Some people come into your life and, before you even realize it, become part of your family. For us, that is the Walker family.

Nine years ago, while our family of six was exhausted, sweaty, and in the middle of moving into our new home, a woman we had never met walked right through our door to welcome us to the neighborhood. She was bubbly, joyful, and so genuinely happy to meet us that we could hardly believe it. How could one person possibly be that happy on a hot July day, especially at the sight of four new neighborhood kids and all the chaos that was sure to follow?

That woman was NanaSue.

We quickly learned that, yes, one person really can carry that much joy. She really can care that deeply about people and want to be part of the ordinary, everyday moments that make up a life. And, in the very best way possible, she never left our lives or our hearts.

Her husband, Kevin, is her ideal counterpart: quiet, steady, kind, and the sort of neighbor you know you can count on. Their son Adam and our youngest, Ryland, became best friends practically the day we moved in. Over the years, we have had the privilege of growing alongside the Walker family, sharing graduations, baseball games, school plays, Bible studies, weeks at camp, growing-up milestones, family adventures, and countless ordinary days that have become extraordinary memories.

One of our first meals together involved a meatloaf I had shaped like a foot. Kevin’s expression was absolutely priceless. I think he understood right then why NanaSue and I, along with Adam and Ryland, had found one another. We were a pretty perfect combination of crazy, happy, and joyful.

These are the people we are talking about. People who have become woven into the fabric of our family's life. People we love.

A family who has spent a lifetime showing up for others.

NanaSue and Kevin met at Eastern University, where she was studying theology and he was the quieter guy who needed an outgoing girl to show him around campus. They married soon after college and moved to Vermont, following a calling to support young people in crisis.

That calling has shaped their lives ever since.

NanaSue has devoted herself to ministry, serving churches in Philadelphia and later as a pastor here in Lancaster. Kevin has built his career in social services and executive leadership in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, dedicating himself to helping people find their way forward when life feels overwhelming and the path ahead is difficult to see. His work has included traveling from New Hampshire multiple times a month to support the mission while providing for his family.

Their lives have been marked by compassion, faith, service, and a deep commitment to helping others find hope.

Now, this family needs us.

A medical crisis that changed everything.

On Monday evening, Kevin began showing signs of a stroke and was rushed by ambulance to Lancaster General Hospital. Doctors believe an irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation (AFib), led to a blood clot traveling to his brain and causing the stroke. Around the same time, Kevin also aspirated, possibly inhaling food into his lungs.

While preparing for a procedure to remove the clot, Kevin's heart stopped. His medical team immediately began CPR and administered medications to restart his heart. He also required an electrical shock to restore his heart's rhythm.

Kevin is now in critical condition in the ICU. Because his oxygen levels dropped dangerously low, he has needed ECMO support, which oxygenates his blood while his heart and lungs recover, along with a ventilator to help him breathe.

There are encouraging signs, and we are holding tightly to every one of them. His ECMO oxygen support has begun to decrease, doctors are working to reduce his ventilator support, and his CT scan showed no bleeding or swelling in his brain. He has also been moving his arms and legs and opening his eyes when his family calls his name.

We are praying fervently for healing.

But there is still so much uncertainty. Once Kevin is stable enough to come off these machines, doctors plan to move him to the Neuro ICU for further evaluation. Additional testing will help determine the extent of any brain injury and what his recovery may look like. His family does not yet know what the road ahead will hold for his ability to walk, talk, eat, or return to the life he knows.

The days and weeks ahead will bring difficult decisions, waiting, and a long road of recovery. Through it all, NanaSue and their boys are holding on to faith, hope, and the love surrounding them.

This is where we come in.

We all know that life can change in an instant. A family can spend years pouring into others, working hard, raising their children, serving their community, and doing their very best to build a life together—and still find themselves facing circumstances they could never have anticipated.

The Walker family is facing one of those moments.

As Kevin fights to recover, we want to help ease the practical and financial burdens that come with a medical crisis of this magnitude. The uncertainty of his recovery, the time and energy required to be by his side, and the everyday needs of their family are a great deal to carry while navigating so much at once.

We cannot take away the uncertainty. We cannot make this road easier medically. But we can help make sure this family has the support, resources, and breathing room they need to focus on what matters most: Kevin's recovery and caring for one another.

Every donation, no matter the amount, will help surround the Walker family with tangible support during this incredibly difficult season. If you are unable to give financially, sharing this fundraiser and continuing to pray for Kevin, NanaSue, and their boys means more than you know.

For nine years, we have had the privilege of doing life alongside this family. We have celebrated their joys, shared their ordinary days, and watched them extend love and compassion to so many people.

Now it is our turn to show up for them.

Let's surround Kevin, NanaSue, Andrew, Aaron, and Adam with the same love they have so freely given to others. Let's remind them that they are not walking this road alone.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for loving this family, for praying for Kevin's healing, and for helping carry them through whatever comes next.

With love, faith, and hope for Kevin's recovery.