Wayne family trying to get ailing dad back home
Posted: Saturday, August 16, 2008
Kerri Long of Wayne, Neb., goes through documents and newspaper clippings about her father-in-law, Steve Long, who recently suffered a stroke in Zambia. Kerri and her husband, Marc, are trying to arrange for Steve's transport back to Wayne. (Photo by Nick Hytrek)
WAYNE, Neb. -- Perhaps it's almost a given when you live in this part of the country. When someone's having a hard time, you help them out whether you know them or not.
Spaghetti feeds are held to raise money for a family facing hard times. Volunteers turn out to fix up a home. As Midwesterners, many of us small-town residents, we hear about that kind of thing a lot.
So it should come as no surprise to Wayne, Neb., residents Marc and Kerri Long that people, many of whom they've never met, are chipping in to help them bring Marc's father, Steve, home from Africa, where he suffered a stroke that has left him unable to walk or say anything more than yes and no.
Yet it has.
Kerri Long shakes her head in disbelief while talking about how, in spite of high food and gas prices, layoffs and other bad economic news, people have sent donations, prayers and suggestions on how to cut through the red tape surrounding Steve's return.
It all seems fitting because Steve, a 55-year-old Norfolk, Neb., native, has spent the past eight years helping make life better for villagers in the south African nation of Zambia.
"He had always wanted to help other people," Kerri said.
Now, others are helping him.
Steve joined the Peace Corps in 2000 and was sent to Zambia to help villagers create fish farms. After the two-year stint, he recommitted for another year. When that year was up, he decided to stay. He taught villagers English and helped them set up a grinding mill. He introduced basic business principles to an area struggling to provide its residents a chance to earn a decent living.
"He was very proud of the work he was doing," Kerri said.
Busy, too. He hasn't been home since early 2003. Marc and Kerri last spoke to him on the phone about four months ago. He was happy, doing fine, Kerri said.
Then, in June, the U.S. Embassy in Zambia informed the family Steve had had a severe stroke. He couldn't walk or talk. The small hospital he was in was ill-equipped to care for him. It didn't even have IVs.
With help from the Peace Corps, the Zambian government got involved, and Steve was moved to a better hospital in Lusaka, the nation's capital. An American doctor was able to see him and reported that Steve was unable to sit up on his own, had no leg movement, could eat only soft food and could say only yes and no.
Steve needs to come home. But because of his condition, two people must travel with him to help him through airports on the planes. Marc and Kerri think they've got a Peace Corps nurse lined up to be one of those people. Marc may be the other one.
But after spending some $3,000 to pay for Steve's medical care, Marc, Kerri and Marc's brother, Robert, who's currently serving in Iraq, didn't have the $5,000 to $6,000 needed for plane tickets and other travel expenses. Neither did Steve's elderly parents or two siblings.
A couple of newspaper articles later, and nearly $5,000 in donations has found its way into Marc and Kerri's mailbox.
That might be enough, but it might not. Doctors will re-evaluate Steve on Thursday to decide if he's fit to fly. If not, then the family must continue to send money to pay for medical care until he can. And it's still uncertain just how much airline tickets will cost. While costs are a concern, the family just hopes to get Steve back to a Wayne nursing home that can help him recover.
"It's stressful. We take it one day at a time and hope we can get him home so we can care for him here," Kerri said.
Keep your fingers crossed for Steve. If his doctor appointment turns out favorably, Marc and Kerri will begin the rush to book flights so they can get Steve before his work visa expires next month. Kerri said it's got to be hard on her father-in-law, knowing that he can't continue helping those who depended on him before his stroke. He has to leave a people and a way of life he fell in love with.
"He has helped so many people, but it's time for him to come home," Kerri said.
Thanks to the help of so many others, hopefully he will soon.
For an audio interview with Kerry Long on Steve's work in Africa, visit the News Notebook blog.
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
How can I help?
Anyone interested in making a donation to help bring Steve Long back to the United States can send contributions to Marc and Kerri Long at 116 Cityside Drive, Wayne, NE 68787.
A fund has also been set up at State National Bank. Donations can be sent to: Steve Long Fund, c/o State National Bank, P.O. Box 130, Wayne, NE 68787.
The family also has set up a Paypal account. Donations can be e-mailed to: Marclong76@msn.com.
Spaghetti feeds are held to raise money for a family facing hard times. Volunteers turn out to fix up a home. As Midwesterners, many of us small-town residents, we hear about that kind of thing a lot.
So it should come as no surprise to Wayne, Neb., residents Marc and Kerri Long that people, many of whom they've never met, are chipping in to help them bring Marc's father, Steve, home from Africa, where he suffered a stroke that has left him unable to walk or say anything more than yes and no.
Yet it has.
Kerri Long shakes her head in disbelief while talking about how, in spite of high food and gas prices, layoffs and other bad economic news, people have sent donations, prayers and suggestions on how to cut through the red tape surrounding Steve's return.
It all seems fitting because Steve, a 55-year-old Norfolk, Neb., native, has spent the past eight years helping make life better for villagers in the south African nation of Zambia.
"He had always wanted to help other people," Kerri said.
Now, others are helping him.
Steve joined the Peace Corps in 2000 and was sent to Zambia to help villagers create fish farms. After the two-year stint, he recommitted for another year. When that year was up, he decided to stay. He taught villagers English and helped them set up a grinding mill. He introduced basic business principles to an area struggling to provide its residents a chance to earn a decent living.
"He was very proud of the work he was doing," Kerri said.
Busy, too. He hasn't been home since early 2003. Marc and Kerri last spoke to him on the phone about four months ago. He was happy, doing fine, Kerri said.
Then, in June, the U.S. Embassy in Zambia informed the family Steve had had a severe stroke. He couldn't walk or talk. The small hospital he was in was ill-equipped to care for him. It didn't even have IVs.
With help from the Peace Corps, the Zambian government got involved, and Steve was moved to a better hospital in Lusaka, the nation's capital. An American doctor was able to see him and reported that Steve was unable to sit up on his own, had no leg movement, could eat only soft food and could say only yes and no.
Steve needs to come home. But because of his condition, two people must travel with him to help him through airports on the planes. Marc and Kerri think they've got a Peace Corps nurse lined up to be one of those people. Marc may be the other one.
But after spending some $3,000 to pay for Steve's medical care, Marc, Kerri and Marc's brother, Robert, who's currently serving in Iraq, didn't have the $5,000 to $6,000 needed for plane tickets and other travel expenses. Neither did Steve's elderly parents or two siblings.
A couple of newspaper articles later, and nearly $5,000 in donations has found its way into Marc and Kerri's mailbox.
That might be enough, but it might not. Doctors will re-evaluate Steve on Thursday to decide if he's fit to fly. If not, then the family must continue to send money to pay for medical care until he can. And it's still uncertain just how much airline tickets will cost. While costs are a concern, the family just hopes to get Steve back to a Wayne nursing home that can help him recover.
"It's stressful. We take it one day at a time and hope we can get him home so we can care for him here," Kerri said.
Keep your fingers crossed for Steve. If his doctor appointment turns out favorably, Marc and Kerri will begin the rush to book flights so they can get Steve before his work visa expires next month. Kerri said it's got to be hard on her father-in-law, knowing that he can't continue helping those who depended on him before his stroke. He has to leave a people and a way of life he fell in love with.
"He has helped so many people, but it's time for him to come home," Kerri said.
Thanks to the help of so many others, hopefully he will soon.
For an audio interview with Kerry Long on Steve's work in Africa, visit the News Notebook blog.
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
How can I help?
Anyone interested in making a donation to help bring Steve Long back to the United States can send contributions to Marc and Kerri Long at 116 Cityside Drive, Wayne, NE 68787.
A fund has also been set up at State National Bank. Donations can be sent to: Steve Long Fund, c/o State National Bank, P.O. Box 130, Wayne, NE 68787.
The family also has set up a Paypal account. Donations can be e-mailed to: Marclong76@msn.com.
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