John Pantzer

Sometimes you just have to bend the rules.

Karen and John Pantzer have two children: Julia celebrated her seventh birthday on July 27 and Kristopher (Kris) enjoyed his fourth birthday bash on August 28. Karen agonizes through each day with a chronic illness and John does his best to keep the income coming in and take care of the home too. A couple of years ago Karen had more strength, but by early in 2006 her health had declined enough to prevent her from caring for Kris on her own while Julia was in school for the day. John and Karen’s knowledge of Asbury House and appreciation for the staff there began near the end of the 2005-2006 school year.

John and Karen looked forward to the possibility of enrolling Kris in K-4 in August, and with support from John’s employer, General Dynamics (Vertex) in Kilgore, plugged the gap in the meantime by a special work arrangement. John would work at home in the morning and in the office in the afternoon. Karen could usually last through the shortened period caring for Kris by herself.

Then they found out that enrollment in K-4 is based, among other criteria, on family income. Since John is an engineer, this meant public school K-4 was unavailable to them despite the extenuating medical circumstances. The staff at the local elementary school, Valley View, was sympathetic but could not change those rules. But they did care, and a few phone calls were made. Later that morning John received a call saying to call Pam Surles at Asbury House. "Tell her your situation. We think she can help you." he was told.

A few days later Karen and John met with Pam. Their income was too high for Asbury House enrollment guidelines and Kris had to be potty trained before enrolling. At the time of that conversation it would be a few more weeks before an opening was available anyway, so there was a chance the potty training could be finished. Also, Pam said that because of the extenuating circumstances, she’d bend the rules on income. What a relief. Breaks like this don’t happen everyday. This was major for the Pantzers.

By the date of the enrollment opening, Kris steadfastly remained uninterested in potty training. Kris would be joining Janet’s class. Janet, just back from maternity leave, heard about the Pantzer’s situation and offered to have Kris come on anyway. She’d see how things went. So it was that Kris found himself surrounded by potty-trained 3 and 4 year-olds and within a few weeks had made the paradigm shift himself.

Every day now Kris goes off to a fun, safe, happy day of activity and friendship supervised by caring ladies who have made the difference for the Pantzer family this year. Kris receives good food as well as intellectual and academic nourishment

John and Karen say a heartfelt "Thank you" to Pam and Janet and all the others who are daily a part of this wonderful gift to Kris, Julia and themselves as well.

If you plan on attending the luncheon please

RSVP to Sheila McElroy at 903-236-0073

If you would like to volunteer to help with this event, please contact Gelene, Jessica or Sheila.

Sheila McElroy

* Did you know that buried water bottles take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade? Did you know that 2.7 million tons of plastic are used to manufacture water bottles each year? A good case for investing in a quality thermos to carry your drinking water.

* Tammy Cromer-Campbell will be conducting a lecture on the environment and her recently published book, Fruit of the Orchard - Environmental Justice in East Texas.

Tammy writes, "In 1982, a toxic water facility opened in the Piney Woods in Winona, Texas. The residents were told that the company would plant fruit trees on the land left over from its ostensible salt-water injection well. Soon after the plant opened, however, residents started noticing huge clouds rising from the facility and in increase in rates of cancer and birth defects in both humans and animals."

Plan on attending this lecture and see Tammy's photographs. The date has not been decided on but an announcement will be made soon.