The Power of Connection During a Health Crisis

Donating to CaringBridge helps bring people together when health matters most

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Eagan, Minn. (Jun. 1, 2011) —

Staying connected to family and friends during a significant health challenge such as cancer, premature birth or serious injury can have a powerful impact on the healing process. Because of generous donor support, nonprofit CaringBridge helps provide those powerful connections through free, patient-focused websites.

Through a CaringBridge site, families can easily update those who care allowing them to focus their energies on the person who requires healing. Supporters stay involved by reading journal entries, viewing photos, and leaving messages of love and support in the guestbook. All of this is made possible by individuals who donate to CaringBridge to support our service.

The Farrar family experienced firsthand the power that CaringBridge provides during a time of uncertainty. Everything they knew changed two years ago, when their son Ramsey, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. As Ramsey started his treatment, his mother Shawna launched his CaringBridge website.

It began as a wonderful way to let family and friends know how Ramsey was doing, without the pressure of having to make countless phone calls or send out numerous emails. It quickly became an even greater healing experience for Shawna. "Well, believe it or not I really look forward to doing this each night. It's sort of therapeutic for me," Shawna wrote only weeks after Ramsey's diagnosis.

There are thousands of families, like the Farrars, who depend on CaringBridge to chronicle their treatment, recovery and survival on personal, secure websites. Today, there are more than 257,000 websites on CaringBridge that are visited by millions of people around the world each year.

The websites are made possible because of the generosity of donors. "People who use CaringBridge understand the powerful impact that it can have," said Sona Mehring, founder and CEO of CaringBridge. "They feel the therapeutic benefits of journaling, they are relieved of the anguish of sharing emotional stories over and over, and they are surrounded by love and support which they can access anytime, day or night. A donation to CaringBridge makes all of that possible."

The impact of CaringBridge is seen in recent survey results of its users. According to the survey, 91 percent of respondents said that using CaringBridge to stay connected by sharing health updates with family and friends helped make their individual health journey easier, while 88 percent said using CaringBridge positively impacted their healing process.

A donation to CaringBridge helps ensure the service is available for every family facing a significant health challenge. Donors can have a powerful impact — making health journeys easier for families like the Farrars. For more information, visit www.caringbridge.org/powerful.

About CaringBridge

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CaringBridge is a nonprofit offering many ways for people to care for each other during any type of health event. Its mission is to amplify the love, hope and compassion in the world, making each health journey easier. For more information, visit www.CaringBridge.org.