Prayers Please!

On Monday afternoon, Ernie's uncle, Nels Hadden, was critically injured in Eastern Oregon when he stopped to help a motorist on I-84. The other motorist had rolled her car. He helped her get out of the car and was setting out flares to alert other motorists of the accident when he was struck by a car.

He was airlifted to Legacy Emanual Hospital in Portland, where he is in ICU. He is in a medically-induced coma while they repair his injuries. He has more broken than not. One arm and both legs are broken, as well as many ribs. His broken ribs punctured both lungs and tore a hole in his aorta (heart). He has damage to his liver, spleen, pancreas, and intestines. I know there are more injuries to list, but I cannot remember them now. The great news is that his head, neck, and spine received no damage.

Nels and his family really need your prayers. His wife Betsy, daughter Chelsie (18), and son William (15) are in Portland and are coping as best they can. We are grateful for the family and friends who are there to relieve them of hospital duty so they can rest. We also ask for prayers for the 18-year-old girl who hit Nels with her car. She hit a patch of ice on the road and lost control of her vehicle and unfortunately Nels was in the path. She was not driving recklessly and surely will have a difficult time with her feelings about the accident.