CaringBridge.org ; A place to heal, celebrate and share.
Jul 07 '07 (Updated Jul 08 '07)
The Bottom Line The days of “what happened and what can I do from here?” should be over. The vast resources of the modern internet communications can be put to the highest uses.
Heartfelt thanks to dianapinions I have updated this review with a few important points.
Karen's Story Begins
The highly experienced motorcyclist is rounding an Ozark Mountain curve at the posted speed limit. At the apex of the curve she sees an oncoming car swing so far out into the curve that the bumper of the car strikes the motorcyclist directly on her leg. Thrown from her perch, she slides across the road shoulder and comes to rest in a ditch. The car finally stops and the uninsured teenaged driver calls 911 from her cell phone. Within minutes of the arrival of the local police, a medivac helicopter transports the motorcyclist to a hospital trauma unit in nearest city.
Final Score
The official accident report reads, " 2004 BMW motorcycle damaged, 1996 Ford Tempo total loss, motorcycle operator injured and transported to hospital.”
Or was that the “final” score? 250 miles from home, alone and injured, family and friends received their initial information through official telephone calls. Following that, email traffic spread the word farther. But after that initial flurry of activity the critical passing of information started to flow from the CaringBridge web service.
CaringBridge
In their own words from their web site, CaringBridge® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization offering free personalized Web sites to those wishing to stay in touch with family and friends during significant life events. Their mission is to bring together a global community of care powered by the love of family and friends in an easy, accessible, efficient, economical and private way.
At a time when the passing of information is at its most critical, having the ability to pass information, well wishes, thanks, and to request assistance, CaringBridge provides a no cost conduit of communications. Caregivers, family, friends, and even the patients themselves are able to maintain a moving blog. Daily notifications of patient / caregiver updates and notices are emailed to all those who subscribe, and the guestbook feature allows well-wishes to be maintained visible throughout the time their site is active.
Media
The effectiveness of CaringBridge might best be judged by the impressive quality and quantity of media outlets that have told stories inspired by CaringBridge. Just a few of these have been: the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, MSN, NBC Nightly News, Newsweek, Philidelphia Inquirer, and even Doonesbury!
Helping
CaringBridge has been around for 10 years. According to their website, they have hosted over 60,000 personal websites. Each website provides the individual patient or caregiver to post a short note as to the “story” of their situation and a journal of what is happening day to day. Even more important is the guestbook feature where friends and family can send well-wishes and personal notes to both the patient and those close to them.
Getting Started
During those trying times nobody needs difficulties in communication. Individual websites can be started in a matter of minutes, and without a lot of “where is that credit card number” difficulties. A simple registration type page is provided with step-by-step instructions. Again, these are not times when anyone needs yet another hassle.
More importantly, this service stops any of those rumor type stories that can be attached to trying times. The caregiver or patient who set up the site can control quality of update posts, theyby making sure only facts are posted to the bolg. The value of being able to get all the facts to all those who want and need to know them cannot be understated. Either the paitent or caregiver can control both the "rumor" growth and the "subject" line of the "message" (forwarded emails can be "hijacked" or worse yet, changed, as they travel). Thinking of the number of times I have heard so many false stories tied to hospital stays only increases CaringBridge’s value in my heart and mind.
CaringBridge Vs. email
An initial reaction might be to send update emails to a list of family and friends. The hope there would be that anyone could hit "reply all" to post well wishes. Another reaction would be to post on an email "listserv" to forward emails to those subscribed to the list. CaringBridge helps to overcome the shortfalls of services like that.
Being a "list owner" for a couple of email lists I am very aware of the number of people who dislike having emails "pushed" to them. Others would rather have the option to read only what seems important to them. With this site the "patient" can review the guestbook entires whenever able, and subscribers can limit their use to updates of status.
Another thing I have found with "reply all" and even "listserv" pushed emails is that there are still a whole lot of people who are not all that comfortable in email use. They find that they either "dump" all ever so often, or miss the important ones. There are also a lot of people who would like the ability of "checking" a "blog" update (or even the guest book) while on the road.
Also, it is possible for hospital or medical professionals to "mini-train" an "e-commo" novice through the process of setting up and maintaining the site. It is best kept in mind that email can be very frustrating to someone who is already worried about their loved one in an ICU. I know I would have liked to have had something like this available the last time I was in that position.
Karen’s Story
That motorcyclist’s away from home story is evolving into yet another success story for CaringBridge. Emotionally and physically supported by friends from around world, she is progressing wonderfully through her multiple surgeries. The instantly erected network continues to provide hope and assistance in all imaginable forms. Distant friends have been able to coordinate help and pass on those much needed messages of support. The days of “what happened and what can I do from here?” should be over. The vast resources of the modern internet communications can be put to the highest uses.
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