LOCUST GROVE — A praying church is powerful.

Little Rock Free Will Baptist Church in Locust Grove has once again united in prayer and this time they are praying for one of their own. Church member Tracy Condit is in need of  heart surgery that will lead her to Rochester, Minn., where she will find help at the Mayo Clinic.

Getting to her destination will be expensive and her church family is coming together to help Condit and her family make the trip. The church will host a benefit with live bluegrass and gospel music, silent auction, live auction, pie auction and fish fry, Saturday, July 10,

5 p.m., at the Locust Grove Upper Elementary.

Church members have been gathering donations for the auction. A freezer, piano and rocking chair are just a few of the large items that will be auctioned to raise money. Several businesses have donated gift baskets and gift certificates.

There are also two raffle drawings to be held at the event. One will be for fireworks. Tickets can be purchased at Pirate Git-N-Split in Locust Grove or

at the fireworks stand beside Stephenson’s in Salina. A second drawing for a $400 Wal-Mart gift card will be held at the auction.

Businesses and individuals from across the county have donated to help Condit and her

family.

“I never expected any of this. It blows my mind. They’re working so hard at it. It’s crazy,” Condit said concerning the donations received by her church family. “Words can’t express how much I appreciate the caring and kindness they’ve given my family.”

As Condit’s heart fills with joy, it remains in need of medical attention. Condit said, basically her heart skips a beat and pauses all together. It is a problem with the atrioventricular node, a part of the heart that tells it to beat.

Condit has been seeing doctors at the OU Medical Center and recently her doctor referred her to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Condit said her doctor feels the Mayo Clinic is the best place for her to get the surgery she needs.

“They have all of the medical equipment to save me,” Condit said.

According to the Mayo Clinic Web site, the hospital has more than 20

cardiac and thoracic

surgeons on staff with extensive experience. Mayo clinic surgeons perform thousands of cardiac and thoracic surgeries each year using state of the art technology.

Over the last 10 years, Condit has struggled with her heart, undergoing 10 surgeries to fix many problems. Then in 2009 she began to have trouble with the AV node.

Since January of 2009, Condit has tried several medicines to fix the

problem, but none have worked.

“Now it’s time to get it fixed,” Condit said.

Getting the surgery will be expensive and so will the cost of traveling to and staying in Minnesota for at least a week. Condit will not be alone when she makes the trip. Joining her will be her parents, Rick and Marilyn Condit, and her son, 16-year-old Trenton Hooker.

While the church is working to get the family to Minnesota, Rick and Marilyn are trying to concentrate on being strong for their daughter and grandson.

“You try to keep a positive attitude but you’re fearful,” said Condit’s mom, Marilyn. “You rely on the Lord but it’s human to have that fear.”

As a mom and a woman of faith, Marilyn said she believes the Lord will get her daughter through the upcoming surgery.

“He wouldn’t bring her this far if He wasn’t going to bring her through,” Marilyn said.

She is also thankful for the prayers of her church family and the com-

munity.

“It’s like having an army of people you know. They are people that will have your back.”

They are not the only ones concerned about Tracy. Condit’s son Trenton Hooker worries about his mom’s upcoming surgery.

“It kind of makes me feel better that she’s going to the best (doctors),” Hooker said. “The thing that scares me is, it could be her hardest surgery yet.”

Condit said she worries about having another surgery, but her fear is not for herself. She worries about her son.

“It’s not about what’s going to happen to me. It’s about being here for him,” Condit said. “I’ve got to see him graduate and go to college.”

Condit is thankful to have a caring doctor who is as focused on helping her get better.

“My doctor tells me, ‘you just have to hang with me and we’ll get through this,’” Condit said.

To donate items for the event contact Sis Henson at 479-8319 or Marilyn Condit at 479-8661.