From Fred Kellers, pastor, Bowling Green, KY:

Six weeks after Ray Bloom had his third stroke I am sorry to report that he died peacefully at 11:50 p.m. on June 14th at his home with his wife Patty at his side. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. He will be buried in Chillicothe, Ohio. Time and date will be announced in the near future. Please pray for Patty that God will give her comfort and strength in her bereavement.

6/16/2003

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From Fred Kellers, pastor, Bowling Green, KY:

Ray Bloom has rallied, is able to drink water and take in liquid food such as "Insure," but the doctor still believes that he will only last another two weeks at the most.  Ray has spoken a few words.  This is amazing considering the fact that he went for days with no response and was unable to eat or drink.  He is at home where Patty can take care of him.  She doesn't want him to go back to the hospital where they were constantly coming in to poke him or do something else.  She is receiving help from family and church members, but she is extremely tired.  These are such wonderful and precious people.  Please ask God to intervene.  Thank you in advance.

Patty Bloom
PO Box 1461
Whitehouse, TN 37188

6/13/2003

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From Fred Kellers, pastor, Bowling Green, KY:

I am sorry to report that Ray Bloom, age 72, an elder in the Bowling Green, KY congregation, has had another stroke with bleeding into his brain.  The doctors say that there is no hope and they have sent him home to die.  He is not able to eat or drink, but he is completely unconscious and is not suffering now.  Ray's wife, Patty, is a strong person and is receiving all the help she feels she needs but this is obviously extremely difficult for her.  She is asking that God either heal Ray or let him go to sleep quickly, without any suffering.  If God doesn't heal Ray, he can't last long.  If he does die, I will update you as quickly as possible.  Patty certainly needs our prayers for continued comfort and strength.  I will send Patty's address when we know the outcome.

6/5/2003

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From Fred Kellers:

Prayer Request Update on Ray Bloom:

On Wednesday morning they did a quadruple bypass. Afterward he was bleeding so badly, internally, that they had to open him back up to try to stop the bleeding. After that he was still bleeding internally but not so bad that they had to open him back up.

It's Thursday night and I just got back from the hospital. Mr. Bloom is still in the critical care unit, but was partially sitting up and able to talk. It appears that the bleeding has stopped. As a matter of fact, he was actually a little feisty. He felt he wasn't getting the service he needed. They were only letting him have a little cracked ice and he wanted a large drink of water. They told him it was for his own good, but he didn't like it. Anyway, I had to laugh at him being so upset. I told him how happy I was that he was not only alive but feeling well enough to be feisty. The first time I've ever seen him upset. Then he laughed. Great!!

Thank you all so much for your prayers. Thank you, Father!

1/14/2000

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From Fred Kellers:

Here is the latest on Mr. Ray Bloom.

The doctor has decided to wait until Wednesday morning before doing bypass surgery. It will be at least a triple bypass but depending on how things look when they are doing the surgery, it may be four or five bypasses. They are waiting for his fever to subside and for the fluid around his lungs to lessen. Mr. Bloom is very positive and thankful for everyone's prayers.

1/12/2000

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From Fred Kellers:

Mr. Ray Bloom urgently needs your prayers. Mr. Bloom has had heart trouble and a stroke in the past, but he has always sufficiently recovered to where he has continued to be a pillar and servant in the Bowling Green congregation. Mr. Bloom is our only elder in Bowling Green. He has now had another serious heart attack. The doctor at St. Thomas hospital wants to operate before there is more permanent damage to the heart, but at the moment there is too much fluid built up around his lungs from heart failure and Mr. Bloom also has a fever. Mr. Bloom will be 69 next month. He would be better off if God allowed him to sleep until the return of Jesus Christ, and he has expressed as much.

But Mrs. Bloom needs him and the Bowling Green congregation and I need his steady hand. Please ask God to have mercy on us and restore Mr. Bloom to us. God's will be done.

1/12/2000

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