Rally for the Ropers

Hello, my name is Heather McNeal and I’m trying to raise money and awareness to help everyone Rally for the Roper family.

Charity Hooper Spearman and Josh Roper have been together for over four years and (between them) they have 8 children. They love living in the home Josh built for them, out in the country. They are some of the kindest, funniest, most genuine and God fearing people you would ever meet.

Just a few weeks ago Josh asked Charity to officially become his wife. She was elated and accepted and they had only just began their wedding planning when Josh became very ill. 

On December 14, 2021, Charity had to call an ambulance to come for her husband, Josh Roper. Being a diabetic, when he had became unresponsive, she called the paramedics and they took him to the hospital where he was admitted to the MICU.

Josh was in Diabetic ketoacidosis (also known as DKA), experiencing stroke-like symptoms (with left sided weakness), seizures, very high blood pressure and high blood sugars.

After ruling out a heart attack, a CT scan was ordered on the 16th to help them determine what was the source of his problems.

Unfortunately, the CT scan showed a large dark spot on the right side of Josh’s brain. At this point a neurosurgeon was immediately called in to consult and an MRI was ordered. Meanwhile, Josh was still having a lot of nausea and vomiting, elevated blood pressure and blood sugar as well as a horrific headache.

On December 17, the MRI showed a very large brain tumor that was covering the majority of the right side of Josh’s brain and had spread to the left side as well. The surgeon explained to Charity that an immediate craniotomy needed to be done then. He hoped to be able to remove 90-95% of the tumor. They would send a biopsy off to get a quick result as well as a more detailed pathology assessment of it.

During the surgery, unfortunately he was not able to get as much of the tumor as he had hoped to. The rapid result showed that the tumor was malignant and confirmed they were dealing with a brain cancer.

Josh remains in the ICU and Charity is there at every visiting hour. At this point they are still waiting to hear back from the pathology report that will tell them what type, grade, etc his brain cancer is.

As of December 21st, Josh still is in the ICU. He is still only semi-conscience, but is aware that he does have cancer. He is confused, in a great deal of pain, battling the nausea and vomiting. Although they both know and trust that the Lord, the ultimate healer, has Josh in his hands, he is ready to fight this, but is understandably scared.

Although it isn’t exactly the wedding they had in mind, they are in the works of having their wedding, right there in the hospital, just as soon as it can be arranged in the coming days. 

If any of you have spent an extended amount of time in the hospital or had a family member do so, then you know how rapidly the expenses add up. Besides the medical bills alone, gas, food, mortgage, car payments, utilities, the children's needs, they all add up.

With Christmas just a few days away, please consider making a donation, if you feel led to do so. Any amount you can give will be so tremendously appreciated and helpful. With so many things that we can’t physically do to help them, this IS something we can do that will help them.

If you are not able to make a donation, please share this as much as you can. We want as many people that can to help us as we Rally for the Ropers.

In closing, everyone please also pray for this precious family. Charity, Josh, and all of us trust and know that the Lord, our God, is sovereign. He is our ultimate physician, the ultimate healer. We pray that he heals Josh, gives him and Charity the strength and perseverance that they’ll need to fight this thing head on. We know where two or more gather in HIS name, He is there also. We pray that His will be done. We pray for every tech, nurse, doctor, and surgeon that is involved with Josh’s care.

Thank you, in advance, for helping us. May God bless you and keep you and your families as you join us, by coming together to RALLY for the ROPERS!