About a year ago (as many know) my step-father underwent neurosurgery to remove a large tumor from the base of his brain (Read more here). Though a dramatic success, the surgery also damaged several of Gerry's facial nerves, effectively paralyzing half of his face, leaving him with the effects of many stroke victims. Half of his face droops, he is unable to close one eye-lid, and his speech is slurred (though getting better over time).

The hope was that these key nerves would grow back and Gerry would slowly regain the use of half of his face over time. Well, this did not happen. One year later nothing has changed. One can imagine the impact this has had on Gerry, a marriage and family therapist, who speaks face-to-face with people for a living.

The reconstructive surgery took place last Tuesday, April 22nd. Facial muscles and tissue were tightened and manipulated to create symmetry. More work also was done on his facial nerves. Gerry is doing very well. My mother is continually adding at his blog: http://gerryschaffner.blogspot.com/

I'd like to help! Being out of work for 6 months last year, and several more weeks as a result of this surgery, finances are a challenge for my family. We are doing everything we can to help during this difficult time. If you would like to help them financially as well, here is what you can do (God did amazing things through His people helping my family keep their house over those last six months without work):

First Baptist Church of Forest Grove (Gerry and Debbie's home church) has set up a special fund for Gerry and Debbie through the church. If someone would like to donate to this they can send a check, but they must do the following:

• Make the check out to First Baptist Church Forest Grove, but do not designate on the check who or what it is for. Instead...
• Send a note with the check that it is for the special fund for Gerry and Debbie. (Apparently, money sent to the church on behalf of someone cannot be designated as such on the check itself. Apparently this is some IRS tax code/law for churches. The individual needs to include a seperate note for its intended purpose.)
• Church Address:

First Baptist Church Forest Grove

2224 15th Avenue

Forest Grove, OR 97116

• The check can be sent to the attention of Gretchen Brown, their bookkeeper.

Here is a list of prayer request my mother posted at Gerry's blog:

• continued healing
• rapid nerve growth
• leaning on God's strength
• finances
• counseling clients after recovery

Thank you for your calls and prayers. You are so supportive. As I watched many families deal with crisis, I was so thankful for you, but mostly for our Lord, who is in control, and who gives us strength and peace.

PHOTO (below): Gerry at my brother and sister's track meet prior to the surgery:

PHOTO (below): Gerry in good spirits immediately after the surgery.

PHOTO (below): Gerry doing a little light reading the day after the surgery (Psychology journals and periodicals are what he considers light reading).