PIERCETON - Pierceton United Methodist Church has scheduled a benefit dinner to help out a neighbor.
The dinner is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Aug. 25. The money will go to Gary and Gloria Brubaker.
In April, Gloria, 59, was taken to Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, with flu-like symptoms. She was treated for severe flu. After five days, while she was being discharged from the hospital, Gloria fell and broke her right fibula.
Pierceton UMC member Marcia Fisher-Burdette said the broken leg was a blessing in disguise. "We all know God works in mysterious ways," said Fisher-Burdette. "This broken leg necessitated the doctors to take a closer look at her symptoms. It was found that she had a severe blockage in her spinal column."
Gloria underwent neurosurgery and spent 2-1/2 months as a patient at Lutheran Hospital and Lutheran Rehab Hospital. She currently is wheelchair-bound and learning how to walk again.
Fisher-Burdette said the Brubakers' final hospital costs were $200,000, and physician charges exceeded $40,000.
"We know some of the costs will not be covered by insurance," Fisher-Burdette said, "because the physicians were not participating members of the Brubakers' insurance. Currently, Gloria's medication is in excess of $350 per month. Add the cost of fuel for the many doctor appointments and their budget has been over-maxed."
The dinner will be a haystack dinner. A free-will donation will be held, and the proceeds will go to the Brubakers to help defray medical expenses.
Pierceton UMC is located at 502 First St. For more information, call 574-594-5180.
