A Dairy Dream
Donation protected
"I hate what I'm about to do to you..." were the last things my sister-in-law heard from my brother as he was whisked away to the hospital. Within hours, he was intubated and fighting for his life after a large bleed in the back of his brain explained the nausea, severe headaches and bruising he had been experiencing over the previous few days. ITP, or Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura had dropped his platelets to almost zero and caused spontaneous bleeds throughout his body. Unfortunately, one of those bleeds was in his brain.
My brother Rob and his wife Jan began their dream of owning and operating a dairy farm near Sioux Falls, SD nearly 15 years ago. To say it's been a struggle is an understatement with all of the uncertainties of the weather, milk prices, commodity prices, politics and luck. But what kept them going was their deep connection to the land, their deep commitment to their animals and their deep love for each other. They are the hardest working people I have ever known, sleeping on average 4 hours a night and doing the collective work of 4-5 people between the two of them.
Now that dream is in jeopardy as Rob enters his third week in the ICU.
The outpouring of support and love from the community around their farm has been truly stunning. Without asking, people are showing up with food for Jan and the pets, offering their expertise in repairing equipment and completely taking over the tasks of twice daily milking, feeding, and cleaning the dairy, tasks which will not stop for anything. It's what's keeping Jan and the rest of the family going. For what my brother meant when he said what he said to Jan was that he hated knowing that, without him, ALL of the responsibility of running the farm will fall only onto her. Even as he was losing consciousness, his thoughts were not about himself but for what this unwelcome change in plans would mean for her.
We don't know what Rob's future looks like, but it is doubtful that he will return as a full time farmer any time soon. What that means for the dairy is uncertain at this time. What is certain is that it will be a struggle to pay for the never-ending operational costs of the farm, the costs of Rob's care so far and the unknown costs of his rehabilitation.
We are asking for any financial support you are willing and able to give. Any amount will be used to keep the farm going for now, to make decisions about it in the future and to defray the costs of getting Rob back on his feet and doing what he has loved since he was barely a teenager.
If you are unable to give financially, the family is deeply appreciative of the well-wishes, prayers and overall support. The sign of a truly great person is the response of the community he receives in his deepest, darkest time of need. The overwhelming response of Rob's community confirms what I've always known about him.
If you prefer to send a check directly, please make it out to Jan Schroeder to my address: Jerome Schroeder, 2532 Glenarm Pl, Denver, CO 80205.
Robert Schroeder
c/o Sanford Medical Center
1305 W. 18th St.
Room 3312
Sioux Falls, SD 57117
Rob and Jan Schroeder
47453 290th St
Beresford, SD 57004
To send an email to Rob via the hospital: https://www.sanfordhealth.org/patients-and-visitors/connect/email-a-patient
Caring Bridge Site:
http://caringbridge.org/visit/robschroeder/journal/view/id/5c636a9f431f31544d8b45a6

My brother Rob and his wife Jan began their dream of owning and operating a dairy farm near Sioux Falls, SD nearly 15 years ago. To say it's been a struggle is an understatement with all of the uncertainties of the weather, milk prices, commodity prices, politics and luck. But what kept them going was their deep connection to the land, their deep commitment to their animals and their deep love for each other. They are the hardest working people I have ever known, sleeping on average 4 hours a night and doing the collective work of 4-5 people between the two of them.
Now that dream is in jeopardy as Rob enters his third week in the ICU.
The outpouring of support and love from the community around their farm has been truly stunning. Without asking, people are showing up with food for Jan and the pets, offering their expertise in repairing equipment and completely taking over the tasks of twice daily milking, feeding, and cleaning the dairy, tasks which will not stop for anything. It's what's keeping Jan and the rest of the family going. For what my brother meant when he said what he said to Jan was that he hated knowing that, without him, ALL of the responsibility of running the farm will fall only onto her. Even as he was losing consciousness, his thoughts were not about himself but for what this unwelcome change in plans would mean for her.
We don't know what Rob's future looks like, but it is doubtful that he will return as a full time farmer any time soon. What that means for the dairy is uncertain at this time. What is certain is that it will be a struggle to pay for the never-ending operational costs of the farm, the costs of Rob's care so far and the unknown costs of his rehabilitation.
We are asking for any financial support you are willing and able to give. Any amount will be used to keep the farm going for now, to make decisions about it in the future and to defray the costs of getting Rob back on his feet and doing what he has loved since he was barely a teenager.
If you are unable to give financially, the family is deeply appreciative of the well-wishes, prayers and overall support. The sign of a truly great person is the response of the community he receives in his deepest, darkest time of need. The overwhelming response of Rob's community confirms what I've always known about him.
If you prefer to send a check directly, please make it out to Jan Schroeder to my address: Jerome Schroeder, 2532 Glenarm Pl, Denver, CO 80205.
Robert Schroeder
c/o Sanford Medical Center
1305 W. 18th St.
Room 3312
Sioux Falls, SD 57117
Rob and Jan Schroeder
47453 290th St
Beresford, SD 57004
To send an email to Rob via the hospital: https://www.sanfordhealth.org/patients-and-visitors/connect/email-a-patient
Caring Bridge Site:
http://caringbridge.org/visit/robschroeder/journal/view/id/5c636a9f431f31544d8b45a6
Fundraising team: Rob's Posse-For Rob & Jan Schroeder (2)
Jerome Schroeder
Organizer
Beresford, SD
Bessie Tan
Team member