History of Martinwood

In 2008 while house hunting with her daughter and son in law, Ruth fell in love with a 2-story house in the Loess Hills area of Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Although she was happy with her home in Bellevue, the house had an appeal she couldn’t resist.  April 1^st of 2009 the move from Bellevue to Martinwood Drive was completed.

Over the course of the next 8 years, many things transpired and somehow, the vision of the beautiful country home being used for meetings and entertaining slipped to the wayside. Slowly the house slipped into disrepair. Ruth became a caregiver for her late husband. Stress and disillusionment took their toll.

Mike, a retired disabled veteran with an entrepreneurial spirit has successfully started and ran several companies and is currently a national trainer for social media marketing.  He works with agencies such as SCORE, SBA, Wounded Warriors, and other well known agencies to teach individuals and small businesses to effectively use the internet to expand their reach.

Ruth and Mike became friends when the 2 leased offices in the same building. Having known each other through Mike’s classes, it became easy for them to talk and share not only business, but other life stories.

In 2016 while Mike was going through a divorce and Ruth was dealing with the results of a car accident the two became encouragement and support for each other.

While texting one night, Ruth expressed frustration about a 4-6 foot wall that was being built in her back yard. What she was expecting her son in law to build turned into a 25’ wall with a patio that seats about 30 people! Mike listened and his response was “Why don’t you turn it into a caregiver retreat center?”

The dream was born – ideas flew between the two as they laughed and talked about what could be.  And now that Mike and Ruth are married, their partnership is just that much stronger and the sky is the limit.

It soon became apparent that this project was far bigger than either Ruth or Mike.  As time went on and things kept happening to advance the project at breakneck speed they both knew it was God who had planted the dream and for some reason, He was allowing them to be a part of it. Volunteers began to step forward, donations came from unexpected places, ideas flowed, and the response was incredible.  At first it was about what Ruth could do, but soon Mike caught the excitement and joy of serving caregivers and it became clear the two would be partners in a new adventure called Martinwood.

What is Martinwood

Martinwood is a place of hope, emotional healing, and a place to make new memories.  It is a place to laugh and hang out with friends who understand. It is a place for caregivers and their loved ones of all ages to come for a safe, fun, nonjudgmental activity.  It might be a Halloween Party or a Friday night cookout around a campfire. The event isn’t as important as the loving and accepting atmosphere that is found at Martinwood.

Often times a person with a chronic illness or disability is treated differently as though they don’t fit in.  Unfortunately, the caregiver also becomes isolated and left out of social functions as the disease progresses. Lack of energy, physical limitations, and memory loss can all play a significant role in stealing the joy and laughter from a family as they spend each day just trying to survive.

At Martinwood we strive to create events that bring those fun times back.  It might be an afternoon tea party, a romantic dinner or a relaxing cook out with music and friends…  Whatever the event, the key component is love and acceptance.

Why Martinwood is Needed

There are many places that address the physical needs of the family, but few that address the emotional, spiritual, and social losses one experiences while struggling daily with the effects of a chronic illness. At Martinwood we want to provide caregivers with tools to thrive not just survive.  We do that by creating a safe, accepting environment for all who come.  We offer love and a chance to laugh and let your hair down with people who understand. Martinwood is a place to help people find new normal’s when things have changed due to an illness.

What Lies Ahead?

We believe this is the beginning of a revival in the way people look at the social and emotional needs of those caring for a loved one with a chronic illness or disability. We believe God has placed a dream in our hearts to create a model that churches, nonprofits and individuals everywhere can recreate.  Both Ruth and Mike are national trainers and motivational speakers. Their dream is to create a Martinwood Model and then teach others to replicate it in their area.