Dear Church Family,

This is not the church holiday experience I had hoped for and planned. Instead, we have received so much from you all that I do not have enough words to express our love and appreciation.    

Tracie and I cannot express enough how much your love and support have meant to us during our current health crisis. We have been overwhelmed by notes of love and support. Then all the incredible meals have been given, along with help with errands and other important needs. The word grateful is inadequate. I wish I could say this ordeal was about to be over. But it is not. I will go to the surgeon on Monday to see if I can wait until Friday, the 5^th, to have surgery.

I am sorry to go into detail, but you deserve to know all of what is going on. The staph infection that developed in my knee has proven to be a hard one to beat. After two additional surgeries to clean out the knee and stuff it with antibiotics and weeks of IV antibiotics, the problem persists.

The next step is to put in an antibiotic block/spacer, which is a temporary implant made of antibiotic bone cement that is inserted into the leg. After an unspecified period, this one is pulled out, and a completely new knee is put in place. It is important that this one works. Otherwise, the leg is lost. However, with your continued care and prayers, I am confident all will work out. I am grateful and thank God that there is still much that can be done. In the meantime, I am still here and will do anything I can to be of service to you, our church family.

With love and blessings,

Pastor Rick and Tracie