Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9503040015
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: AIMEE RATLIFF SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
It wasn't just any book. It was the final chapter of his dream to show his parents how much he appreciated their support and love during his 35-year bout with cerebral palsy and other medical complications.
With the help of family and a lot of friends, Wheeler presented "Robbie's Reach Out: A collection of thoughts, prayers, and scriptures to glorify God, honor my parents and encourage others" to Bob and Nancy Wheeler on Feb. 12 during a reception at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Salem.
"For most of the 10 years that I have known Robbie, he has talked of writing a book of his life to dedicate to his parents, but no one in the community quite knew how to help him accomplish this," said Donna Powell, a family friend who coordinated the publishing.
"I've always had trouble expressing myself because of my physical handicap. It's frustrating not being able to write things down on paper," Wheeler said.
His desire to write the book became stronger when his parents' health began failing.
His father has had three heart attacks and two open-heart surgeries since 1982, including one procedure last February.
His mother has been battling cancer for four years and in April 1994 had another bout. She finished chemotherapy in November.
The illnesses of his parents reminded Wheeler of his grandparents' deaths, two weeks apart just three years ago. They created an urgency to complete the project.
Wheeler's feelings encouraged Powell to become more involved and help him reach his goal.
Puzzled by the approach she should take, Powell thought of Wheeler's mother, who directs activities for youths and seniors at St. Paul's and often shares her testimony with church groups.
A big part of her testimony is how Wheeler's birth and life has been the basis of her faith, love and belief in God.
"Robbie's mother has always told me how he has this beautiful gift of prayers. When my son, Paul, died as the result of a car accident in May of 1991, nothing would do until Robbie came to pray with my family because he was so concerned about us," Powell said.
"His prayers are so dear, and so I thought, 'Why doesn't he write a book of prayers that go along with the feelings and experiences that he's had in his life and just put it with his mother's story?'''
Powell met with Wheeler around Thanksgiving to discuss her idea. He agreed to do the book.
Powell also gained support from Wheeler's sister, Nancy Hack, and her husband, Mike.
"This opportunity came at a good time for Robbie because it gave him a chance to vent his feelings," his sister said.
To put the prayers on paper, Powell and Wheeler met regularly at a Salem restaurant and taped their conversations.
Powell played the tapes over and over to set them into a manuscript. The Hacks typed and edited the prayers.
Wheeler's nephews contributed artwork for the prayer book. Daniel Hack drew praying hands enclosed by the Earth for the front cover. Matt Poff drew a frog dressed in a golfing outfit. Golf is Bob Wheeler's pastime.
The book begins with Wheeler and Nancy Hack expressing their thankfulness for wonderful parents.
In the dedication, Wheeler says, "Just as the Bible is God's love letter to us, this book is my love letter to you, Mom and Dad."
The purple pages - Nancy Wheeler's favorite color - contain both prayers and Nancy Wheeler's story of the obstacles her son faced. They tell how parental love and support, coupled with the graciousness of the Salem community, enabled Wheeler to overcome many things doctors said he couldn't.
Wheeler's prayers are in four divisions: adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. Each is accompanied by a scripture to encourage the reader.
The book also is a demonstration of Wheeler's belief in God. ``God is my best friend,'' Wheeler said.
Nancy Wheeler, after reading her son's tribute, said the prayers that touched her most expressed his feeling that a part of him was dying during her illness.
"Even though this is how he felt, he was also reaching toward God for the strength to make it through this difficult time,'' she said.
She and her husband said one of the joys is Wheeler's reaching out to others.
"He has been able to look outside himself, which is amazing, considering the fight that he has fought through all the years that he has had to go to therapy," Nancy Wheeler said.
Although Wheeler's physical handicap has been a challenge, it did not prevent him from graduating from the Roanoke County Occupational School or from gaining a sense of independence that has led him to do volunteer work with the Roanoke College basketball team and at a Salem food pantry, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, C.J.'s Market and Mac and Bob's restaurant.
He used to pretend he worked at the restaurant ``because I wanted to feel important. I wanted to be important so bad.''
He also started attending the Salem Church of Christ because ``I wanted to be independent from my parents and make a break.''
Although he's worked on a church newsletter, Wheeler said, he's proud of his book, which "would've been impossible without Donna Powell."
"I'm really proud because I never thought this dream would happen."
Robbie Wheeler's book can be purchased for $5 by calling St. Paul's' Episcopal Church at (703) 389-9307 or writing to Robbie's Reach Out, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 42 East Main St., Salem 24153.
Proceeds will be donated to the Nancy and Bob Wheeler Scholarship, which helps children who do not qualify for handicap services to attend Anne's Episcopal Day School.
Nancy Wheeler started the preschool seven years ago, and now teaches music there once a week.
by CNB