Help and Healing for Philip
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It’s difficult to find the words and the courage to share the most intimate details of our family’s current situation. However, I realize that pride is the only reason that we have not shared this with those who care about us the most, and I will no longer allow my pride to be a stumbling block. Our family is experiencing circumstances that are out of our control and I choose to stop holding so tightly to the reigns of our life that I leave no room for blessing and provision.
Before I share our circumstances, I feel that it is important for our friends to truly understand the caliber of man that I am trying to hold up during the most difficult time of his life. Philip has been my rock for 15 years. He has grounded me when worries, stress, or insignificant things have blown me off course. He postponed his education to financially support me while obtaining my Master’s degree. When God moved us to West Tennessee, Philip commuted to Nashville each Monday morning and worked away from home all week for the income to allow me to stay home with our children. Finally, after the birth of our fourth child, he left his 10-year position as Healthcare Director to accept a local position to be present in the responsibilities of raising our children. This meant accepting a sales position at a local car dealership, which was far from the income or work environment that was familiar to him. Even so, he has never complained, never regretted his decision, and never stopped loving us from the bottom of his heart!
All the time that Philip has worked to put his family, ministry, and community before himself, he has experienced serious physical struggles. He has suffered from severe and often debilitating headaches that have progressed over the past 20 years. During the last 2 years, however, the headaches have become so severe that simple tasks like lifting our 1 year old or bending to tie his shoes are excruciating and almost impossible. He often loses his balance and struggles to stay on his feet while walking around corners. He experiences severe pain in his head, neck, and back every single day without any known way to relieve this pain. Some days the pain is so severe that he becomes physically sick. His physical condition forced him to take medical leave without pay 7 weeks ago. During this time, we have met with doctor after doctor and he has undergone a variety of testing. Philip was diagnosed in April of this year with a brain malformation with which symptoms worsen with age. He has been told that he would need brain surgery where doctors would permanently remove part of his skull and operate on the base of his brain. However, there is conflicting information which requires further testing. Most recently, doctors have recommended the Mayo Clinic as Philip’s best chance to get a complete, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan, yet funding for the trip and medical expenses associated with such an endeavor seems insurmountable.
While I can’t help him physically and I struggle to help him mentally and emotionally, I know that financial help would greatly relieve much of the stress and guilt that he feels for not being able to provide the basic needs of his family. Over the past several weeks, my mind has been drawn to the scripture (Exodus 17:12) in which Aaron and Hur held the hands of Moses in battle when he no longer had the strength in himself. It was the support of Aaron and Hur that allowed a victory for the Israelites. I am reaching out to our friends, not because we want a hand out, but because I don’t know any other way to help lift the financial burden from the man that I love so dearly and the man that has loved so selflessly. Your prayers and financial support would quite honestly hold our family up in a time when we can no longer support ourselves. Your acts of kindness will not stop with us, because we understand that we are God’s hands and feet and we will never receive a blessing that we do not pay forward. Thank you in advance for your love, support, and prayers!
Before I share our circumstances, I feel that it is important for our friends to truly understand the caliber of man that I am trying to hold up during the most difficult time of his life. Philip has been my rock for 15 years. He has grounded me when worries, stress, or insignificant things have blown me off course. He postponed his education to financially support me while obtaining my Master’s degree. When God moved us to West Tennessee, Philip commuted to Nashville each Monday morning and worked away from home all week for the income to allow me to stay home with our children. Finally, after the birth of our fourth child, he left his 10-year position as Healthcare Director to accept a local position to be present in the responsibilities of raising our children. This meant accepting a sales position at a local car dealership, which was far from the income or work environment that was familiar to him. Even so, he has never complained, never regretted his decision, and never stopped loving us from the bottom of his heart!
All the time that Philip has worked to put his family, ministry, and community before himself, he has experienced serious physical struggles. He has suffered from severe and often debilitating headaches that have progressed over the past 20 years. During the last 2 years, however, the headaches have become so severe that simple tasks like lifting our 1 year old or bending to tie his shoes are excruciating and almost impossible. He often loses his balance and struggles to stay on his feet while walking around corners. He experiences severe pain in his head, neck, and back every single day without any known way to relieve this pain. Some days the pain is so severe that he becomes physically sick. His physical condition forced him to take medical leave without pay 7 weeks ago. During this time, we have met with doctor after doctor and he has undergone a variety of testing. Philip was diagnosed in April of this year with a brain malformation with which symptoms worsen with age. He has been told that he would need brain surgery where doctors would permanently remove part of his skull and operate on the base of his brain. However, there is conflicting information which requires further testing. Most recently, doctors have recommended the Mayo Clinic as Philip’s best chance to get a complete, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan, yet funding for the trip and medical expenses associated with such an endeavor seems insurmountable.
While I can’t help him physically and I struggle to help him mentally and emotionally, I know that financial help would greatly relieve much of the stress and guilt that he feels for not being able to provide the basic needs of his family. Over the past several weeks, my mind has been drawn to the scripture (Exodus 17:12) in which Aaron and Hur held the hands of Moses in battle when he no longer had the strength in himself. It was the support of Aaron and Hur that allowed a victory for the Israelites. I am reaching out to our friends, not because we want a hand out, but because I don’t know any other way to help lift the financial burden from the man that I love so dearly and the man that has loved so selflessly. Your prayers and financial support would quite honestly hold our family up in a time when we can no longer support ourselves. Your acts of kindness will not stop with us, because we understand that we are God’s hands and feet and we will never receive a blessing that we do not pay forward. Thank you in advance for your love, support, and prayers!
Organizer
Crystal Rickenbaker
Organizer
Henderson, TN
