Let us introduce you to our Dominican friend, Robinson Leyer, and tell you his story. Robinson grew up in El-Seibo, Dominican Republic. He was raised, along with his 6 siblings, by loving parents. Robinson played baseball from early childhood and has always been very gifted in the sport. He saw it as a way to potentially support himself and help his family in the Dominican.

You might be asking, how Robinson is now part of our community? Eight years ago, at the age of 22, Robinson played for the Birmingham Barons in Alabama. A mutual friend asked Mick and Sue Vigneulle about housing Robinson for the season, since minor leaguers make very little money. The Vigneulles opened their home to him that summer. In 2020, he was playing in the minor league for the Boston Red Sox. At the end of that season, he was pulled up to pitch in the big league. He made his debut pitching for the Boston Red Sox during the shortened covid season. He was now pitching up to a whopping 101 mph! Then in 2021, he signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. After the 2021 season ended, he returned to the Dominican to play winter ball.

In November of 2021, on his way to practice, his car hydroplaned and was pierced by a guardrail, severely injuring his pitching arm and his right leg. The first man to arrive on the scene was concerned that Robinson was close to death, so he knelt beside him and told him that it wasn’t too late to know Jesus. The man shared the gospel with Robinson and God used that encounter to help him consider his eternal future. Once the paramedics arrived, Robinson looked for the man, but he was nowhere to be found. Robinson is so thankful that the man took the time to speak the truth to him in that harrowing moment. God used the accident and the realization of his mortality to bring him to a saving knowledge of what Christ sacrificed on the cross for him. Robinson now follows Jesus Christ and desires to live for Him.

The accident brought Robinson’s life, as he knew it, to a screeching halt. He had a lengthy hospital stay along with two surgeries on his arm and leg. Not only did his body develop a bone infection called Osteomyelitis, but a nerve in his pitching arm was also damaged during the second surgery. It is only by God’s grace that he didn’t lose his limbs or even his life from this serious infection. After fighting this infection for well over a year, he realized the help he needed could only be found in the U.S.

Robinson knew a surgeon who lived in Birmingham, so he contacted him for guidance to get the help he so desperately needed. He reached out to Mick and Sue about staying with them as he received medical treatment. Not long after he arrived at their home, they had to travel out of the country for medical treatment for Mick. They asked Dave and Shelly Nielsen if they would be willing to host Robinson. The Nielsens welcomed him into their home with open arms and hearts.

In the 2 1/2 months since he has been here, he has had 2 surgeries on his arm and leg to remove the infection and do a bone graft. He has been receiving IV antibiotics daily for the past 9 weeks. His body is finally healing, and we pray that the damaged nerve will heal in the process. He still has a long road ahead since he is unable to use his arm for the next 8-12 weeks because of the bone graft.

He is thankful for the help, love, and care he has received, but is now facing the reality of his financial situation which also affects his family members back in the DR since he has been unable to work for the past 18 months. He now has looming medical bills and expenses that he is unable to pay. He is both physically and legally unable to work while here in the US.

Our community of friends love this gentle, humble, young man. We have rallied to help, love, and support him while he is here. We want to help get him back on his feet, but we cannot do it alone. After prayerful consideration, we’ve decided to present this need here and see how God uses this fundraising campaign in Robinson’s life.

Please consider giving. ANY amount will help and 100% of the money will go into a separate account for Robinson and will be overseen by Dave and Mick so that it is above reproach and there is full, transparent accountability. We also ask for your prayers that God will show Robinson the next steps for his life after his healing. His visa will expire within the next few months unless he gets a medical extension. We, along with Robinson, trust that God has a plan for his life since he has been told by the doctors that he can no longer play baseball.

If you are led to give but have questions, please feel free to contact Mick Vigneulle at [phone redacted] or Dave Nielsen at 205-365–2788.