An Update on Fr. Rick Ganz, SJ
June 5, 2019
Early yesterday morning (Tuesday, June 4th), Fr. Rick Ganz was in a serious accident when he fell down a flight of stairs at the Loyola High School residence where he was staying in Los Angeles. He was not found for a number of hours and was unconscious. He was transported to a hospital in central LA where he is currently in the ICU. While his injuries are significant, he is now responsive, in good spirits, and doing as well as can be expected. Please hold him close in your prayers. We will keep you updated on this webpage in the coming days.
Wednesday evening
From Mark Ganz, brother of Rick:
Bill and I are here and spent the morning with Rick. His cognition is excellent and his spirits are good. He is in worse shape physically than we had been led to believe. He has skull, neck, back, clavicle, multiple rib and left wrist fractures. Lots of scans, evaluations, etc. this morning. We left him to sleep a bit. So much pain.
Thursday morning, June 6
From brothers Mark Ganz and Bill Ganz, M.D.:
“Rick is a little better this morning – he had a good night’s sleep. He is quite sore as expected on this second day after his trauma. No fever overnight or this morning. He is in good spirits. Rick will be having surgery in the next few days on his left wrist, forearm and clavicle.”
Friday morning, June 7
Prayers for Rick as he undergoes surgery this morning to repair his fractured wrist, arm, and clavicle. He has a long and painful road to recovery ahead of him.
Friday afternoon:
Note from Bill Ganz:
Rick’s surgery was successful in accomplishing what they set out to do: his fractured right collar bone is plated. His left radius fracture required an external fixation to stabilize it. He will have the screws and external apparatus in place for approximately six weeks. All in all, positive news!
Note from the Faber Office:
Keep those prayers and good thoughts flowing…
With regards to cards, letters, etc.: if you will mail them to the Faber Office, we will have them delivered to Rick.
Saturday, June 8
It has been a good day. Rick was able to sit up on the edge of the bed and is making progress. So grateful.
Sunday, June 9
Rick was able to sit up in a chair today. He is basically off of pain medicines. He is strong, alert and coherent. Very grateful for all of the prayers and love coming his way.
Monday, June 10
Rick has made good progress today. He got up and walked with support to a chair where he sat for some time. No IVs and no prescription pain meds.
Tuesday, June 11
Rick is doing well and we expect him to be back in Portland soon. The road to recovery will be long and painful. Please continue to keep Rick in your prayers.
Saturday, June 15
Rick arrived in Portland on Thursday. He is working through physical and occupational therapy as well as ongoing medical care for his many broken bones. Fr. Ganz is very grateful for the prayers and messages. The love and support has helped immensely!
There will be a prayer gathering this Monday, June 17th (Rick’s birthday!) at noon at the Loyola Jesuit Center (3220 SE 43rd Ave). All are welcome. Please email Mary Edmonds at office@faberinstitute.com with any questions.
About Faber Institute
The Faber Institute was founded in 2014 by Fr. Rick Ganz, SJ (a Jesuit priest) and is based in Portland, Oregon. The Faber Institute is committed to “awakening souls” in an age when the existence of the soul, and of its particular capacities and formidable powers, is overlooked. We do this by putting people in touch with sources of depth and vision within themselves through which they gain a discerning capacity to recognize the highest good of persons, and its counterfeits.
The works of the Institute are the “works of soul”:
- teaching spiritual and theological doctrine in accessible ways which inspire personal conversion
- preaching the Gospel and opening the riches of the Scriptures
- giving the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius through Retreats
- giving spiritual direction to individuals
- doing the priestly work of the Sacraments
- giving counsel to the doubtful
- creating bonds of trust and giving help to all Christian denominations
- teaching people how to deliberate well and to make good decisions in Christ
- and perhaps most of all, how to practice the art of friendship in the way that Christ Himself demonstrated in his earthly life as possible, and necessary, for us
