February 18, 2001

Dear Pastor Hunter,

I am writing this upon my return from the 9:45 service. I, today, not unlike any number of times in my nearly 4 year walk with Christ, was overcome with emotion by our Father's love for us. This happened first when you acknowledged Mandy Bradshaw before your sermon. My heart went directly to my throat when I heard she was at the service. You see, I was a member of the Trauma Team at ORMC the night of her collision. Not unlike so many nights, we worked on the victim of an unspeakable tragedy. I had no idea how this young lady would impact the lives of so many in the coming months as I watched the bad news develop with each frame of the CAT scan of her brain. I delivered her along with the bad prognosis to the neuro ICU and asked God to be with her and her family thinking that my job had been done and feeling helpless as all of us in the field of Trauma medicine often do. The next morning my wife Marie and I got a prayer request from Carol Boldman about this young girl, Mandy. Most times in our prayer chain we pray for a name and specific request, but Carol told us about this young girl and my heart was crushed. I could not begin to imagine the pain that her father must have been feeling, even though I am a father of two beautiful young daughters myself. Since that day my wife Marie, my eight year old Haley, eleven year old Jordan and I have prayed for Mandy and her family nearly every night. Haley, who dreams of being a doctor always asks, "Is Mandy better yet, Dad?"

Mandy, without her knowing it, has also influenced the lives of many who work in the trauma center at ORMC. I have held informal critical incident stress debriefings with staff after we work on an especially hard patient, one that really gets to us where we live. The question that is foremost in our minds is why do bad things happen to innocent people? I have used Mandy's story and how so many have rallied to her during her recovery to illustrate that God's ways are beyond our comprehension and yet He has a plan for each of us. I have tried to illustrate that if Mandy and her family and friends can trust this God after such unspeakable tragedy then how much more should each one of us trust Him. I am poorly equipped to evangelize, but through Mandy's story two people with whom I work have come to know Jesus as the Lord and Savior of their lives.

When I saw Mandy today with her bright eyes and joyful smile (the only time I had seen her previously was that night in the hospital) I wanted to tell her all of this, but was so overwhelmed by God's awesome love that I could not speak. I cried all the way home.

I hope that you can let the Bradshaws know that their courage and faith have touched people in ways they may never realize. We continue to pray for them and thank God for them. I know you may be able to deliver this message in a more eloquent way.

Humbly,

Bob Colem