down and IF he didn't need a ventilator for the rest of his life it would be successful. That was not our definition of success. After much prayer, encouragement and help in finding other doctors, we landed at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Dr. Keegan and Dr. Krauss were the answer to our prayers. Dr. Krauss did the surgery. The tumors are located at the base of brain and top of the spine. They are benign, but very destructive. He debulked the tumors and told us we should get 10 years out of the surgery. Now 17 years later, we are headed back. The tumors have grown back and are compressing the spinal canal and cord. Unfortunately, there are new tumors as well that are causing problems. It is a complex surgery with many variables that we just won't know about until he is recovering. Due to the complicated nature of this surgery and his high risk for a spinal fluid leak, we will remain in Minnesota for a couple of weeks following the surgery. The neurosurgery team has told us to expect Barry to be off work for 6 weeks.

Barry also deals with a chronic form of leukemia which further complicates the surgery and recovery. Please pray for wise decisions to be made regarding his treatment plan for his CML as well as these spinal tumors. Please pray as we travel back to Minnesota in late September for his surgery. Please pray for our children who are not able to be with us in Minnesota