Ralph P. Metzger │ January 26, 1961–June 29, 2023

Update: we are so grateful for all of your support. We have just learned more about the scope of Ralph's medical insurance coverage, and are able to lower the goal we had initially set.

Dear Friends,

Ralph passed peacefully into God’s presence on June 29 after an intense fight with malaria. Read below to learn briefly of his journey and how you may be able to help.

He was feeling under the weather when he arrived home from Nigeria on June 15, but that was typical after a long trip. A few days later he was still not feeling much better. He was seen by his doctor, who confirmed he had two different strains of malaria. He was then immediately admitted into the hospital and taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He remained in the ICU for a week, and received aggressive treatment with the best antimalarial drugs available in the US. Despite that care his condition worsened each day as a result of the damage that had already been done.

On June 29th his critical care team told us then that they felt he had gotten to the point where the supportive care they could provide was then causing more harm even as it alleviated some existing problems. He was already on full time life support measures, and markers in his blood had begun to indicate that more of his vital organs were rapidly failing. At that point they told us that Ralph could crash at any time, requiring risky and likely futile emergency care, and that his prospect of recovery had shrunk to zero. Prayerfully and with heavy hearts we accepted their advice to shift the focus of his care toward keeping him comfortable and not compounding his existing symptoms with additional, aggressive interventions.

Shortly after removing his breathing tube Ralph quietly went into HIS rest.

Many have asked what they can do to help and I know we will have many emotional and financial challenges in the coming days and weeks. We were forewarned that Ralph’s course of malaria treatment would be costly, and we expect very large medical bills in the coming days and weeks. Any contributions on this page will be used to help with Ralph’s medical bills, memorial costs, and to support Karen in this time.

I am so grateful for all your prayers, support, and encouragement. And if you are interested in helping but not comfortable with this platform, please reach out to me directly.

Most of all, please continue to keep us all in your prayers; extended family as well.

Love,

Karen (and my whole family-Rachel, Josh and Levi, Dan and Jocelyn)