Dear family in Christ,
We write you tonight to ask to join us in prayer our Pennsylvania chapter and one of their skaters. Here is the story in one of their own words.
"Jake Rogers is an amateur skateboarder for Crucified Ministries, a Christian skate boarding ministry in Johnstown, PA. I met Jake several years ago when Crucified Ministries came to Ashburn, VA on an outreach program to minister to the skaters in my community. (I am a skate mom with a teenage skateboarding son). Ever since that time, my family has been blessed to come to know the kids and this ministry in a way that I can not explain. Jake is just one of the kids that has been saved by the working of God through the ministry run by Josh Knipple and his family. I could tell you many wonderful stories and transformations. But right now I want to tell you a story about Jake and ask for your prayers:
Three weeks ago, Jake was in an ATV accident. I don't know a lot of the details, but I do know that he was riding behind the driver of an ATV going 65 miles per hour without a helmet when it hit and tree. He flew into the driver and broke almost every bone in his face. The doctors had to wait to perform reconstructive surgery on his face until the swelling subsided. A few days later, in anticipation of the surgery (he was going to have nose work and his jaw would be wired shut) they performed a tracheotomy. A few days after that, they performed the reconstructive surgery successfully. A few hours later, Jake started coughing up blood. Doctors discovered that the area where the tracheotomy had been installed had become infected and the carotid artery had burst. In open heart surgery, they were not able to repair the artery. Instead they clamped it off and waited to see if the body would reroute the blood on it's own. They were uncertain if he would make it and/or if any brain damage had occurred. A few nights later they un-sedated (for lack of a better term) Jake enough to give him this command. "Jake, if you can hear us, give us a thumbs up." Jake responded with TWO thumps up! Also, his mother was able to hold his hand.
A few hours after that wonderful moment, Jake spiked a fever and the doctors discovered that the trachea was still infected and that Jake's own saliva was feeding the infection. Doctors worked to reroute Jake's saliva and waited. When they infection didn't get any better, they transported Jake to a bigger hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa. Once there he was scheduled to have surgery on his trachea, but doctor's discovered blood clots in his abdomen and had to put him on blood thinners and implant filters to make sure the blood clots don't travel. He finally headed into his trachea surgery last night, but after 7 hours and many complications the doctors were not able to completely fix his trachea. As I write this tonight (9/18/08) Jake is back in surgery to hopefully finally address the issue for the last time.
Needless to say, this has been a very stressful, challenging time for Jake's mom ( a single parent of 4) and all of his family, friends, the Crucified Ministries skate team, and the Knipple family. I know that God will not waste this pain and that He will use it for His glory. I also know that God is capable of miracles. Will you please pray with me for a miracle? Pray for complete healing for Jake Rodgers, peace for his family and friends, and wisdom for his doctors and nurses.
You can keep updated on Jake's progress and send him/his family a message by clicking on his picture on the crucified ministries website (
www.crucifiedministries.com) or by clicking here
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jakerodgersThank you so much for your prayers and please pass on to all your prayerful friends.
Jackie Hottle
Ashburn, VA"
In Christ,
Toni Frallicciardi
Christian Skaters International
www.ChristianSkaters.comwww.SkateConference.com
