Anna’s Surgery Update – May 7, 2025

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support—today has been a big day for our girl.

Anna went in for surgery this morning and everything went smoothly. She went to sleep peacefully, and the team was able to place a nerve block beforehand that’s helping manage her pain—it will wear off tomorrow. During surgery, they placed four screws and made two incisions to repair her leg. We’re so grateful to say she is doing well and resting now.

We’ve felt surrounded by love through every prayer, message, call, text, and card. Thank you for caring for us and especially for lifting Anna up during this time. We are so blessed—and so incredibly thankful for God’s presence, peace, and provision through it all.

Please continue to pray for a smooth and speedy recovery. We’re trusting God every step of the way.

With love,

The Vanderpools

An Update on Anna – Surgery Ahead & Prayer Request

We wanted to share an update on our 12-year-old daughter, Anna, who took a tough fall while playing basketball on Tuesday, April 29th.

After several doctor appointments, x-rays, and a CT scan, we learned that she has what the doctors called a trifocal break on her tibia, and because the break affects her growth plate, she’ll need surgery to ensure proper healing. Her surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, 2025, and we’re asking for your prayers and thoughts for Anna and her surgical team.

As of now, they expect she’ll need three screws to stabilize the bone and protect the growth plate. We are praying everything goes smoothly and that her recovery is quick and complication-free. 🙏

The first couple of days after her injury were really rough—she was in a lot of pain—but we’re thankful to report she’s feeling a bit better now. True to her independent spirit, Anna is already figuring out how to navigate her world differently. She’ll be using a knee scooter to help her get around at school, and she’s taking it all in stride (even if that stride looks a little different for now).

Please continue to keep Anna in your prayers:

• That her surgery goes smoothly

• For a quick and complete recovery

• That her mental health stays strong during this challenging time

• And—because it’s important to her—for healing in time to go swimming this summer 🏖️

Thank you to everyone who has been checking in, praying, and encouraging her (and us). It means the world to our family.

With gratitude and hope,
The Vanderpool Family

Surgery Update on Ricky – A Praise Report

 We wanted to share an update on Ricky's surgery yesterday, May 2nd—and it’s a good one. ❤️‍🩹

Ricky underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his right arm, repair a pinched nerve, and remove a bone spur from his elbow. We were originally told he’d need a cast afterward, and we braced ourselves for a tough recovery. But God had other plans—and we are so grateful.

Thanks to an incredible surgical team that went above and beyond, the procedure went even better than we had prepared for. Ricky didn’t end up needing a cast, and today he’s already using both hands to type (yes, really!).

He’s in good spirits, resting well, and feeling much better than we expected this soon after surgery. One thing he’s especially happy about? He can still enjoy his 3D printing hobby—no cast means he's able to tinker and create, which makes recovery a little brighter. 💻🖐️

He’ll need to wait a little while before jumping back into disc golf, but that’s okay—he’s got plenty to keep him busy in the meantime.

We’re beyond thankful for the answered prayers, the skilled hands of the medical team, and all of you who have been checking in, praying, and encouraging us. Thank you, God, for walking with us through this.