PORTAGE – “He was not supposed to make it,” recalled Jill Sandilla about the chilling news she was given about her husband Bob.
Nearly three months ago, the physically fit, diaconate candidate began treatment for cancer when things took a grim turn. “He not only had two brain stem strokes, he had meningitis and a blood infection,” said Jill, seated next to Bob in his room at Brickyard Healthcare – Portage Care Center.
The Sandillas are members of Nativity of Our Savior parish.
Jill shared that her critically ill husband was transferred to Rush Hospital in Chicago where they were able to figure out what was going on. “They saved his life. It also helped that he was in such great shape. He’s a fighter and a (Purdue) Boilermaker. Mostly it was the power of prayer,” said Jill.
“People asked what they could do. I told them we need prayers. That was my answer,” she responded.
With her hand on Bob’s shoulder while he sat in his wheelchair she added, “Now here’s my answer: I still have him, as ornery as he can be. But ornery is better than the alternative.”
Defying the odds, Bob spent nearly three months in Chicago where he received specialized care.
“I’ve talked to doctors and people who understand what he’s been through. They are completely shocked as to how far he has come in such a short amount of time,” said Jill. “He can move both legs, both arms and is speaking as clearly as he is. Literally, doctors and nurses that I have spoken with say it’s no short of a miracle, and I attribute that to the power of prayer.”
Bob has an army of prayer warriors. On June 19, nearly 40 of them, mostly from St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center and Nativity of Our Savior, gathered outside the Brickyard center to pray the Rosary with Bob and Jill. This was the first time Bob was able to pray with his faith community.
“Christ was there today. I loved it. My faith community is strong, and it all helps. I’ve learned a lot about the people around me,” said Bob, whose strong, clear voice is finding its way back. “I appreciate all the prayers. All the people who visit. It means a lot to me to have so many people interested in my recovery. It’s a big part of my recovery.”
Joe Zaweski and Jonathan McGinty began a prayer group shortly after Bob went into the hospital in March.
“As a community, it was good for us to come together because everyone was mourning and was dealing with it in their own way. So, the first night our men’s group did it at St. Teresa’s,” said Zaweski.
According to Zaweski, about 40 people showed up that first night. “It told us there was a need for the community to come together,” he said. “Not everyone could get up to Chicago, so this was a way to help and pray for Bob, Jill, and their family.”
McGinty added, “This is a beautiful moment for him to see everyone he knows and loves and to pray with him. He was looking forward to it. It was his first time around a lot of people.”
Pat Nicholson described the evening as a feeling of warmth. “It fills my heart with such joy that, on such a beautiful evening, we can gather together as a community to show our love and support to Bob and Jill and the family,” she said.
Izzy DeJesus shared how he and Bob have a common hobby – fishing. DeJesus said Bob makes fishing poles. “I love the fishing poles he makes. I can’t wait for him to teach me one day how to make them,” he said.
In the midst of Bob’s health struggles, DeJesus feels Bob continues to fish. “He’s become a fisher of men. Look at the number of people here tonight who have come to see him or those who gather weekly for prayer. It’s bringing out the best in everybody,” said DeJesus. “Prayers have already been answered.”
“This isn’t a church community, it’s a church family,” said Angie Dominguez, describing the group gathered around the Sandillas.
Dominguez recalled visiting with Bob and Jill in the Michigan City hospital the night before his health declined. “We were having a date night in his hospital room, watching a movie, having a great time and the next morning Jill called frantically. You feel absolutely helpless,” she shared.
“We made a pact that we were all going to get together every week on Wednesdays and pray the Rosary for Bob until he comes home,” said Dominguez.
“We started praying the first week he was on the ventilator, with a prognosis for a week or two. Jill called the next morning saying they were going to be taking him off the ventilator,” Dominguez recalled. “It’s only been two and a half months. If you’ve seen where he was to where he is now, I have no doubt in six months he’ll be back to being Bob and who he was. We just love him.”
Jill said the journey has revealed how much the family relied on community and their faith.
“What this has done has brought a lot of people together, brought a community together. We were friends, but a lot of those people didn’t know each other before all this started,” she shared.
“I don’t know if anyone can go through this kind of experience or any similar experience without faith and community. There is no way I or Bob ever would have gone through this without faith and community,” she confessed.
Looking ahead when he gets home, Bob plans to get his grill out and make a steak dinner for Jill. “She’s been a trooper through all this. She’s been by my side during this journey, and we’ve grown closer through this.”
Through his journey, Bob and Jill put Christ in the center of their suffering.
“I believe everything the Gospel says, and I try to live that, and in doing so it allows people to warm up to Christ. I believe Jesus is helping me. I believe that I am going to recover,” said Bob.
He declared, “There’s a reason for this. I don’t know what it is, but God has a plan.”
Caption: Bob and Jill Sandilla pray the rosary with a group from of parishioners from Nativity of Our Savior and St. Teresa of Avila Student Center on June 19 outside Brickyard Healthcare - Portage Care Center. (Deacon Bob Wellinski photo)