Stand with the Rickert Family on Their Journey to Healing and Stability

Our Story

When we moved to Arizona to be near Saint Anthony’s Monastery, we knew we’d be starting a new chapter — and we also brought with us some ongoing health concerns. Ephraim was already experiencing debilitating migraines and long COVID symptoms, and shortly after the move, Ephraimia developed intense facial and jaw pain.

During that time, Ephraim took a job as a correctional officer to provide for the family and secure better insurance. Unfortunately, the physically demanding work severely impacted his feet. He continued to work 16-hour shifts up and down the floors and stairs of the prison until eventually, both feet began to break down structurally from the conditions of Morton’s Neuroma and Plantar Fasciitis, leaving him barely able to walk. Fortunately, during this time the correctional insurance and income was able to get us through and help pay for the crucial treatment that Ephraimia needed to get better. She was finally diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia and TMJ. Thankfully, with the care of a skilled biological dentist and upper cervical chiropractor, most of her pain has been resolved — though insurance didn’t cover all of it, and we’re still carrying medical debt.

Upon returning to truck driving to stay off his feet, Ephraim suffered another serious setback — after having previously fallen backwards out of his truck onto the blacktop at work, he suffered a second fall on a concrete floor at home, breaking his tailbone. This prevented him from being able to work in corrections or as a truck driver. 

We’ve since learned he has a broken and displaced coccyx, along with ligament and cartilage damage. Ephraim is unable to sit or stand for any length of time and even driving to an appointment that is an hour away takes a week to recover from due to the incredible pain. While the path to healing is slow, we’re encouraged by a promising treatment plan involving PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and dextrose injections. These advanced therapies offer hope for real recovery — but they’re not covered by insurance. While difficult to predict exact timing, it is likely to take 6-9 months from now to get the tailbone healed enough to work at a job that requires sitting, standing or driving.

Although each injury and ailment we are enduring is difficult in its own way, it is not only their individual severity, but the combination of them all together that has brought us to such dire circumstances physically and financially. The overlapping trials have been long and challenging, and we have exhausted all of our resources. Yet we are full of hope that with your help Ephraim’s spine can be restored to health, so that he will be able to return to work and we will be made stronger from the struggle.

Where We Are Now

Despite the hardships, we continue to move forward with faith, gratitude, and determination:

• We’ve used our savings and sold our vehicles to cover basic needs.
• We’re doing everything we can to keep our home and maintain stability for our children.
• We remain hopeful that this treatment plan will allow Ephraim to return to work and provide again.

How You Can Help

We’re seeking donations to help cover:

• Out-of-pocket medical treatments
• Travel costs to access specialist care
• Basic living expenses during Ephraim’s recovery

No gift is too small — every dollar brings us closer to recovery and keeps our family together and housed through this season. Most of all, your support reminds us that we’re not walking this road alone. 

With Grateful Hearts

To all who have supported us with your prayers, kindness, and love — thank you. Your compassion gives us courage and strength to keep going. We’ll continue to share updates, and we ask that you please consider sharing this fundraiser with others who may be able to help.

With heartfelt gratitude,
The Rickert Family
Ephraim, Ephraimia, Ellena, Basil, Herman, and Justina