Gone Fishin

It is with great sadness that we post this letter from Barbara. As we have more information we will post it. Thank you.




There is no easy way to do this. I have been trying to call our friends but I just can't seem to stop the tears long enough to make any sense. The word is begining to spread and I wanted to let you all know that God has taken my warrior. He fought so hard but he became too sick to fight any longer. He died last evening while I was holding his hand. He was peaceful and was not struggling for breath. He was so brave. Everyone knows that all he wanted was to be given a chance. I am so happy that he was granted that wish. His lung transplant was a success.
Our children Carolyn and Joe, my sister Bunny, my brother Bill and his wife Pat, and Bob's sister Mary Agnes are here with me. No arrangements have been made yet. I will need to complete things here and pack up the suite before I can return home. I hope to be able to be home by Saturday or Sunday. Arrangements in Lewes will be handled by Parsell. There is so much more I would like to say but it is just to hard right now. I thought it would be easier than phoning but I can't see to type anymore. Thank you all of your help and encouragement. I read him your notes and cards and I just know how much it meant to him.
Barb

One step at a time

From Barbara.

Good Morning,
A lot has happened since my last update.I only thought it fair that I let everyone know. During the past 24hrs., Bob has had a major upset. He has had to have an unplanned emergency surgery for what they are calling ischemic colitis. This is a condition that can be caused my a number of factors related to his disease and surgery. He has had to have a bowel resection. He appeared to be responding to the treatment when he again became distressed and was taken in to surgery again. More resection. He is having a real struggle and is now once more back in the ER for treatment.
He was doing so well and we were so pleased. We knew it would be a hard fight and he is a real fighter but this has turned into a battle.
Please keep him (us) in your prayers.
Barb

What a difference a day makes

"Bobby, wake up, wake up Bobby......"  These were the words Mary Agnes spoke to Bobby yesterday.  Amidst the tubes and monitors, beeps and buzzes of ICU, the kind and gentle sister yelled at her brother.  As she asked him, "Can you hear me?"  He nodded.  She said "Bobby, Barbara and I are here, you got your lungs!  You got your lungs!"  She had him nod back and forth and up and down and he listened to her (let's be honest, that was a miracle in itself!)

So the road ahead is long, full of unforeseen pitfalls and challenges, but it is the road forward.  This is the long and windy road back to the beach and to his fishing spot.  He wouldn't have had the success he has had so far without the love and support of friends and family like each one of you.

This weekend is Mother's Day.  Sitting up in the ICU with Bobby are two of the world's best mothers.  Two women who have sat together, cried together, and waited and waited and waited for Bobby to slowly recover.  Yesterday they enjoyed seeing him begin to respond.  It was a joyful day and surely one of many more to come.

Happy Mother's Day!

Life... It's not a sprint it's a marathon

This past weekend was the Pittsburgh marathon... It seemed so appropriate given the marathon Bobby is running right now in this journey for his lungs.....

We are now one week and a day from new lungs and Bobby is still fighting.  He is using his lungs well every day.  His heart is working hard to keep up with the demand of these new lungs and slowly slowly slowly he is healing.  He is still kept asleep and on a ventilator to allow the slow healing and recovery process to continue... Life is a marathon... It takes energy and commitment and the prayers and support of loving friends and family. 

Barbara has made many new friends while in Pittsburgh.  She has grown a supportive network of friends who share their own stories of the marathons they are running in life.  She also has lots of family coming to sit with her and with Bobby.  She has her Sister-in-Law with her, nieces have come to visit, and today her niece Sarah (yet another favorite niece) and daughter Carolyn are visiting! 

This is a beautiful time of year, spring is here, good weather and good fishing awaits.  Thank you so much for all your prayers and words of encouragement.  Bobby is running, slowly and surely he is moving forward in his marathon of life.  Thanks you for your cheers from the sidelines!  Keep up the noise it makes it so much easier when you have folks cheering you on.

All in good time

Here are some words from Barb.


Greetings,
I thought it was about time for another update. The past few days have been a little difficult. Bob has hit a couple of rough patches since he received his transplant on Monday. At the time of transplant, the surgeons had elected to leave his chest open and support his new lungs and his heart on a system called ECMO. On Wednesday, he was taken backand his chest was closed and the ECMO was removed His lungs were pink and soft and working well. His heart was having difficulty adjusting. It had been working so hard to push oxygen into his lungs ,so like any muscle ,the exercise had enlarged the right side. So basically, he ended up with a very tight situation in a very small chest cavity. He has a very small chest cavity due to his size, his age, and the disease. Closing the chest seemed to cause compression and a very unhappy heart. After working to try and get him back to a normal rhythm, the decision was made last night to re-open the chest. Today he seems to be doing better. He is still asleep and will be for several more days. They continue to monitor him closely.
This is an awesome facility and he is receiving such good care. You know that he is a fighter and will do whatever is asked of him. We knew going in to this that it would be a rough road. There would be ups and downs. We have not been disappointed. We are now 5 days from transplant
Thank you all for your support and concerns. I really enjoy reading your emails and all of the encouragement you send.I will try to keep you informed as best I can. I realize that when time goes by without news it can cause concerns so I will do my best.
Carolyn is working on a way so that you can access information and send messages. Hopefully, she will have it together soon.
Barb

All in good time

Here are some words from Barb.


Greetings,
I thought it was about time for another update. The past few days have been a little difficult. Bob has hit a couple of rough patches since he received his transplant on Monday. At the time of transplant, the surgeons had elected to leave his chest open and support his new lungs and his heart on a system called ECMO. On Wednesday, he was taken backand his chest was closed and the ECMO was removed His lungs were pink and soft and working well. His heart was having difficulty adjusting. It had been working so hard to push oxygen into his lungs ,so like any muscle ,the exercise had enlarged the right side. So basically, he ended up with a very tight situation in a very small chest cavity. He has a very small chest cavity due to his size, his age, and the disease. Closing the chest seemed to cause compression and a very unhappy heart. After working to try and get him back to a normal rhythm, the decision was made last night to re-open the chest. Today he seems to be doing better. He is still asleep and will be for several more days. They continue to monitor him closely.
This is an awesome facility and he is receiving such good care. You know that he is a fighter and will do whatever is asked of him. We knew going in to this that it would be a rough road. There would be ups and downs. We have not been disappointed. We are now 5 days from transplant
Thank you all for your support and concerns. I really enjoy reading your emails and all of the encouragement you send.I will try to keep you informed as best I can. I realize that when time goes by without news it can cause concerns so I will do my best.
Carolyn is working on a way so that you can access information and send messages. Hopefully, she will have it together soon.
Barb

Never Doubt

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

You all are amazing!  Tonight I had the pleasure of speaking with Mindy, Bobby's nurse in the Cardio-Thoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU).  Her consistent message was, we are all here to make sure that Barbara and all her family understand everything going on with Bobby.  UPMC is an amazing place!  Every doctor, nurse, physical therapist, pharmacist, respiratory therapist and many many more are here for Bobby.  They let Barbara know the plan for the day, the week and the month.  Right now the plan is to get his kidneys working at full pace (apparently they did not get the message that Bobby has a fishing date on 1 June) and keep his lungs fluffy and pink and providing him oxygen day after day. His heart is strong and doing as much as it can to keep the Bobby machine moving forward!  He is doing very well and progressing exactly as the doctors predicted.  We do have to remember he is pretty old... He is a Christ Our King graduate, after all!

So, to each one of you... Bobby is doing exactly what the U Pitt Docs and staff want, he is slowly getting better and better.  We still need you prayers, your love, your support and he cannot wait to see you in Delaware when he is able to return home in a few months.  You are all so  amazing!  Keep sending your pictures so we can put them on his wall! 

The Gift of Life

April was Organ Donor appreciation month and on the last day of April our hero, Bobby Romspert was forever tied to the life of another, a generous donor who gave him life and breath!  He is truly a fighter.  He underwent over 12 hours of surgery, returned from the OR with an open chest with an ECMO machine providing oxygen and resting his heart.  He recovered nicely, went back today to the OR for 4 hours to remove the ECMO, and his heart is beating well on its own.  Per his surgeon, his new lungs are fluffy and pink and full of wonderful air!  He is a fighter and a man with a mission.  There is a fishing spot waiting for him on the Eastern Shore and many a friend to spend some time with him there, I am sure.

We have no idea who the generous family is who allowed Bobby to be given the gift of life, but we are forever thankful and honored that he or she was so generous to share their greatest gift with us. 

Bobby's favorite nieces, Colleen, Sharon, and I had the opportunity to drive to University of Pittsburgh and visit with him this past weekend.  We spent some amazing time with him, Barbara and Mary Agnes.  We laughed, we cried, and we enjoyed just having time to talk.  Little did we know that he would get those wonderful breaths of air only a day later.  He and I had a couple of quiet hours on Friday morning... as he struggled for every breath... All he could keep saying was how much he appreciated the thoughts, prayers and incredible generosity of his amazing friends and family.  He couldn't believe how much you all have done.  His love and thanks for each one of you, for all you have done to support he and Barbara was ever present on his mind.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The Christmas Miracle

Each one of you is amazing!  We have raised over 15000$ helping to support two amazing people!  At present Bobby is still patiently waiting, waiting, waiting.... but it is the prayers and support of each one of you that makes this journey possible. 

I thought perhaps today, I would tell you the story of a miracle, perhaps to inspire hope and a miracle for Bobby and Barbara....  See, every year in our family Bobby and Barbara host THE FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY.  It's truly the event of the year.  Its a family affair with several generations of relatives and extremely close friends.  There is amazing food prepared by all.  There are special gifts for all the kids, lovingly chosen by Aunt Barb, gift exchanges for adults, gifts from the favorite niece, and way back when Bobby's parents Willis AKA "Pop" and Mary were alive, there was at least one bottle of Old Overholt or Jim Beam under the tree.

So, one year long, long ago, at 801 Seville, Pop was sitting in his official recliner at the party.  The gift giving was in full swing.  Kids were opening gifts, wrapping paper was piling up and laughter was heard everywhere.  As gifts were being handed out there was a special one just for Pop... He slowly opened it up, held it high and proclaimed "Jim Beam, now that's sippin' whiskey!"  His eyes were twinkling like Santa.  The men in the room laughed knowingly and took the bottle from him for safe keeping.  As the gift giving continued another similarly wrapped package came Pops way.  He opened this one, addressed from a neighbor in Connecticut, held it high and repeated "More Sippin Whiskey!"  This bottle too was removed for "safe keeping."  Over the next hour of gift exchanges Pop had the good fortune of opening several more of these bottles.  Some cleverly wrapped in trash bags, recycled gift wrap or barely wrapped at all.  They were from a myriad of givers, the pets in the family, long lost relatives, deceased relatives, neighbors from long ago... magically, mysteriously, miraculously, Pop received over 10 bottles of Jim Beam that night.  Never once did he notice that the wrapping was recycled or that when the bottle was taken by the men it was quickly brought to the kitchen.  When he went to bed his dreams were full of good sippin whiskey he could enjoy for years to come.

The next morning in the the kitchen all one could hear was doors opening and closing, cabinets being searched and muttering about "where the heck are those bottles?"  All of us just remained in our beds, laughing.... knowing.... there would be no more than one bottle of sippin whiskey found.... That is all there was that night.... One bottle of Jim Beam wrapped and addressed 10 different ways.....  The Christmas Miracle was that Pop never knew what the men were up to that night... and that we have a story to tell.

This is a story that is still told each year at the family Christmas party.  We all laugh and remember when.  This year we did not have a chance to have our family party... Things were a bit different... But next year, when Uncle Bob is breathing easier with his new lungs we are going to have an amazing time and toast to Pop, Bobby, Barbara, and all of you for the miracle of life and of breath.

A Washer and Dryer

So...Monday Monday Monday.... I must say, this little blog and a hope and a prayer started as a way to give Aunt Barb and Uncle Bobby a bit of peace.  These two amazing individuals have done so much for so many... In fact....

Jeff and I were moving to Maryland from Maine about 20 years ago and needed to store a few things.  We called Aunt Barb and Uncle Bob and said "Hey, we need a place to put a washer and dryer for a few weeks until we find a place, think we could leave it at your house?"  Naturally, the answer was "Of course".... So down we drove from Maine with our U-Haul.....

We landed at their house on the Elk the next day and began unloading, a washer, a dryer, and a box and another box, and some furniture, some other boxes, a table, and some other boxes.... in fact, we filled up an entire storage room with our stuff.... and we never heard a word.

I can still see Uncle Bob sitting there, Coors Light in his hand, watching us drive in and asking, "I thought you just had a washer and dryer?"  Never once did he complain... But he kept saying "That's a mighty big washer and dryer....."

This is who they are, amazing family who give to everyone...  And here I started this venture in an attempt to give back to them for all they have done for so many, when in actuality, I am the one getting the gift here...

Day after day I receive e-mails of love and support for two amazing people.  I hear stories of each of them and how important they are to so many friends and family.  I am humbled and overwhelmed seeing the love and support of friends and realizing its power to provide peace and healing.... Thank you to each of you for what you are doing for Bobby and Barbara, and also, for what you are doing for me.  I am learning more and more each day about the amazing people Bobby and Barbara are and the people that love them.  I am getting far more than I deserve by being a part of their lives and yours.

Now, a message from the Top Deck:

I sent a list of all the donors (we are nearly 55 strong to date!) and here is Barbara's response (I took the liberty of cutting some of this a bit):

Wow, this is quite a list. I have to start writing thank you notes. I think I will have some time while I am waiting for Uncle Bob when he is having pulmonary rehab. He starts this Monday and is scheduled for 3 times a week if he can handle it. 

(My parents (his sister and brother in law Lee-Roy went to visit them this weekend) 

It was great having your mom and dad here this weekend. I miss them already. They were such a big help. They left at the crack of dawn (no surprise) so I didn't see them. We decided to put all of the donations into a savings account and just draw down on it as the bills come due. That way we will have a separate account for donations only. Good thing Uncle Bob knows how to do these things...

Just in case you didn't know it, your uncle is quite a character. (really.... who doesn't know that!)  Someday we will all have to sit down and get him to tell you some of the stories from when he was a kid. You might be shocked but then again maybe not. To be sure, you would get more than a few laughs.

Aunt Barb

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

Henry Thoreau said "Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in....."  Say a prayer that Bobby can be fishing again soon.... Their wait continues but each of you have made is easier through your kinds words, thoughts, prayers and generous donations.  Little did we know two weeks ago where this journey was going... and although it has only just started each of you has been instrumental in making this journey and the waiting so much easier....

I received an interesting call from "the other Robert" at Christ our King.  Apparently when trouble was brewing in school and Robert was in trouble, Bobby would tell the nun it was "the other Robert" every time.  Amazingly enough, the "other Robert" was still willing to call and support Bobby... That is friendship!

Another friend from Delaware said "I worked with Bob at the County for many years.  When folks reminisce about the "good old days" and the fun times in the City/County building, I think of the decent people like your uncle Bobby.  We used to talk about boating on the Elk River, raising a family and occasionally, he'd give me a ride home when he lived in my neighborhood in Bear."

And another one.... "I worked with Bob at NCC in Accounting 15 years ago.  We had some great times, he was always the life of the party....even if there wasn't one!  Those were the days and we look back on them with fond memories and lots of laughs."

I though I would add in a family photo (sorry Sarah... you were still a glimmer in Mommy's eye!)

The Art of Cathching Flies

As a mother, an aunt and a wife, I often find myself looking for something... anything.... to entertain or occupy the children around me.  As my children have gotten older it has become much easier.  I can now just get out some Lysol and a vacuum and everyone scatters.  The sight of cleaning supplies brings cries of "I have homework!  Off to clean the garage!  I am going for a bike ride!"  Little do they know once the house is empty I sit back, pour a nice cold beverage, and read a good book in peace and quiet.  Whatever it takes.  One man I know, Bobby Romspert, was the expert at occupying children...  I learned a lot from him growing up and it helped with my parenting skills today.

I am not sure how you develop a talent for entertaining bored children, but Bobby Romspert had it.  Perhaps it's growing up with brothers and sisters that annoy you, perhaps its just raw talent, perhaps just pure love of kids....  I am not really sure but he has proven that talent to entertain youth time and time again.

I remember one summer in Elkton, I was about 6, Matt, Sarah, Carolyn and Joey were not far behind me... Uncle Bob and my dad were in charge.  The women had gone shopping and left this wayward bunch of misfits with them.  It was a hot Eastern Shore summer.  We had no pool, no central air, no IPods or Wii.  We had noting to do but run around and annoy each other and the adults.  We ran in and out, in and out, banging the doors and bringing in every black fly in the county.  We whined about our boredom and wouldn't leave Uncle Bob alone....

In a stroke of pure genius he took command of our boredom and sent us out to the newly constructed porch with flyswatters.  He gave us a mission.... Kill flies, all the flies you can, for 5 cents a piece.  We all looked at each other and saw our chance!  An opportunity to become independently wealthy in only a few hours!  5 cents in 1975 was a hefty price for the flies.  We just had to kill them and bring him the body.  We had plastic cups to do the collecting.  It was a kids dream come true.  Over the next hour each of us racked up a sizable fortune killing flies!  I was well up to 2$ by the time my mom came home.  My brother, not to be outdone, made it to $2.50.  Sarah and Carolyn became disinterested in the game fairly quickly and went upstairs to play Barbies.  For Matt and I it was heavenly.... We killed and killed.  We racked up $ that afternoon.  It was a blast and a memory we still talk about to this day...  "remember the day we got paid to kill flies!"  Of course, we never realized there was no screen on the porch, that half the flies came back to life to be killed again... It didn't matter, it entertained us in our moment of boredom and provided memories for our future.  He showed us love that day in a funny way, with entertainment and excitement, with the thrill of the hunt!  What a gift.

Uncle Bob is the expert at kid entertainment.  He sees an opportunity and excites the kids around him.  He is an amazing man and has provided many memories to all of us.  As I watch him move forward in this journey I see this as our chance to provide for him, for all the times he paid us for flies and more. 

The Power of Love

In just one week each of you has helped, through prayers, love, words of encouragement and exceptionally generous donations to give Bobby and Barbara time to make a thoughtful decision about what to do while in Pittsburgh.  Your donations have provided them a room through the summer and we will continue to raise funds in an effort to keep them there as long as they need to stay. 

The most amazing thing about being part of this is the connections that have been remade through this love.  Old friends have been reunited.  Many Christ our King graduates have e-mailed or written words of support.  Distant relatives have reconnected with Bobby and Barbara.  Old friends from their early years have e-mailed and called.  Love is a powerful thing. 

The Chinese Philosopher Lao Zhu said
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."  

Bobby and Barbara are stronger because of each of you.  Thank you.

Words from the Top:

Good Morning! I wanted to let you know that Uncle Bobby and I have decided that we are going to stay put here at the Inn. We have done a lot of talking and figuring and listening to the other transplant families. What we have come to realize is that there is much more involved than we originally thought in acquiring alternate housing. I am not talking about just the obvious problems of finding a place that will work for us and arranging for all of the utilities, furniture, supplies,etc. There are many intangibles that we had not considered such as the support we can get here that we will need to get through this journey. The amenities here, not to mention the meals,shuttle service and parking take a big load off of me as well.  Uncle Bobby has told me too that if we are here he won't have to worry about  being isolated in case we have a problem or me being alone while he is in the hospital and going back and forth by myself to the parking garage at night. We are beginning to understand that this journey may be longer than we first thought  The anxiety factor can be significant. Some things don't have a price tag.
Thanks to your wonderful fundraising efforts and the support and generosity of our family and friends, we will be able  to extend our stay here and spend all of our time and effort into getting Uncle Bobby better. As I said before, we are overwhelmed and humbled by all of this. Thank you seems to be an inadequate response but for now it will have to do.
Love,
Aunt Barb

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOBBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Message from the Top Deck!

Well ladies and gentlemen...  a few words of thanks for all of you... Directly from Barbara:


 I saw the blog tonight and I love the pictures. I had never seen the one with Sam and Uncle Bobby. I talked with Carolyn Grant today and she told me that the email list had grown even more. I am curious as to who is on the list and how in the world are you getting everybody's email address?   

Little does she know, most of you are the ones sending out e-mails!  I only replied, quite simply, to the first e-mail Aunt Barb sent out to let many of us know they were there.  You each have sent on the e-mails, phone calls and messages to friends and family.  You have spread your love and support everywhere!  $11,200 and counting!!!!!!

Tonight at the evening happy hour, we met two people who have someone who has received a lung transplant. We also met a young woman and her husband are here as a follow up to her double transplant last April. What a wealth of information they have. They have been through it and or are going through it right now. What stories they told us! Mary Ellen told us that her husband had 8 false alarms over an 8mos. waiting period before there was a successful match.  Bob told us that his wife had her transplant on Dec. 24th and that she is scheduled to come back here in 2 days. They had waited 6mos. for a match. Then, Eileen said that she had her match on her first call. She was on a feeding tube for 3 mos. and was here for 8 mos. They were all so friendly and supportive it was very positive. We did get the impression though that this could be a long process.
I asked them if any of them had explored other living arrangements. Actually, they all had at one time or another and then opted to stay right here. There reasons were varied but they all agreed that it was the right decision for them. Uncle Bob and I are going to talk it through again  tomorrow after we meet with the Doc.

Thanks again for all you have done and are still doing.
Love,
Aunt Barb

Wind Beneath Their Wings

Two summers ago my daughter Samantha bought a car in Delaware.  What a great deal she got, her uncle helped her and life was grand.... there was just one glitch... She was living in Colorado Springs at the time.  How does an Air Force Academy kid get a car from Delaware to Denver?  Bobby and Lee's delivery company, of course.  When you don't know who to call... Call the "A" Team.  So these two grumpy old men, Sam's great Uncle Bobby and her grandfather Lee, took their bucket list trip.  They traveled to every diner, drive in and dive across the middle of the USA.  Bobby drove in the morning and enjoyed a nice cooler of Coors Light in the PM.  Lee managed the afternoons and programmed the Garmin.  It was an amazing journey. 

They stopped in Atchison, Kansas to visit Mt. St. Scholastica and some grumpy old nuns (is anyone detecting a theme here?).  They stopped in Atchison to pay tribute to Bobby's Aunt, Sister Agnes, and her time with the Benedictine nuns.  They saw a field of butterflies miles long and talked to many other travelers.... Finally, at Parent's Weekend they arrived and delivered Sam her new car.  She showed off her two men, brought them to a football game, and they doted on her, as those two always do.  She was honored to have them and thankful for the gift of their time.

This is who Bobby and Lee are... the givers, the doers, the movers of family and friends. So now, as Bobby finally needs us to be the movers and doers we can.  We have provided them lodging at the Marriott through 15 July... If they find something else.. perhaps they can stay longer.  Only God knows how long this journey will be for Bobby and Barbara, but each day that we can lighten their load will make it better for them.

The love and support of all of you...  and it has been an enormous outpouring of support in just a few days, is overwhelming.  One can certainly learn the value of a man and a woman through the friends that they keep.  Each of you are incredible and they are grateful.  So... send me some stories, something fun, something silly, something amazing and share who Bobby and Barbara are to each of you.

OVER THE TOP!!!

 Margaret Meade was right, a small army of committed citizens can change the world.  You all have been amazing in your generosity and love for Bobby and Barbara and truly made a difference for their world.  You have already raised over $10,000 to help them with the overwhelming costs of staying so far away from us.  We have made it through June for them and we will continue to work to support them on this journey.  Although far in distance, they are close in thoughts and prayers. 

Barbara and Bobby keep saying they are struggling to absorb what you all are doing for them.  I asked them, please just sit back and absorb…. Be the sponge.  For so long they have given so much to so many and now it is time to receive.  We were here to be the wind beneath their wings.

Life in Pittsburgh:

Aunt Barb said everything in Pittsburgh takes so much longer than at home. Their GPS told them the 4 mile ride to the store would take 20 minutes!  The roads are crazy, there are bridges everywhere, and traffic is overwhelming!  It takes all day to accomplish a few seemingly simple tasks.  Their days are filled with testing at the hospital, meeting others at the hospital and in the hotel who have similar stories to theirs, continuing their quest for an apartment, and waiting, waiting, waiting for a phone call. 

In contrast our daily waits are simple.  We wait for a red light, for the check out at the store, in line at the Drive-thru,,,  We wait for the work day to end, our friends to play us in Scrabble or Hanging with Friends online, a commercial to end, our coffee to brew….. We can’t really know what it is like to wait for a phone call about a new chance at life.  Perhaps today, the first day of spring, as you each wait for something you can stop and appreciate the ease of your wait and say a prayer for Bobby that his wait will be short…

As one of Bobby’s friend’s and donor wrote to me yesterday… To do something, however small, to make someone happier or better is the highest hope and the greatest ambition a human being can have.   Safe Harbor Cap'n Rick USN retired. 

You said it Rick!  Thanks to each of you.

St Patty's Day Miracle!

Wow!  You all take the cake (or really, the Corned Beef and Cabbage) for the fastest St. Patrick’s Day miracle ever!  In less than 24 hours we were able to supply Bobby and Barbara with 45 days of lodging in Pittsburgh.  This journey is only the beginning for them, but what a comfort knowing the burden of rushing around to find anything can now be a calm organized search for the right thing!

Karen Crook deserves Kudos for the first donation of the day!  Way to GO!   The phone calls and e-mails have been overwhelming!  Joanne said “I donated for all the years Bobby did my taxes for me!”  She tells me there are more folks out there who had the generous services of this talented CPA.  She also said every time she travels with Barbara, Barbara does all the planning and organizing.  It’s about time she was able to give back for all  Barbara has done for her.  

Bobby drove veterans around for the VFW, called bingo for the American Legion.  Barbara, ever the gracious and wonderful hostess, hosted year after year of family Christmas parties for the entire Romspert clan!  This is only a few of the snippets I heard from your e-mails and comments!  Keep them coming.

So, as we look to tomorrow (The Feast of St. Joseph for you good Catholics) I will call Barbara and let her and Bobby know of the kindness and generosity of so many.  These two started to pay it forward years ago and today their generosity has come full circle.  Keep the correspondence and donations coming and we will work to keep you updated.

 

A Room at the Inn... Through April 1, 2012!

     It starts with a simple idea... and love of family and friends and we have set up a room through 1 April for Bobby and Barbara! We spoke with them last night and let them know that there was a great army (and Navy, Marine, Air Force) of people who loved and supported them and wanted to help make this journey easier for them.  Aunt Barbara was overwhelmed... She has just come back from looking at many apartments.  She found one on a first floor that could be ready by 1 Jun, but it was empty!  It had been so long since she had rented she forgot all the struggles it entailed, buying furniture, turning on electric, heat, cable, curtains, dishes.... and on and on and on.....
     We offered her up our idea of keeping them at their hotel so they can take their time to find something that works for them and she was speechless.  We let her know that we want to give back to them, two people who have done so much for all of us...  So here is the deal... We want to see if we can pay their rent at the Marriott through 1 June 2012.  That will allow them the next two months to relax in their quest for housing.  We will use this blog to follow their journey and let them see the support and love we have for them.  We can use this for stories about them, pictures of them, well wishes and prayers for them as we generate interest and donations for their stay in Pittsburgh.
     There is a secure pay pal donation site set up with the link on the right that will be used to collect funds to pay the rent.  Anyone can call the hotel directly and pay or donate here and we will pay for you.  Share this site with your friends and family and let them know how they can help celebrate and support these two amazing people.  I will let you know daily how we are making it to our goal.

GOAL:  2 months rent at the Marriott
Room for one month is approximately $3000

Let's see what we can do to make it to our goal! Thanks so much for being part of this journey of love and support.

The Journey Begins

This week Uncle Bob was put on “The List” for new lungs at the University of Pittsburgh.  It is only the beginning of their journey.  I am looking to you, those who love and support them so much, to see if we can do something for them to make this journey easier.

Aunt Barb and Uncle Bob are safely ensconced in the Marriott Residence Inn at the U of Pitt.  They have free morning breakfasts, a small kitchen, separate bedroom for Uncle Bob to nap while Aunt Barb watches TV.  There is an indoor pool so Aunt Barb can get some exercise,  a manager’s dinner every Tues – Thursday.  It’s right across the street from the hospital.  It is a perfect place for them to stay for the long haul while Uncle Bob .  They would love to stay here for the duration if possible, or as long as possible.

The struggle is, its a hotel, and it will get expensive for the long haul.  I am reaching out to each of you friends, family, cousins, sisters, co-workers to see if we, a small army of loving and supportive people,  would like to be part of an opportunity to give back to two of the most generous people I know.  Bob and Barbara Romspert do so much for everyone they interact with.  Now, it is our time to return the favor.

I have a call in to the manager of the Marriott to see what kind of monthly rate we can get for the hotel.  Until then, if any of you have Marriott points let me know and we will set up some free nights for them.  They are presently there through 3/23 (Uncle Bob’s Birthday!!!) but I would love to have us all work together to provide them much more time there.  I will be working to set up a pay pal account to accept checks or credit cards to help support them over the next few days.

This is only the beginning of our grass roots efforts to support two amazing people we love so much.  I am open to ideas about how else to proceed over time as we all work to be the wind beneath their wings.


Thank you for being the amazing and generous friends and family you are!

Margaret Meade said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Let us all be part of helping to change the world for Bobby and Barbara