Alea Dye

I have read many Caring Bridge accounts over the years and never thought I would need one for my family but here we are and I am thankful for a means to communicate to so many who care and who can pray for my precious Alea.  I have received so many encouraging texts, emails and calls and I have quickly realized how important it is to accept and welcome the support people want to give.  I see this site for 2 purposes -- first and foremost to ask people to pray for Alea and our family - that is what we need most. I know God is in control and He hears our prayers so as you read this, please pray.  Second, I know people are genuinely concerned and want to know about her condition and this is an effective way to share those updates so you can pray more specifically.

On Saturday afternoon, January 7, Alea and I were up in the mountains outside of Leadville with some friends from Ardent Mills.  Alea was going to take her first ever ride on a snowmobile.  She was trying to get a feel for the throttle and when she pushed on it the machine lurched a little and I believe her instinct was to squeeze the handlebar like you would squeeze the brakes on a bike.  This opened the throttle to its fullest power and the machine launched at full acceleration down and across the driveway and straight into a tree.  Our lives were changed forever in a matter of seconds. I ran to her and pulled her out of the deep snow where she had landed after hitting the tree.  She was unconscious and my friend Brad helped me get her on her side and got her to start breathing.  We were able to keep her breathing for what was probably about 45 minutes until an ambulance was able to make it up the mountain.  She was taken back down the mountain to the main road where a Flight For Life helicopter was waiting to airlift her to the trauma center at St. Anthony hospital in Denver.  My friends drove me to the hospital and en route one of the amazing flight crew who had prepped me about her ride and what was going to happen called me to tell me that she was in critical but stable condition in intensive care. 

When we arrived at the hospital we learned that they had already done a catscan which was clear so no blood on the brain, no cracks in the skull and therefore no surgery.  The fact that she was alive was a miracle and the clear catscan was another miracle so we were already seeing God’s hand upon Alea and feeling His presence.  I was able to stay at Alea's side throughout the night and our new journey had begun. I had called Elise and Jordan on the way to the hospital and they along with Bryce and Antonio were on a plane from Seattle to Denver at 6 Sunday morning.  Their arrival has been such a gift and we are now all together as a family with Alea. When bad things happen, it is easy to second guess, blame God and be angry.  We see this quite differently.  With open hands we receive God’s purpose, we accept God’s sovereignty and we trust God’s plan.  We know that God can heal and that Alea is in His hands.  We know that people are praying for us around the country and are supporting us in incredible ways.  What unifies us and what brings all these threads together is Christ, the power of a risen Savior who cares for us, loves us and upholds us every step of the way.  We are receiving God’s grace, peace and hope and asking you to pray with us for Alea’s healing.

Dan Dye