Welcome to my Rich's Rangers CaringBridge website.
Celebrating a successful LIVER TRANSPLANT SURGERY on March, 25th, 2017!
I am Rich Bontrager (age 51), Pastor and Professional sport broadcaster. This site was dedicated to keeping you, my family and friends, updated on how things were progressing with my biggest life adventure yet...my battle with Chrioss of the Liver. After slowly getting worse these last 2 1/2 years, I was placed on a Liver Transplant List with the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. and after only being placed back on the active list less than 20 days, then phone call came and we were off to face surgery.
What a big surprise, surgery, and now road back to full health.
So continue to follow the story, celebrate with me, and learn more as the "rest of the story" unfolds.
THE MEANING OF RICH'S RANGERS:
Anyone that knows me knows I love adventure and The Lord of the Rings. I have long identified with Strider, the Ranger from the north that is more than what he seems. At the the end of the quest to destroy the ONE RING, the ring bearer Frodo is worn out from the burden he has carried and he is near death. His fellow Hobbit, and best friend, Sam says some of the most moving words in the story. It is these words and Sam's spirit that I hope Rich's Rangers can provide as this journey gets more and more intense.
Sam says, "I may not be able to carry your burden Mr. Frodo, but I can carry you."
And with that Sam picks Frodo up and carries him in to Mt. Doom. (gates of hell) to help Frodo destroy the ring.
While none of you can carry my Chrioss of the liver, I hope you will help "carry me" with God's help through the pending tougher and tougher battle that is to come..
Thank you, all my love, and respect.....
Rich "Trigger" Bontrager
PS - I am in need financial help in paying for my medical bills as well as the medicines which I take now and will take to fight off rejection and infection after the transplant. Currently I am unable to work due to the complications caused by the dying liver. Any amount will be of great help. If you want more info on giving directly, go to the link below.
Thanks and God bless.
https://www.gofundme.com/RichBontrager 
