Update:

The original deadline has passed for the campaign for Chris. There is just $1,240 left to reach $18,000. If you've considered contributing, there is still opportunity to do that and help us get all the way to the goal.

Thanks to all of you who have been praying, and to you who have been able to give. We are so encouraged by the prayers and your generosity! We're also thankful for the wonderful Christian neurosurgeon and Christian physical therapist that God has provided in Texas.

Chris is making good progress with regular physical therapy, getting stronger and having more stamina every day. His left arm is doing quite well. He was thrilled to be able to remove his neck brace, and was recently cleared to be able to drive! Use of his right arm is still limited, but has improved significantly . Please continue to pray that the nerves in Chris's neck will heal completely and that he will regain the use of his right arm.

With much appreciation, 

Marv and Sally

Chris's Story:

... it’s the call you never want. The phone rang just before Thanksgiving, our daughter telling us her husband Chris had just suffered a spinal cord injury while body surfing near Captain Cook, Hawaii. He was being air-lifted to a Honolulu hospital.

Waiting to learn the extent of Chris’s injuries was an emotional roller-coaster. Thankfully, his spinal cord wasn't severed, and he was able to walk--very shakily. However, damage to his cervical spine required a 5-hour surgery and left Chris with limited use of his arms.

We know God was and is at work! There are so many "God stories" that happened from the moment Chris was injured: prayer on the beach with Chris initially paralyzed, immediate help from Pastor Sacha from Maui, accommodations and transportation for the family from multiple sources, paid-for medical flight from Honolulu to Dallas,  . . . and much more.

Chris is now plugged into rehab and is making good progress, despite facing many obstacles along the way in getting appropriate care!  Because of damage to neck nerves, he continues to have problems with right arm/hand movement.  So a big prayer request:  healing of the spine so Christ will regain that critical function.

While recovering, Chris is on a medical leave of absence from International Christian Response USA, which serves persecuted Christians in 44 hostile countries. He is greatly missed!

Samaritan Ministries Health Share is faithfully paying bills, around $180,000. But the additional amount Chris owes so far is $15,235. Plus there's rehab and unexpected expenses ahead. We're hoping Chris's total expenses will not exceed $18,000.

Several of you have asked about helping financially, so we’ve set up this fundraiser to facilitate that help as Chris goes through this time of healing.

Thanks so much for your life-giving prayers and for those tangible gifts that show Jesus is with Chris on this difficult journey.