A repost from CaringBridge, September 6, 2019

It has been six months to the day since Dad’s strokes. Six months of living in a “we can’t believe this is our life now” state. Six months of learning to let go of what we thought would be and embrace what is. Six months of tears and prayers and hope.

So much has changed. So much is clearer now.  First and foremost, we thank God Dad is still here with us. The strokes were severe, and frankly, they could have killed him. As shocked as we were and still are by his sudden health challenges, had we lost him entirely, it would have been beyond devastating. So thank you, God, for sparing his life.

When we look at the quality of his life we are so saddened by the things that he may never regain – golf, preaching homilies, running down to Safeway several times a week, teaching his last grandchild to drive… these are likely gone. On the other hand, God is big and mighty and certainly able to provide the miracle, so who knows? And, despite our sadness, there is still much about the quality of his life which is oh, so good.

1. He’s surrounded by the love of family, steadfast friends and an incredible church body.
2. He eats and swallows anything he wants. When his strokes first hit he was on a feeding tube.
3. He’s now walking – slowly, but no longer confined to a wheelchair!
4. He can now get out of his chair by himself – he no longer needs to be lifted.
5. He seems to be more and more “with it” during speech therapy.
6. He can sing and recite prayers.
7. He shows his sense of humor and teases even without using words.
8. He understands when something is wrong or amiss. Mom always says, “He doesn’t miss a thing.”
9. He can still be bossy and try to direct us around which is his “old self.”
10. Words, though few and far between, are slowly starting to come.

So, on this six month anniversary of Dad’s life altering event, we want to say THANK YOU to all of you who have walked this journey with us. Your interest in these updates, your support, your prayers — they really have been the greatest blessing of this whole experience. We’ve been witness to such an outpouring of love. We’re forever changed. ❤️

A repost from CaringBridge, March 9, 2019

The day has come and gone. Dad is resting comfortably. We are all still kind of in shock and disbelief that our active, healthy, golfing, preaching, “shucking and jiving” (one of his favorite phrases) DadPapaRon is having to fight this uphill battle. Yet, here we are. We cling to our faith that God is in control. We know He is always good. We take comfort in the fact that He loves him even more than we do. And we pray. We pray for a miracle of healing.

As we’ve read the many comments of love, support and prayers here, on Facebook, through text messages and phone calls we are reminded that God chooses to show His love through His people. And boy oh boy is he showing it through all of you. We feel the fingerprints of God through you. You’re holding us up, and we know the heavens are well aware there’s a big need down here because you’re asking on our behalf. Thank you from all of us in the Horan Clan. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for loving our DadPapaRon. He loves you too, and we pray that he’ll soon be able to tell you all that himself as only he can preach it!

Tomorrow is a new day. Wow, it’s amazing to think how quickly life can change. Hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight and cherish each moment. Life really is good. We take so much for granted. Suffering – and watching suffering – makes us really realize what’s important. 

Clinging to the promise that “with Christ all things are possible.”