Miracle of Miracles! Nanci is going home. Help is needed more than ever!

Miracles do happen. After seven months of grueling work—setbacks, restarts, and sheer persistence—Nanci is coming home with Pat to South Bend. We can’t begin to thank everyone who has already supported Nanci and Pat through this site, helping fund the bathroom remodel and Pat’s trips back and forth between Grand Rapids and South Bend.

Now we’re asking for help again—this is a true call to action.
Coming home is a huge milestone, but it also changes Pat and Nanci’s financial needs in a big way. Pat will need ongoing help to manage Nanci’s daily care while continuing to make the house more accessible and workable for both of them. Nanci will need continued physical and cognitive therapy, feeding tube formula, and other medical equipment and supplies.If you’re able, please donate whatever you can today. Recurring donations (even small monthly gifts) would make an enormous difference in helping them keep up with therapy, supplies, and the remaining home accessibility work. Every gift helps.

And if you’re local, visits are always welcome—community support in every form matters right now. Thanks! Nancy C for Pat and Nancy

On Friday, August 22nd, Nanci and Pat Zehner were riding bikes on vacation in Cincinnati, Ohio. Nanci had an accident and suffered several fractures in addition to a traumatic brain injury. She is currently at the University of Cincinnati's ICU. Her hometown is South Bend, IN, and she is unable to be moved for the foreseeable future. The road to recovery will be long and slow, and we are all praying for a full recovery.

As she undergoes treatment and recovery, we are all rallying together to offer prayers, positive vibes, and most importantly, financial support. The medical expenses combined with additional costs for her care have created, and will continue to create, a significant burden. Pat traveling from South Bend to Cincinnati alone is a significant expense.

If you are able, please consider donating to help cover these expenses. Every contribution, big or small, will make a meaningful difference in Nanci's recovery journey. Let's come together to support Nanci and her family during this challenging time.

Update 9/15/25

Dear Rally for Nanci Supporters,

We are thrilled to share some wonderful news about Nanci! Thanks to your generous contributions and unwavering support, she has shown significant improvement in her responses to Pat, her Doctors and all of her visitors. And as of this writing she is off the ventilator!

Nanci has been moved to Ascension Borgess Pipp hospital in Plainwell MI (70 miles from her home in South Bend), to continue her road of coming back to Pat and all of us. She is beginning to respond to voices and friendly touches g and appears to hear everyone talking to and encouraging her.

Nanci’s journey, and making it possible for Pat to navigate all of the unforeseen challenges in his supporting role. We are incredibly grateful for all the love and support. We will continue to keep you updated on Nanci’s progress!

Thank you once again for being part of Nanci’s support network.

With gratitude,

Nancy C