Prayer Requests

First, I have a friend at work and her Grandson, Ethan Roach, was in a car accident with his maternal grandmother and is now paralyzed from the chest down.  He is 2 years old...just a few months older than Hudson.  I went to visit her this morning and  she was telling me how days before the accident he was kicking a soccer ball in her front yard, she was saying how cute this was...now a distant memory.  She is one of the strongest women that I know...everyones anchor, always the one "holding it together" ...I don't know how she does it.  She was actually encouraging me...seems like it should be the other way around.  They were in the PICU at Earlinger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN for 3 weeks and are now in Atlanta for rehab. I want so desperately for Ethan's body to be restored...this side of Heaven.  I want his parents to be "let off the hook."  This family is thankful that he is alive, but I know they long for him to be healed.  This hits a little to close for comfort to be honest, I can hardly let my mind go to a place to really "feel" for them.  I want to be able to come up alongside people and bear their burdens with them, but...this one is tough.  I would ask you to pray specifically for Ethan's healing...that he would be weaned off the ventilator, not develop any skin breakdown or infections, continue to do well in rehab and learn to live well with his limitations.  Also for his family, for strength, courage, comfort, peace, etc.  Here is a link to his website if you want to check on him http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ethanroach

Secondly, there is a family here and their son Neil Board had a terrible accident this weekend where he fell nearly 100 ft while hiking.  I think he is 20 years old and is in critical condition at UT Medical Center.  I stopped by to visit with his family... I have never met them, but I got the e-mail about it as  I was leaving to go to work last night, so I thought I would check on them.  I talked with his father, Mike.  It was the most sobering conversation I have had with anyone in a long time.  This man was telling me of the last 2 days events; how they really didn't think he would make it through the night after he arrived, how his body is so injured and how he continues to loose blood internally, how the night before they had to rush Neil back to surgery and he was there alone...so frightened and helpless.  He was telling me how this really reminds him of what's important in life.  Said he wished he had been a "better" father. (I know what he means, I too hope my children turn out ok, in spite of me.)  See, worse than all of Neil's physical injuries...his family does not think that he knows the Lord.  Tormenting.  To be looking at the prospect of loosing a child, but know that they would be with Jesus is one thing...his situation is unimaginable.  He says Neil was raised in the church and knows the gospel, but has not embraced it.  They are whispering in his ear when they visit that they love him, the Lord loves him and longing that somewhere in his subconscious he is able to acknowledge that he is a sinner in need of a saviour.  Please join me in fervent prayer for this man's salvation.  Praying that today is the day of salvation for Neil.

For He says, “ In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”

^{Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.   2 Cor. 6:2}

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/corneliusboard