Where do you turn when the ground shakes in your world? For Kristi and Mark Arrowood, it’s simple; they look up. In fact, it’s Psalm 121 that they cling to.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” (Verses 1-4, NIV) .
It is a Biblical principle that many Christians turn to in difficult times. The Arrowoods not only believe that Biblical truth, but they’ve also lived it.
The couple’s two sons, Zac and Tanner, both had serious health issues as children. Zac, the oldest, had a collapsed lung at birth and then Tanner had a grand mal seizure at age 5 that was the first indicator of a serious brain issue that ultimately needed a risky surgery to repair.
It was Tanner’s experience that became a gamechanger not just for the family, but what eventually would be the entire Tri-State community.
“The neurologist said he had an inoperable left lower lobe mass, and we should prepare to lose him,” said Kristi, who is now in an emerita role with the Marshall Health Network Foundations. “I was sitting with him by myself in an ER trauma room rubbing his head, and I prayed, ‘Lord if you’re going to take him, do it now so he doesn’t have to suffer.’ I heard the Holy Spirit say, ‘Tanner is going to be okay.’”
She shared that experience with Mark, and from that moment on they began the process of getting Tanner the doctors and treatment he needed. They signed off on a dangerous experimental procedure that included high risks of him not being able to talk or losing his sight, memory, or life. They could do it because they were confident the Lord was with him. It worked, and Tanner is a healthy husband, father, and pastor today.
That lengthy surgery and recovery time in pediatric intensive care was an instrumental time for the Arrowoods. It helped give Kristi a unique perspective on the hospital and notably the need for specialty pediatric care.
It was a few years later in 2013 that Kristi, who had been working in development at the Marshall University Foundation, was being asked to come to work for the Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation and help with the giant undertaking of fundraising for a children’s hospital.
It was on a tour of the space at that time that she realized she was back in a room they had spent a lot of time in while Tanner recovered. While there, she felt the Holy Spirit’s prompting again, “This is where you’re supposed to finish your career.”
Just like when she chose faith in the face of Tanner’s risky surgery, Kristi chose faith again and believed the Lord was guiding her to say yes to a project that was expected to cost around $12 million and one in which the consultants said they would never achieve.
The Hoops Family Children’s Hospital (HFCH) is now a reality in large part because of her belief and work that she was the right person at the right time to spearhead the development component. The project took longer than originally planned because they chose to never stop treating children during the construction and renovations. Over that time, the price increased to $19 million.
Kristi doesn’t take any credit though.
“It was through our generous communities,” she said. “Everyone helped build that because of their heart for kids. By the grace of God, it is what it was supposed to be. Now that I’m retiring, it’s just fulfilling to have been a part of helping the children’s hospital at the place that saved both my children’s lives.”
When asked how she feels to see and hear stories of other families getting life-saving care and support at HFCH, the answer was immediate and resolute.
“Praise the Lord,” she said. “Thank you, Jesus, for taking care of it.”
Mark agreed.
“Ditto,” he said. “God provides what we need in a time that we need it. He is always right on time.”
Kristi said she is thankful to the Foundations for letting her share her story because it’s a reminder that the HFCH hospital always needs financial support. To that end, the Arrowoods are also members of the Medallion Society 2.0, which promises they will make an investment of $1,000 every year for 10 years. They also have estate plans for HFCH.
Of course, Kristi encourages others to find where their hearts and passions are and then look for ways to serve and help from there. For her, it was always faith first. That led her into development because her boys attended Covenant School. The school needed fundraising help and she got to work. Once she began working in the field of development it was about relationships, transparency, and integrity. It’s become her own form of ministry, which has given her opportunities to connect with and help people as well as to pray with families in crisis.
“It was challenging. We don’t live in a wealthy community, but we could do it because we built relationships with people that continue to give today,” she said of the approach she has taken in helping lead MHN Foundations. “We cultivate relationships and are good stewards of every penny. We care about people.”
Kristi counts it a privilege and honor to have had her role with the MHN Foundations through the years, but she’s happy to be pulling back and spending more time with her family, especially her six grandchildren. The Lord was and is faithful to her, and she can retire knowing she has been faithful to Him.
“I would have never imagined this as my career,” she said. “I believe the Lord put me in that position for this time. It’s just amazing how He planned my path. I am so grateful.
