 Robert Frencher and his grandson have electricity, thanks to MLM. |
Although he struggles with diabetes and other issues, Kansas City resident Robert Frencher’s biggest challenge is raising his five-year-old grandson.
It’s also his greatest joy.
“He is special,” Robert says. “He’s a sharp young man.”
Now 55, Robert was recently diagnosed with diabetes although it’s likely he had the disease for longer.
“I knew something wasn’t right, but I’ve just been laying it off,” he recalled. “They say I’ve had it for quite a while. They had to keep me for two weeks and now I’ve have to do this and do that.”
“This and that” involves medication that has added to his financial problems. Living in a rental home owned by an out-of-town relative, he soon faced a choice between other expenses and utility bills. With his sole income currently the small amounts from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families for income, his electricity was shut off in October.
Robert stresses that without the grandson, who was abandoned by both of his parents, he wouldn’t have worried about electricity. “With him, it’s serious,” Robert explained. “If I was by myself, I would just deal with it. But the boy has to have electricity.”
After his hospitalization, Robert applied for federal disability payments, but the typical time lag and approaching winter meant he faced a crisis. That’s when he came into contact with Metro Lutheran Ministry. In a move typical of its emergency help, MLM stepped in and paid the disconnection fee and restored electricity.
“It helped,” Robert said, noting the grandson. “He’s doing fine.”
Robert and his grandson do well in other ways, too. Robert has accumulated some donated electronic games that accomplish two things: The grandson loves to play them and they make outstanding “levers.”
“I take them away if he’s not doing right,” Robert said, laughing. “I take the game away and he does what he needs to do, then he gets the game back. I just learned that this year.”
In warmer weather, the two also frequent area lakes. “He likes to go fishing,” Robert said. “He just loves that. He catches monster crappies. I don’t know if it’s luck or what. But that’s all he wants papa to do is go fishing.”
“Papa” does more, of course. “I keep him dressed and get him what he needs. He comes first. I just do what I do.”
