Update on Rob

Thank you so much for your concern and prayers for Rob.

Yesterday was a good day for him. He was able to respond by opening his eye. He has been on a respirator in order to help aid his breathing. Many of his muscles responsible for his breathing are relaxed, so the respirator helps override those relaxed muscles and keeps him breathing. They took him off the respirator for a couple of hours yesterday and he was able to breathe on his own. Breathing became labored and they put him back on the respirator.

Last night and today Rob has been unresponsive. He hasn't been able to open his eyes when asked to. He has been off the respirator again, though, for much of the morning. They are hoping his unresponsiveness is due to him being tired. His being unresponsive has been really hard on his wife, who is 7 months pregnant with their fourth child.

The stolen bike wasn't the first time the seven thirteen-year-olds have caused problems for Rob's family, or the neighborhood. A few weeks ago the same group knocked his wife to the ground––remember she is 7 months pregnant. A neighbor said that the main boy of the group knocked a 74-year-old man out of his wheelchair last summer and stole it.

And, apparently, the beating Rob received was captured on video by one of the group-member's cell phones and has been posted on the internet. The detective working the case at this point has refused to confiscate any of their cell phones.

Please keep praying for Rob, his wife, and his family. Thanks.