A colorful, homemade wall hanging in Jeff and Renee Petro’s Ogilville living room reads: “Let the field be joyful and all that is in it. Psalm 96:12.”
Let the record show that the Petros revel in joy these days even amid struggle. And the reason for that joy is simple: Jeff Petro initially thought he had been hit with the flu six months ago.
In truth, he faced a serious battle for his health — and then traveled through a winding and challenging journey in which he could have died with an epidural abscess in between two vertebrae. That journey has included financial, prayerful and other support from their own Ogilville United Methodist Church and several other churches, plus extensive help from local nonprofits such as Access-Ability, which provides free medical equipment, and others.
“Access-ability has been amazing,” Renee Petro said.
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So the 51-year-old longtime cement truck driver for Shelby Materials is happy just to be alive and slowly improving from the spinal cord injury at his home on West County Road 550S. A May 8 surgery at Franciscan Health Indianapolis to fuse two of his discs plus doses of antibiotics are helping him make steady progress — especially since when he was at his weakest, he couldn’t even stand.
“I feel a lot better than I did,” he said, sitting in an easy chair with his walker nearby to help him get around. “I can now even take a few steps without a cane.”
Granted, he’s hardly as strong as the powerful Avengers depicted on his T-shirt. In fact, he still faces maybe a year-long recuperation, according to doctors. But the couple wanted to tell their story to remind the public of the strength of people standing together amid hardship.
For instance, Ogilville United Methodist Church, where they worship, has paid a mix of utility and grocery bills since Jeff Petro has been unable to work. Members connected to Ogilville Christian Church’s preschool, where Renee Petro works, brought meals for two months when Jeff Petro’s situation was the toughest.
Members of Asbury United Methodist’s Mission Columbus group installed a wheelchair ramp for free at their home just before Jeff Petro came home from the hospital. Members of White Creek United Methodist Church, which includes people for whom Renee has offered free home cleaning, sent cards and donations.
As Renee details such kindness, her eyes mist lightly with emotion.
“We have been so fortunate,” she said.
Some cards and checks have arrived just before a sizable bill was due. Pastor Paul Huntsman of Ogilville United Methodist explains part of that assembly’s outreach simply by linking it to Biblical terminology.
“There’s a language of the church that we sometimes can take for granted,” Huntsman said. “But, yet, it’s a very real language, because we call each other brother and sister, and we say that because we are one family (of God). So, when something like this comes up, it’s serious. And so we respond like family.”
The Petros gush about the support from their two children, Lillie and Sam and all their relatives. And they speak with enthusiasm about the care they have received and continue to get at Franciscan Health Indianapolis, where Jeff Petro recently earned one of the Patient of the Year honors from its rehabilitation department.
“Jeff has a wonderful sense of humor,” rehab staffer Iveta Kancs wrote on his certificate. “He was incredibly motivated throughout his stay.”
And now he is especially motivated to get better enough to be walking smoothly enough by May to see his daughter Lillie and son Sam graduate in May from Indiana State University.
Renee Petro recalled the Scripture from Jesus’ story about how God watches over even the smallest needs of sparrows. So she is convinced God personally has provided in a myriad of ways,
“Sometimes it seems like even before we’d have a chance to speak out a need,” she said, “he’s already answering it.”
When she considers all who have reached out to them over the past six months, she feels a sense of amazement.
“I am so humbled,” she said. “I really am. This has reminded me that there are so many good people out there.”
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Jeff and Renee Petro aren’t certain when Jeff will be able to his job as a cement truck driver for Shelby Materials, which they say has been wonderful to them.
So their church of Ogilville United Methodist has agreed to receive donations to help them with bills if people wish to donate. Support can be mailed to Ogilville United Methodist Church, 11910 South, East State Road 58, Columbus, IN 47201.
Or donations can be made on the church website at ogilvilleumc.org. Information: 812-342-4583.
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