Founder Sona Mehring Shares Her CaringBridge Story

With the incredible growth in the number of people that CaringBridge has served in the last few years, I’d like to take a moment to share how CaringBridge came to be. CaringBridge was founded on a deeply personal experience. Just like all of you, I understand what it feels like to go through, or watch a friend face, a serious health event.

In 1997, my close friend endured a life–threatening pregnancy. My friend’s baby, Brighid, was born almost three months premature and the one–pound preemie was quickly rushed to the newborn intensive care unit.

Wanting to help my friend, who was in critical condition, I was given the job of contacting family and friends with updates. In no time, the size of my task became clear: I needed a fast, easy way to connect with everyone. With my background in technology, I decided that instead of making phone calls to family and friends around the world, I would create a website where everyone could log on and find the information for themselves.

The website kept everyone in the loop with daily postings about mom and Brighid. Sadly, after a nine–day struggle against tremendous odds, Brighid died in surgery.

Anyone who has dealt with the loss of a loved one understands how painful it can be to share the news. The website was a place for the family to post that heart–wrenching news along with a final message to honor Brighid and thank family and friends for their support.

In turn, the website community poured their hearts out to the family in loving guestbook messages. Brighid’s site confirmed the positive impact and power of the Internet. I had to keep it going — to help other patients and their families who were going through similar experiences.

CaringBridge (named to honor Brighid) is driven by the need and desire to help anyone facing a serious health event by connecting them to loved ones. I often think of Brighid and the amazing legacy she built in her much too short life. Now, millions of families use CaringBridge, yet millions more need to know the profound help and support they can receive through CaringBridge.

I feel strongly that CaringBridge can help so many more people in need, that I am asking you to tell someone else about CaringBridge. Friends, neighbors, co–workers: our lives are filled with people who need to know how the connections made through CaringBridge provide the love and support needed during a difficult time.

Tell someone about CaringBridge today, even if they don’t need it right now.

Thanks for being part of our CaringBridge community.

Sona Mehring
Founder and Executive Director