Rathgeber Hospitality House

http://www.rathgeberhospitalityhouse.org/index.php?Page=home

Those of you who are on Facebook have heard this before...I'm ready to go home. Shawn is ready to go home. Gage is probably most ready to go home. But that's not possible now, so our home away from home is the Rathgeber Hospitality House right across the street from United Regional. Its NOT home, but it's fairly close. The best part about this whole ordeal is we have a maid....I always wanted a maid. That whole "be careful what you ask for" has a whole new meaning to me now.

If you are like me, Im sure you have heard of the Rathgeber House. i've seen letters to the editor in the paper. i've heard people talk about staying here. and i never really thought twice about it. i've always been a big supporter of the Ronald McDonald House ( even though i vow to NEVER eat in mcdonalds again). but let me tell you, this place is a resting place for the weary. if you dont believe in angels, come by here and let me introduce you to a few. shawn and i kind of feel like we own the place..lol. i just cant tell you how incredibly important it is to be less than 5 minutes from gage. twice during our stay here so far he crashed, and even with the ice and snow we were in his room in CCU in 5 minutes from the call. there is not a price in the world that can be placed on that.

for $35 a night people who are grieving, who are scared out of their minds, who have cried until they are numb can find a place to recharge their body, mind and soul. its not the hilton. its something far better. every person on the staff here knows us by name, knows gage's name and condition, and stops what they are doing when they see one of us to see how he is. sally and donna feel like sisters. no telling how many blouses ive ruined over the last 36 days. but they smile when they see me, ask if i need anything, want to know about ravyn, am i ok, have i eaten....everyone around me asks that alot for some reason..

i dont know who might stubble across these words, but if you give to charity, if your church sponsors worthy causes, if your sewing club has pet projects...im praying you will consider this amazing place. its hard to rest when your afraid the person you love wont make it thru the night. its hard to eat when your baby hasnt had food in 36 days. its really hard to sit in a hospital room day and night with fear and grief eating away at you. to walk in the door and have someone come hug you and ask about your situation means the world to you. knowing someone is praying, is listening, just cares can give you the courage to face tomorrow. i am blessed to have a church family who supports me. i am extra blessed to have family close enough to come keep me sane. and the friends God has graced me with have absolutely no idea how much i love them. the prayers that surround and support us truly help me take one more step, one more breath, one more day. we've met others here that are too far from home to have that support. but they get it here. we are a family.

i've seen people loose their loved one. and i grieve with them. these people who have crossed my path in life have changed me. i may never see them again. i hope that some time in the future they will think of us, and say a prayer for us. i know i will for them. i look at Gage and forget to breathe when i remember those 17 days that i just didnt know if God would allow me to keep him. the people here loved me thru the pain. and they didnt have to. they didnt know me. that's just what angels do.

ive had so many people ask me "what can i do?" for gage all anyone can do is pray. send a card. if you're really brave, text him ( 940-212-0515) but be forewarned...he will respond...A LOT..lol. he's bored to tears. what can i say. but if you really want to make a difference you can send $35 to the rathgeber house now and then in honor of Gage Firestone. it may pay for a night of peace and comfort for a mother who has no one else some night. it may provide a place to lay down for a little while and just cry in peace for a son/daughter who is saying goodbye to their parent. it might just provide a shelter for you, God forbid, some day in the future when you have no other place to go when someone you love is critically ill.

I am blessed. Im not hungry. I have a bed to rest on. Warm water to bathe in. Clean clothes to wear. Family & friends who care about us, who love us and are praying for us. People all around me who stay in touch and are concerned. 36 days is a long time to be stressed and worried and away from home. Rathgeber Hospitality House is a light in the darkness. Ya'll know how much I hate the darkness.

I hope that someone reading this will be able to help out. If everyone I know could just send $5, imagine what a difference that could make for somone. God tells us to help those around us. All anyone can really do for Gage is pray. Shawn and I are ok for now. When we are back on our feet, I will be sending what I can to this amazing place. I will gladly do without a few things to know some mother who is here with a critically sick child has a clean safe place to try to rest. To know some son/daughter has a quiet place to go when its time to say goodbye to a parent. If you ACTIVELY want to do something worthy, send what you can, five dollars or 500 dollars, in honor of Gage. All I ask is that you pass along the word. This IS God's work. And be sure to put Matthew 25:35-40 on your note.....

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'