Lois W.

Lois Walker is recovering from West Nile encephalitis.  She is now in Assisted Living.
Pray for complete healing for Lois, for peace and patience in the healing process, for her family and caregivers as they care for her.

Colter Dallman

Holly's friend high school friend Colter Dallman has been missing since January 3.  Pray for safety for him, for comfort for his family:  Morgan, Carolyn and sister Jessica as the search continues for Colter.

Published January 29, 2013:   Mike Nowatzki, INFORUM
After son's body found in field, mom hopes others can learn from Colter's struggle with mental illness

FARGO – The day after Christmas, Colter Dallman went to Guatemala expecting to be crucified. He didn’t tell his parents, knowing that if he did, they would have grounds to commit him to a hospital – again – for treatment of his mental illness, his mother said.
He didn’t tell his parents, knowing that if he did, they would have grounds to commit him to a hospital – again – for treatment of his mental illness, his mother said.
But when the 27-year-old arrived in the Central American nation, he found no cross to bear and no one willing to crucify him as the savior he believed himself to be. He thought about staying anyway, but for his parents’ sake he returned to Fargo Dec. 31.

Four days later, his car was found abandoned on Interstate 29 south of the city. Authorities conducting a ground search discovered his body Monday in a nearby field.
Carolyn Woodruff, of Beulah, said she and her husband, Morgan Dallman, had “a pretty good idea” about what had happened to their son. What authorities found Monday – including a suicide note in Dallman’s wallet – gave them the closure they needed, she said.
“I’m sure that he had no intention of creating this much trouble and expected that someone would be notified when his car was left there and that he would be easily found,” she said. “But it didn’t – like many things in his life – did not work out the way he had envisioned it to.”
She said she hopes his story can raise awareness of mental illness and en-courage those struggling with it to take advantage of the treatment available.
“We’re hoping that mental illness can be seen by the community as a disease like any other disease that doesn’t have to be hidden in the closet, and the affected people don’t have to go through the torment of wondering how others are judging them and can have the support that’s available to them if they can open up about their problems,” Woodruff said.
Fargo police on Tuesday preliminarily identified the body as that of Dallman. An autopsy will take place Thursday in Bismarck.
“There is no indication at this point of foul play,” Lt. Joel Vettel said.
Eighty-one Americans die by suicide each day, making it the nation’s eighth-leading cause of death, and 80 to 90 percent suffer from a diagnosable mental illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dallman was 21 years old and attending North Dakota State University when he came home acting suicidal, his mother said. She drove him back to Fargo, where he agreed to admit himself into a hospital for treatment.
“But he was very, very ashamed and very afraid of what other people would think of him, so he kept that a complete secret from almost all of his closest friends even,” she said.
The antidepressant he was given made him manic, during which time he began writing a book called “Judgement’s Day,” Woodruff said.
He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and given different medication, but even when he went back to college, “He still always had the desire to complete this book that would reconcile all the different religions and help people to understand how they could live together in peace,” she said.
As the bipolar disorder progressed over the past two years, Dallman began having delusions about being the savior of man-kind, the “Second Coming.” When his parents learned of his desire to be crucified in Guatemala, they had him involuntarily committed to a Bismarck hospital.
“He sat in the psych ward reading his Bible for two weeks and he refused to take medication that he felt would poison his system and make him unable to think clearly,” Woodruff said.
After two weeks, a judge ruled that Dallman wasn’t an immediate danger to himself or others and ordered him released, she said. He moved back to Fargo in late July.
Dallman had quit his job as a psychiatric aide so he could focus on his book, and his relationship with his parents was strained, which they realized was a risk of the involuntary commitment, Woodruff said.
Still, he returned to Beulah and had a “very good talk” with his mother on Christmas Eve.
“He seemed to be handling things OK,” she said, adding he had accepted that nothing unusual had happened on Dec. 21 – a date some believed would bring the end of the world or usher in a new era – and that he would have to find a job to support himself.
In fact, on Jan. 4, the day he went missing, his computer’s Internet history showed he was browsing job sites, Woodruff said.
“But I understand exactly what he was going through, that he had finished his life’s purpose in completing the book and was trying his best to do what was expected of him but couldn’t see any purpose in it,” she said, echoing his letter, a copy of which she provided to The Forum.
Now, the grieving parents hope their son’s story will help others realize there are options.
“Colter refused to treat his psychosis in the past two years, and if other people can see that they do need to treat their psychosis, it can relieve a lot of anguish for them and their families,” Woodruff said.
A memorial service will be held at a later date, she said.

Holly B

 

Holly Boele, friend of Susan (Schrepel) Malec, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Pray for her family (husband Dave, daughter Emily, and son Sam) as they care for her as she goes through surgery, chemo, and radiation.   Pray for healing, strength, peace, and for the right treatment decisions for Holly.  Also pray for Susan to be able to care for Holly and show this family the Love of Christ.

 Sunday, February 10, 2013 11:31:18 AM
Susan,

 Thank you so much for coming over to visit yesterday.  The cookbook is just perfect for me and I know I will get a lot of use out of it. Please thank your mom and her friends for me, too.  The prayer quilt is such a special gift; I know I'll feel the prayers as I lay it around my shoulders or on my lap.

 It was really nice to see both you and Lauren yesterday.  I will continue to pray for job opportunities and peace in the meantime.

In Him,

 Holly

Susan  forgot to take a picture.

They found more cancer in Holly at Mayo.  I guess the cancer is also in the bone behind the breast and also in lymph nodes.  She is doing chemo and her hair has already been coming out.  She will be on a special study from Mayo and be able to do some of the treatments in Grand Rapids.  Holly is a special education coordinator.

Joyce

Diane D

Diane Daniels is the daughter-in-law of Chris Daniels.  She has a diagnosis of Lyme's disease which has completely incapacitated her and her husband is caring for her in their home.
We pray for healing, for patience, for strength for Diane and her family, and for God's peace in this difficult situation.

Melissa and Kennley W

We made this quilt for Melissa and Kennley Wright and family.  They are facing some difficult times and we prayed for peace and comfort, praising God for how He works things together for the good of those who Love Him and are called according to His purposes.

Quilter's Christmas Party

Christmas at Joyce's