As most of you know, on Saturday Feb 7th, Tommy VanZandt fell from a ladder while trimming trees in their backyard. Tommy sustained considerable damage to his neck and spinal cord. Tommy never lost consciousness and his breathing has been stable which is a great blessing. Praise God there was no damage to Tommy's brain! Yesterday, the doctors stabilized his neck and back with halo traction equipment. This morning an MRI confirmed severe bruising to the spinal cord. The result of this damage at the current time is paralysis below the shoulders.
Your overwhelming prayers are sustaining his family and friends. Your prayers are increasing the hope of recovery.
Tomorrow (Monday, Feb 9th) morning, Tommy will go in for surgery at 7:30am to permanently stabilize his neck. This will be a 6-7 hours surgery
Following this current treatment, Tommy will most likely be taken to Baylor Medical Center in Dallas for rehabilitation.
Above all, please pray for:
(1) Blood flow to return to the spinal cord and spinal cord healing
(2) No complications during and after surgery
(3) Wisdom for Dr. Knox (his surgeon)
(4) Peace and comfort for the family
(5) God's miraculous hand to be at work
For the next two weeks, meals are being provided by the VanZandt's supper club. As we near the end of this two week period, we will reanalyze the need for meals and let those who would like to help know what is needed. (email Debra Broyles if you are interested in preparing meals at broiled@verizon.net)
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Please email me at broiled@verizon.net if you would like to sign up for a night to take dinner- Debra B.
ReplyDeleteOur prayers are with Tommy, Robin and the children. Such wonderful examples of faith. We love you all and want you to know you are in our thoughts and prayers. Thanks to those who are able to keep us advised of what is happening.
ReplyDeleteThe Marty Browns
Words cannot describe the hurt and the hope we feel for you Tommy and Robyn. You are already being lifted up by hundreds of people, many you do not know, many who love you deeply. We can only cling to the promises of our God, one day at a time.
ReplyDeleteWe love you so much,
Davo and Theresa
David
I came across this tonight in an Upper Room devotional:
ReplyDelete"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." -Ecclesiastes 3:1
God is with us during all the cycles of our life-to provide a refuge from life's trials...and to strengthen us in all the seasons of our lives.
May God bless you Robyn, Tommy, Ross and Jack. I pray that you feel God's presence during this difficult season.
Love,
Mary
Tommy and Robin, We are praying for you to fully experience God's presence and His ability to sustain you hour by hour.
ReplyDeleteSusan and Paul Williams
Tommy, Robyn, Ross and Jack,
ReplyDeleteWe are so sad to hear what has happened. We are praying for you often. It is so hard to understand why this would happen to such a wonderful man and family. May God surround you and comfort you.
Todd, Tara, Logan and Coi Call
Tommy and Robin-
ReplyDeleteWe are praying for you during this difficult time. We pray most of all that you will find the peace that surpasses all understanding, because we sure can't understand why this is happening. We are available to do anything at all, just say the word. May God surround all of you.
Dearest Robyn and Tommy,
ReplyDeleteYou are such a blessing in our lives and we are praying for you all. We love you. We have seen God working in this situation. We are so grateful that you have been surrounded with so much love and so many prayers. May God continue to bless you both and Ross and Jack.
Lynn Blair
Mark Sugg
Grace and Lucian
Dearest Robyn and Tommy,
ReplyDeleteYou are such a blessing in our lives. We love you and are praying for you both as well as Ross and Jack. May God continue to work in your lives through this situation. We have seen God's work already and we are amazed at your strength. We are so thankful that you are surrounded by so many family and friends and so many prayers. May God continue to bless you.
Lynn Blair
Mark Sugg
Lucian and Grace
Tommy, Robyn, Ross & Jack:
ReplyDeleteYou are loved by this community. Our church community and people of faith are praying with love and hope lifting each of you up in faith to our Father. May each one of you feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the peace that only He can bring and the hope that He provides. We love you and we believe in miracles. God is still in the miracle business so we are all standing in the gap praying for just that.
Love in Christ, Pam Jones
Robyn and Tommy,
ReplyDeleteThe Shenep family are praying for you constantly and will keep you in our thoughts of how God will bring you through the surgery and recovery. We will work to help do whatever needs to be done in the coming days, weeks and months to help you.
Love,
Jim, Cindy, Christopher, Kell and Stuart Shenep
Shock and pain is what Ray and I experienced upon hearing of Tommy’s accident. Our hearts hurt! You guys are a beautiful family who have always lived a life strong in your faith with God! We will pray every day for you Tommy and for Robyn and the boys. May God’s miraculous hand guide the doctors and guide Tommy’s recovery. May God’s love and the love from your community provide a cocoon of comfort to you during these trying times.
ReplyDeleteFor anyone who may coordinate efforts that may be needed in the future please do not hesitate to contact Ray or myself for meals or work that may need to be taken care of in the home or hospital. ladonnabornhoft@hotmail.com or ray.bornhoft@yahoo.com.
In Jesus Christ our Lord’s name we ask you to please watch over Tommy, Robyn, Ross and Jack.
Much Love Ray, LaDonna, James and Jack Bornhoft
Dear Tommy and Robyn,
ReplyDeleteJohn and I were so saddened to hear of your accident. Many in LR are praying for you. The women of Community Bible Study have you on their prayer list. They are diligent and faithful prayer warriors. John and I are praying for you and the boys.
Christi & John Oliver
Dear Tommy and Robyn,
ReplyDeleteWe are praying for you and your sweet family. I know that you are in good hands -- Dr. Knox operated on my spine. I know that God's hand is with you.
Marti and Craig Sharkey
Hi Mr. VanZandt.....
ReplyDeleteI really really really hope you get better, also i really really really wish i could see you sometime soon.....
IM PRAYING FOR YOU!!!!!!
Cole D. Montgomery
Robyn, Ross and Jack,
ReplyDeleteI was really fortunate to spend time with Tommy at the Men's Emmaus Walk in 2007. I know that God did something special in his heart that weekend and it is for times such as this that he puts seeds into us that we can draw from. The scripture that I shared with Tommy came out of Hebrew 12 where it tells us to " keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith ". Jesus will perfect Tommy's faith in this and through his faith, God can perform miracles. We're with you!
Blessings,
Bill & Diane Collins
We're so sorry to hear about Tommy. I spoke with Ross while he "saved" an elderly woman's life (her words, not mine) at the hospital. I was reminded of Ross' humor and love and kindness. I'm blessed to know Ross, Jack, and Robyn. I'm sorry to say that I don't really know Tommy, but I'm praying for you all!
ReplyDelete