Heartbreak: Bryan Koch, Pastor Who Lost Wife Lynn in Deadly Motorcycle Accident Sunday, Still Doesn't Know She's Dead
It will be a painful awakening for pastor Bryan Koch of Glad Tidings Church in Spring Township, Pennsylvania, in more ways than one when he emerges from the sedated state he has been in since a deadly motorcycle accident that took the life of his wife, Lynn, and severed one of his legs Sunday.
While his family and congregants already know that his wife is gone, the beloved pastor, who's a former catcher and first baseman with the Chicago White Sox, has not yet been told that Lynn is dead.
"We don't believe so," said Glad Tidings' director of communication Karen Troutman, when asked Tuesday evening if Koch knows that his wife is dead.
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"We don't believe he knows that yet. He's not been told that yet because he is still in more of like a sedated condition. He had surgery today," she added.
The Christian Post checked with the church again on Wednesday evening to find out if Koch was still in the dark about the death of his wife and a representative said he still doesn't know because he continues to be under sedation.
"Pastor Bryan had a good night last night. The nurse didn't need to call the doctor at all. They were able to reduce his sedation medication last night for a time and he opened his eyes and nodded his head," said the church in a statement on its website Wednesday morning.
Local police explained in a WFMZ report that the beloved couple were riding on their shared motorcycle in Bern Township at about 6 p.m. Sunday when they collided with an SUV. Lynn was killed on the spot and Bryan was rushed to Reading Hospital where, according to Troutman, he remains in stable condition in the intensive care unit.
According to the church, Koch's surgery on Tuesday went well.
"They finished exploratory surgery in the abdomen area and addressed some concerns to help drainage. The orthopedic team looked at his left leg and feel good about its condition, which is important for the possibility of prosthetics in the future. Pastor Bryan will undergo another surgery on Friday to stabilize his right hip. His brain continues to look good on scans. Pray specifically that his surgery on Friday would go well, for the health of his lungs and continued prayers for the family and the medical team treating Bryan," noted Glad Tidings in a statement Tuesday night.
The church further noted that the congregation would be celebrating the life of Lynn Koch next Wednesday evening. She had just been ordained a minister in the church in May while her husband had served as lead pastor for the last 27 years.
"We will be honoring pastor Lynn during celebration of life services on Wednesday, June 17 at 5 and 7:30 p.m. at the GT Church West Lawn Campus. You are also invited to a special prayer service with Greg Hubbard this evening from 7-8 p.m. at the West Lawn campus, as well as our Sunday morning services at 9 & 11 at West Lawn and 10 a.m. at Kutztown. Children's ministry will be available for Sunday morning services only. Real Life students will be attending service in the Worship Center on Sunday morning. All of these services will also be broadcast on GTLive.tv for those who would like to join us from afar," said a statement from the church Wednesday.
Troutman said that while the church and extended family of the pastor and his wife have been giving much support to the couple's three sons, it is a particularly "difficult" period for them.
"Pastor Bryan and pastor Lynn have been a part of our church for over 25 years. So for the church family it's really difficult," said Troutman, who noted that the couple's three sons are "devastated."
She added that just hours before the accident on Sunday pastor Bryan led a service honoring first responders.
