Archive for The Gathering Place "The Gathering Place" is a web community where people can gather and make new friends, share ideas, enjoy a few laughs and learn about many interesting things together. It is a safe place where friends can correspond with each other about what they love.
Some of you know about the serious accident my great-nephew, Timothy Allen (age 22) was in on October 3 in Crawfordville, Florida (near Tallahassee). His spine was broken in 8 places plus he had two vertebrae that were completely shattered. Surgery was required to rebuild the spine using bone from Tim's hip and the bone back. A rod was placed in the back also, so he would be able to sit upright. The accident left Tim paralyzed from mid-rib cage down. After battling some serious nausea and dealing with a stomach pump for several days, he was doing well enough to be transferred to the Rehab Center at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital this past Saturday.
The doctors are saying that short of a miracle from God Tim will never walk again. We know, though, that God is still in the miracle business and that Tim has an excellent frame of mind and outlook, but Tim has had a setback today. He was taken to the ER at the hospital this evening with a staph infection and is seriously ill. The porta-cath that was inserted in his right arm seems to have caused the staph infection. We are praying that the doctors will soon have the infection under control. He also has one serious pressure sore that has necessitated the calling in of a plastic surgeon for consultation.
Tim is a very popular young man and has had many, many visitors at the hospital and a strong family support group. He has re-dedicated his life to the Lord and is encouraging all his friends and family members visiting him to do the same. The outpouring of love and support, even monetary support has been overwhelming for the family. It seems that God is working in this situation by placing just the right people who can help and encourage Tim in our path. His mother's workplace and Tim's workplace have been especially generous in supplying what the family needs right now and providing for his future care, even in making his parent's house handicap accessible for him since it will be necessary for him to move back in with them, at least for a while.
We are also praying that Tim will be able to be transferred to Shepherd Center in Atlanta, the best Rehab Center for spinal cord injuries in the southeast, or so we've heard from many sources. Right now there is a waiting list at Shepherd, but when his condition is reassessed in 6 weeks time, it might be possible for him to bypass the waiting list on a recommendation from the Tallahassee Rehabilitative Center and his doctor.
So, our requests are: 1) that the staph infection causing him to be in immediate danger will be brought under control; 2) that Tim will have the opportunity to transfer to Shepherd Center, or if not transferred that the TMH Rehab Center will be able to provide the therapy he needs; 3) that God will grant a miracle and allow this young man to walk again; and
4) that God will be glorified through all this and that Tim will be a witness and an encouragement to others.
I'm contacting you because I know you will pray for this young man. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers.
