Mobility for Colleague in need

Hello, my name is Woody Spackman, a retired educator with the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) and a colleague of Joe Whitwell who has served the United Methodist Church and the ACPE for over 60 years. As a pastoral educator and pastoral counselor, Joe has helped countless persons in crisis of personhood and identify. In 2016 Joe had a tragic fall which has left him without the use of his lower extremities plunging him into both a physical and spiritual crisis. After extensive rehab he has regained his cognitive functions and spirit; but requires extensive physical and mobility assistance. Joe’s wife and family has arisen to the occasion and serves him daily along with some medical care assistance. Due to the extensive past and continuing medical costs which are not covered by our current medical system, resources are simply not available to meet some of the most important needs such as social interaction, transportation and medicines. It’s safe to say Joe and his family have exhausted most of the family reserves.

One of his most pressing needs is an accessible vehicle that can allow him access to medical care and opportunities for spiritual and social engagement. After discharge from rehab, Joe and his family were able to purchase an old but usable accessible van. Now this van has reached a state of unreliability and requires almost constant maintenance. The truth is that it is now dangerous having stranded him in an incapacitated condition.

I have felt compelled to help him live out his life able as much as possible to live out what he hoped for others, health, engagement and hope. Lacking government or insurance resources, I have turned to his church and with the endorsement of the ACPE Professional Well-being Committee, professional colleagues to assist him through funding an adequate and reliable van. Part of my motivation comes from the help I received many years ago when I needed help to provide similar access resources for my daughter.

Humbly, I ask each of you to join me in reaching into our abundance and giving possibilities and hope to our dear colleague.