After several attempts to transport 74 year old Ruth from Cleveland, Ohio to Burlington, Vermont over the past few weeks, it was a great relief to both Ruth and her husband John to be going home today.
We arrived at the Cleveland airport and were greeted by Mark and Mark our ambulance transporters. The ride to the rehab facility was short and we soon meet Ruth and her husband Dr. John. I asked him what he was a Dr. of, and his reply was a humble, “just a veterinarian”.
My eyes lit up and I could not wait to chat with him on our flight to Vermont! Ruth has been in Cleveland since September and is eager to be heading home where her family will be close to her. She has a gentle smile when we arrive.
John had placed her shoes on her before we arrived to keep her feet warm during the trip. Several of the staff stop by to bid her good-bye and tell her to behave. The CEO of the facility even stops by to wish them well.
We are quick to get her all loaded up and into the ambulance for our drive back to the airport. We are met by Hal who has Abe all ready to go.
He prays over Ruth and in no time, we are all strapped in and and ready to depart.
As we get settled in for our flight, Ruth is comfortable and naps for most of the flight. John shares with us that they have been married for 52 years and have 1 son and 1 daughter and 2 grandchildren. Ruth graduated with a teaching degree, but only taught high school science for one year. After that, she stayed home to raise their two children, but she kept very busy.
She served on her town’s school board for 12 years, served on the executive board of the Vermont School Board Association, Executive Director of the Vermont Student Opportunity Scholarship Fund, State Representative for her city and was a member of the University of Vermont Board of Trustees.
She also served as a city clerk and also Executive Director of the Republican party. John joked that she could never hold down a job! You could tell by his voice, that he is very proud of his wife and adores her. I have lots of questions to ask him about vet stuff since my son is a pre-vet student. He is retired now, but has owned his own practice in Vermont for many years.
He graciously gave advise for my son and answered questions I had. I could have talked with him for hours. As we start our approach into Burlington, he points out the beautiful Adirondack Mountains and even points out his own house to us.
As the door of Abe is opened, we are greeted by the cool, crisp air. Three feet of snow has fallen over the past few days and the tarmac is covered in snow. Ruth is loaded into the ambulance and the drive to the new rehab is a 25 minute ride.
Her room is ready for her when we arrive. John returned to his house to grab a few things and will be back later when she is all settled in. We pray with her and say farewell and head back to the airport. The snow was beautiful, but thankfully, when we arrive back in Indy, the weather is much warmer and sunnier!
Please continue to pray for Ruth and her continued healing.
Numbers 6:24-26
“The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Thank you to Hal, Shelli and Todd for sharing this mission with me.
Gina Barram
JUST PLANE FUN FACTS:
Vermont does not have any skyscraper. Vermont is the only state that does not have any buildings taller than 124 feet. On May 5, 1978, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened their first Ben & Jerry’s Homemade ice cream shop in a refurbished gas station in Burlington, Vermont
Montpelier is the only state capital without a McDonald’s restaurant Vermont is the largest producing state of maple syrup in the United States