Andy Romack, a.k.a. Groundhog, Woodchuck, and variety of other usernames, once a regular on this forum, is desperately in need of prayer.
Some five or six years ago he was badly-injured in an industrial accident involving a massive jolt of static electricity. His condition degenerates steadily; this will kill him in due time, which seems to be precisely what his employer's workman's comp provider is counting on. The treatment given Andy (actually the LACK of treatment, in the medical sense) is criminal.
Last Monday Andy's wife Lois received a phone call, a follow-up to her routine yearly exam; she was informed she has, if I am getting this correct, Stage One breast cancer.
I was at Andy and Lois' house the Wednesday and Thursday right after they received this diagnosis. A few days after I got back home, I received an e-mail -- Lois had gone that morning to her dad's house to pick up his grocery list and do the week's shopping for him. She went into the house to find him dead.
Andy has been a cantankerous SOB at times, but he is at the core a good man. Those who would judge, find his behavior unforgiveable -- review the above and realize that I am leaving out a LOT of ugly detail that I have been privy to, these past several years, in regard to how Andy has been treated -- and if after doing so you can with complete confidence claim that you would have handled it better, risen above all that adversity, I urge you to contact the Roman Catholic Church. I hear they're in need of some more saints.
The rest of us might say a prayer of thanks and then another prayer or several for Andy and Lois, because there, but for the grace and mercy of God, we all go....
Consider it done.
Crap. Had my issues with him but no one deserves this...
Prayers on the way
No one should have to face these things alone, prayers up.
Prayers up!
Quote from: Rev on July 27, 2013
Crap. Had my issues with him but no one deserves this...
Yeah. Talk about kicking a dog when it's down.
I recall going out to Maryland to help Andy pick up his tools from work, once it was established that he wouldn't be going back due to his injuries. No one there helped him, Lois, and me move or load stuff, and finally one of Andy's former co-workers quietly told him that they'd been told in no uncertain terms that if anyone helped him in any way they'd be fired. And I stood there and heard his former boss tell him "a little jolt of electricity" didn't justify all the trouble he was causing over not getting treatment for his injuries, and that if he so much as touched anything on the property that didn't belong to him, he'd be arrested.
People are scum. You don't get me to like you simply by breathing -- you have to demonstrate on some level that you're NOT scum, or that at least you're decent enough for me to tolerate dealing with you. Andy's mistreatment is of a different sort and many times worse than what I've been through, but I've still gotten the short and dirty end of the stick from enough people that I find it fairly easy to forgive Andy the troubles he's caused me, and to feel some measure of his frustration and rage, and to sincerely and devoutly ask prayer on his behalf when maybe a lot of people who know him and me might wonder why I bother to care.
I can understand Mike. Regardless of my own issues with Andy, I still pray for him, and Lois, every day. In light of what you've shared, maybe I should redouble the effort.
Thank you for letting us know.
Prayers up. I have always remeber one of my grandmothers quotes when I have had dealsing with Andy. There but for the Grace of God go I.
prayers up ! know what it`s like when everything goes south at the same time !
I always believed what Christ said about judging others. He who is without sin cast the first stone.
Prayer for Andy and his wife going up from here as well. Thanks for the heads up Mike.
Prayers up for Andy and his family.
Unfortunately, Lois was recently informed that her breast cancer was larger than initially thought. Looks like a lumpetomy is no longer going to do it. Prayers for them both.
Prayers Up from My household - If Andy's site is still up and running pass our members wishes over to that area please.
On my Prayer List... Tim
praying that God will put a healing on them, and placing a hedge of protection around them.
Prayers up for those touched by this!
On mine too.
As a Roman Catholic, we have TOO many Saint's Mike!
I too will be praying for Mr. Andy and his wife. We must remember that all of us,at times, can be a real PITA! You have to admire Andy for keeping his ground and being true to himself.
When these things hit folks, we have to put aside ALL negatives and ask for God's help in easing the burdon of others. His love does concure all.
I know personally how an employer can really put the screws to you. I was "ran over" by a semi in '09, many surgery's to get back to "normal", on company time, in a company vehicle. My injuries were because I was old(55 at the time).
I do pray for his healing!
Sorry to hear of his continuing worsening problems....been following this for a long time and remember when Andy blew up and dropped off the site...Got on his private e-mail and discused life with him..several of us are or can be just as tired of lifes treatments and our 'fellow man' who will just a s soon screw you as look at you..
Will still be thinking of Andy and wife and praying for settlement one way or another. Remember when Old Salt was spry and active here..wish life was fair to us all....
Doug
Prayer on the way
Lois has undergone surgery for what turned out to be considerably worse cancer than the initial diagnosis indicated. Without going into excessively personal detail, the extent of the procedure could rightfully be called devastating. Please keep up the good thoughts -- the recovery process for Lois and Andy both is liable to be rough.
Again without going into detail as to why I say this -- I wish, even when they were trying to be reassuring, doctors would cease and desist expressing opinions and even likelihoods as actual facts. I maintain one of the few actual FACTS that anyone knows about cancer, is that even the best scientific and medical minds are still guessing and experimenting, and don't have near as many answers as it will take to be able to, for instance, find an actual cure, or to be telling patients things that actually they're not qualified to say with any certainty.
Maybe this is just me, and someone else would prefer it otherwise, but I would much rather be given an honest "maybe" or "I don't know" than be told something as a certainty to be given hope, and literally overnight find that it just wasn't so. The shock of being diagnosed with some form of cancer would be bad enough -- let me absorb the fact of what's wrong with me and the most HONEST information about what I face.
Thanks for the update Mike. Prayers will continue. May the Holy Spirit heal and comfort them both.
You got it.
And from our camp!
It's gonna be a long painful road so we have added the Womacks to our daily prayer list...
I lost my Dad to Cancer and both my Grandparents I agree with what Mike said about Doc's telling the truth and not reassuring gibberish... Give it to me straight.
Prayers on the way.
sorry to hear of their hardship, they will be in my prayers.
Andy was always friendly and helpful in my case. He did get frustrated with life, but it is totally understandable. I am pulling for him and his lovely wife!
Oh and he also made a beautiful shooting pouch (wish I had one of his).
Bruce
Some people seem to be a magnet for problems.They have my best wishes and prayers.I will second the motion about Doctors stating facts and forget the eyewash.Thats the reason I go to the Doctor I do.I have had two colon surgeries for cancer the last one 15 years ago,I was very fortunate.
I will do. I hope he finds peace.
Prayers added