Church members parade past home of beloved pastor battling cancer
OAKLAND TWP — Draped and decorated in balloons and banners, cars rolled down Hoon Road with horns honking and well-wishers cheering Sunday afternoon.
In and out of windows, homemade signs conveyed expressions of love, homage and support for the subject of the cacophonous cavalcade.
Bob Huber — better known to congregants as “Pastor Bob” or “PB” — watched in disbelief and delight at the spectacle while seated and sheltered from the rain in his vehicle parked at the end of the driveway at his home.
Pastor of North Street Christian Church in Butler for the past 41 years, the beloved Huber is battling stage 4 lymphoma. But to make matters worse, his battle comes in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic — a strange time of self-isolation and social distancing.
And all that was the reason behind Sunday's parade of 50 or so vehicles.
“I thought it would show him how much we love him without endangering his health,” said church member Terri Collins of Meridian, who came up with the idea that was intended to surprise Huber. “This was our way of giving him a virtual hug.”
It worked.
“I was surprised, absolutely,” Huber said after the last vehicle had passed. “I'm slain.”
Fighting back tears, he tried putting his feelings into words.
“That's what the love of the Lord does. It makes people family,” he said. “I just can't describe it. What a day.”
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<b>Dire diagnosis</b>Huber's world, and that of both his home and church families, was turned on its head beginning in September. While on a family vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, he noticed a marble-sized lump on the side of his neck. It grew.“We were all concerned,” said Sonya Kremer of Slippery Rock, the oldest of three adopted children of Bob and Kathi Huber.The couple has fostered about 30 children in their 47 years of marriage.Back home, the 66-year-old Huber saw his primary care physician, who recommended he go to Butler Memorial Hospital for a thorough examination. He soon had lots of doctors, Kremer recalled.His diagnosis was for nonspecific cancer, she said. But that was about it. He was referred to the Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh's Shadyside neighborhood at the end of September.On Oct. 8, he — and the whole Huber clan — learned the dreadful news. He had anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.Coincidentally, the day before, Kathi's 93-year-old mother passed away.<b>'Team Huber'</b>In wake of the adversity, the family bent a little but did not break — hardly.“We call it 'Team Huber,'” Kremer said. “We're strong.” They had their faith, too.They eventually decided to put that message on symbolic suits of armor — T-shirts in lime green, the signature color for lymphoma, with the words: Team Huber. God is Bigger.”Soon Huber was undergoing rounds of chemotherapy — nine-hour sessions every three weeks. He's had six of them.But on March 25, the family got more bad news.“We found out that the rounds of chemo did not put him in remission,” Kremer said. “They had to go to plan B.”A more aggressive chemotherapy treatment ensued — and continues. It entails Huber getting chemo three consecutive days, eight to nine hours a day.His second of the three-day sessions is set for May 4 to 6.The high-dose chemo means he also needs a stem cell, or bone marrow, transplant. The preferred donor for such a transplant, say medical experts, is a biological family member.Huber has two sisters, but because of their age, they were ruled out as donors. Their children, four of his nephews, however, could be potential donors, Kathi noted. All four are undergoing blood tests toward that end.If none of them prove to be a match, the search would expand outside the family.Numerous members of Huber's church have made it known they are willing, if able, to serve as donors, Kremer said.
<b>Pandemic obstacles</b>Bad enough to have to fight blood cancer, it's become more of a challenge amid COVID-19.“We've limited contact with him as much as possible” said Kremer.That means no hugs, no kisses. That's hard for the Hubers.“We're a very close-knit family,” Kremer said.Bob and Kathi's son and one of their three grandchildren live with them. Kremer, who calls herself a “helper,” has the most contact with her dad than anyone not living with him.“The biggest obstacle with the pandemic is that he has to do all of this on his own at Hillman,” she said, referring to the grueling chemo treatments at the cancer center.“My mom just drives him and drops him off,” she said. “Nobody's allowed in with him.”The need to quarantine is a particular tough concept for Huber's great-grandchildren. He and Kathi have three, ranging in age from nine months to three years.“They miss their grand pappy,”Kremer said. “They love him so much. We all do.”Window visits and videos — not to mention car parades — have become the new norm in the COVID-19 age for displays of affection.There was a “porch visit” for Bob and family April 2 when he celebrated his birthday. But social distancing ruled that day, too.“We're just trying to keep him healthy for his chemo,” Kremer said.<b>Faith and works</b>The virus and Huber's cancer also have affected his church duties. He was at the pulpit March 22 when services began livestreaming on YouTube.Pastor Jake Klutinoty has filled in for Huber for the past four Sundays.“But my dad still runs all of our board meetings,” Kremer noted. “He has not stepped down. He is pressing forward.”He even writes a regular “Word of Encouragement” that is posted on the church's Facebook page.Huber recalled breaking the news of the cancer to his congregation. He wanted to impart a positive message.“When I first got cancer,” he said, “I told our church, 'I win either way. Either I don't make it and I go to glory. Or I beat it for a while, and then go to glory.'”While Kremer marvels at her father's indomitable spirit, she concedes he “will have to slow down” due to the aggressive cancer treatment.“The chemo leaves him very weak and he has a loss of appetite,” Kremer said. “He's lost quite a lot of weight.” She also refers to her dad's “Mr. Clean” look, a result of his hair loss due to the treatment.Despite all he has endured and all he is going through, Huber's spirts are not just high.“They're through the rooftop,” Kremer said. “He's the one that's encouraging us. He is so strong.”Her love for her father has also never been stronger.“To be his adopted daughter, “she said, “is truly amazing. He's my world.”Sunday's parade left Kathi happy and humbled.“We were totally amazed,” she said. “The church people have gone above and beyond anything we could ask for. They've donated money and gift cards, and they send cards daily in the mail, and we got phone calls and emails all the time.”For Huber, he's going to solider on, and practice what he preaches.“The Word tells us to be strong and courageous,” he said. “We should be that way in the best of times and that way in the worst of times.”
