News & Needs Archive

She could see the window of her husband’s hospital room

From her room at Reba’s Ranch House, Angela Farmer could see the window of her husband’s hospital room. Despite them both being in isolation because of the COVID-19 quarantine, she could stay connected with Alan, her husband of 16 years, through the closeness of Reba’s Ranch House. Even from another building, Angela watched over her husband, able to see his room that held him safe.

The ranch house has remained in continual operation, 24×7, 365 days of the year, since its opening in 1992. Round the clock, round the year, and through a major global crisis, caregivers still need a comfortable place to stay and loving care while they watch over their loved ones.

Connected by video chat

After pneumonia, contracting the flu, and experiencing severe low oxygen, Alan remained in isolation at the hospital. It was a long, long two weeks for them.
But through the power of technology, Angela was able to video chat with him. He reacted by blinking his eyes and moving his head. Angela knew he recognized her voice.

Prayers from Peru

“Everybody has been praying,” Angela said. “I have a big crew of people praying for him. I have family praying in Peru, I had three groups on my phone and messenger. Prayer is the best weapon you can have for anything. If things turn out bad, God knows why and then gives you strength to keep going. I’m a living witness of how the Lord acts.”

Angela met her husband years ago through the Internet. She came from Peru to marry him.

“Before I met Alan, I prayed for him,” she said. “I prayed for the Lord to give me somebody that would love me, and He brought me Alan. Now we have this test, and the Lord is still with us.”

It was during a recent time of Angela’s family visiting from Peru that Alan experienced a turn in his health. They were all traveling in Oklahoma when the discomfort in his chest began.

A series of procedures, expert care at the hospital, and the love of his wife stabilized Alan and put him on the road to recovery.

“If I had been in Corsicana [instead of staying at Reba’s Ranch House], I don’t think my husband would have made it,” Angela said. With the ranch house remaining open, she had a stable place to stay as things around her, and the world, changed.

Giving Back

After an extended stay at Reba’s Ranch House, an essential service that remains open through the COVID-19 crisis to take in caregivers, Angela returned to Corsicana, Texas, while her husband finishes therapy and prepares for release. She works at a candy company and plans to bring a batch of chocolates to everyone who helped during their trying circumstances.

“All the staff in this house and in the hospital, they’re the best,” Angela said. “They treated me like one more member of the family, and I appreciate everybody. I couldn’t have been in a better place. People need to help places like this. When all this is over, I’m going to start donating [to Reba’s Ranch House] because it could help another person like me.”