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Who We Are

Hi! We're a group of Christian Moms and Caregivers whose kids need help from mechanical ventilation to breathe. Our kids range in age from infants to young adults, and are on ventilators for a variety of reasons. Some have autonomic disorders like CCHS and ROHHAD. Others have a brain tumor, a neuromuscular disease, a Chiari malformation, or a brain or spinal cord injury. Some kids have chronic lung or heart disease. But, no matter what their age, illness, or injury, all of our kids need help to breathe.

Most of our kids have tracheostomy tubes, but some are able to use Non-Invasive modes of ventilation like Bipap ST, Vpap, or curaiss ventilation, and a few have diaphragm pacers.

Many of our kids have multiple medical issues, and may have feeding tubes, braces, wheelchairs, assisted communication devices, or other equipment to help them eat, move, and talk.

Some of our teens and young adults are able to participate in the group themselves. Teens ages 13-17 may participate with a parent's consent. Young adults 18 and over may join as members.

The Kids with Vents Prayer Circle is a place to share your faith, request prayer support, post praise reports, listen to uplifting music, and find encouragement from fellow believers!

Everyone's background and experience is a little different, but we are joined in our belief that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died to save us, and that our strength comes from Him.

We welcome you to the
Kids with Vents Prayer Circle, and hope you will find many friends here!


Friday, August 6, 2010

Pastor Michael Keen


Hello everyone! My name is Pastor Michael Keen. Please call me Michael. I am 34 years old and have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, or DMD for short. I wasn't "officially," diagnosed until I was 13. By that time I had already began using a power wheelchair because I was too weak to push a manual chair any longer.

I lived with my parents until I was 21 years old.  At that time I was more determined than ever to make something out of my life despite having DMD.  I moved to Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center and began studing Mental Health/Human Services.  I graduated there in 2001 with an Associates Degree and Certificate in Peer Mediation through Blue Ridge Community College.  I was also married to my wonderful wife Robin by then.

In that same year I graduated Robin and I rented an Apartment in Stuarts Draft, Virginia.  During that time I had lost a great deal of weight.  I also began having breathing difficulties along with severe Central Sleep Apnea.  I began using a BiPap Machine at night and eventually a Pneumobelt in 2003.  In 2005 I was placed on a Trach and Ventilator. 

In that same year we had our own home built in Waynesboro, Virginia.  With the help of the Fannie Mae, Virginia Housing and Development Authority, Waynesboro Housing and Redevelopement, Planters Bank, and HUD Housing, we had our home built ground up around our individual needs.  Our Mortgage Rate was locked down at 4.0% and with Section 8, more that half of our monthly payment was paid.  That means our entire monthly payment stayed around $80-90 per month; this remains the same today.

About 2 years ago, I began to see the annointing God had on my life.  I began taking Online Classes in persuit of a BA in Pastoral Ministries.  The same year I came up with a Concept Christian Ministry for the Disabled.  Today, we are called Spirit Roller Ministries and we are 501c3 Non Profit; we are also an Affiliate with Joni and Friends Ministries.  We have been running a very successful program called MedEvange.  We take used/donated Medical Equipment then we give it away free of charge to the needy.  We also have a Mentoring Service, Couseling, Advocacy and Empowering them with the Word of God.

I am looking foward to being amoung all of you.  I am very honored that Deborah and her mother have asked me to lead Blogging through the Bible in 90 Days.  I have a cell phone (540-324-2503) and you can call me anytime; also, I am on Blogger as Spritroller and Preachy Keen; I am on FaceBook and Twitter as well.  Lastly on the web www.spiritrollerministries.org.  I look forward to being part of your lives!

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