Online Caring Community

CONNECTIONS | by CELESTE TELL

SERIOUS HEALTH EVENTS: THE TRUTH IS, NONE OF US wants to think about what we would do if faced with a serious health event for ourselves or a loved one. And while great medical care is first and foremost on everyone’s minds, community and connections to friends and family can have a greater impact on health than our society likes to admit.

Enter CaringBridge, a 24/7 online experience — calling it a website doesn’t quite get it — that allows friends and family to come together to support patients and caregivers during a challenging time. I learned about CaringBridge several years ago when my son’s friend was very sick, with repeated hospitalizations.

The child’s mom started a CaringBridge site. Within days, everyone on her email list received an invitation to join the site. Within a week, family and friends from across the country — and the world — were posting messages, wishes, memories, photos and artwork. Almost instantly a loving community was created that enveloped the family. I had never seen or witnessed anything like it. It was social media at its best, supporting those who need it most.

Since then, whenever I hear of someone having a serious illness or surgery, I always send a link. CaringBridge now also has an iPhone app and you can check out their FaceBook page.