One of our most regularly visited websites this year has been that of caringbridge.org. Two people that we are familiar with have had medical emergencies that landed them in the hospital. If you have ever been in this situation you know that getting the word out can be a daunting and time-consuming task when you are weak and trying to heal. Often a close friend or family member will take on the tasks of being "communications director".
CaringBridge.org is a wonderful internet site used for updating a patient's status to the outside world. Followers can check in regularly to the website to read postings and sign the guestbook to give support and encouragement.
We are now closely following the story of someone we know up in Duluth, Minnesota where our daughter and family live. It is a very heart wrenching story of a young man who had a serious skiing accident. We know the parents fairly well. Jeff (the father) is a pastor at Anchor Point an EFREE church in Duluth. Michele (the mother) is a DJ at one of the local Christian radio stations. Josh is their 18 year old son who had the accident and is now entering into the long battle of recovery. Here is a short explanation of his situation.
Sunday afternoon, March 29, high-school-senior Josh Sorvik was in a skiing accident and is now in the ICU.
Scans show his spinal cord is severely damaged, some ribs are broken, and he had a minor concussion. At this point he is paralyzed from mid-back down.
Pray for healing for Josh!
Today's journal entry was especially moving. I share it in part with you now with hopes that you will continue reading the remainder of it on the Caring Bridge site.
I must confess that today has turned out to not be one of my favorites. I can’t really tell you all of why it is so, but to a person we have all had a mini meltdown in our family. I suppose it is in part because the move to rehab makes some things very clear. Gone is the urgency and survival instinct that carries you through the ICU. Gone too is the feeling of temporariness that comes with a hospital stay. Now we are in a place that we could be for too long facing challenges that seem too big to take on. And while we are still trusting God for a miraculous healing, we can no longer avoid the hard work that rehab requires.
I think that Josh, and really all of us, are acutely aware of the challenges that loom. While we all desire to be strong, we have felt more anguish, sadness, discouragement, and fear than peace. We want the peace. . . Josh needs the peace.
Philippians 4:6-7 says:
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. NIV
I get the part about presenting our requests to God. Pleading, and presenting our requests to God has become as common as breathing. In fact, it seems that very few breaths are exhaled without being attached to a heartfelt desire for God to intervene in these dark days.
...click here to read more.
I and many others are very grateful to CaringBridge and the wonderful communication service they provide. I intend to donate to them today. Even though you may not know this family, I hope you will continue to follow their journey and hold them all in your prayers.
ADDENDUM: I just discovered that caringbridge can be followed on Twitter. Their username is @caringbridge and the filtered search for followers of this topic can be found at #caringbridge. Join the staff and supporters of caringbridge on Twitter!
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