Andy

[mongrel]

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....

[Dogshirt]

Consider it done.

[Rev]

Crap. Had my issues with him but no one deserves this...

[pilgrim]

      Prayers on the way

[hotfxr]

No one should have to face these things alone, prayers up.

[Otter]

Prayers up!

[mongrel]

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.

[dfoster]

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.

[old salt]

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.

[beowulf]

prayers up ! know what it`s like when everything goes south at the same time !

[Hawken50]

    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.

[William]

Prayers up for Andy and his family.

[Baldy]

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.

[Red Badger]

Prayers Up from My household -  If Andy's site is still up and running pass our members wishes over to that area please.

[Tim Burns]

On my Prayer List... Tim