Executive Producer Amy Rogan of Ohio News Network has provided a link for us to see the report they are doing on Mariah’s homecoming.  Click Here

For the video story

Click Here Video

The link to Mariah’s homecoming on WTAP story is:  Click here

The Marietta Times is running the story in Today’s Paper.

Click Here for the Times

Yesterday’s post had Mariah going to Columbus, OH to Children’s.  But plans changed again.

Mariah has been at Marietta Memorial Hospital in Marietta, Ohio today, only 24  miles from home.  Rick left a message and Grandma Doris stopped by to say that she is so much closer to home.  The joy in the family is such a joy to see and hear.  Doris reports that there may be a follow up report on WTAP this evening.

Count on a link from here as soon as it is available.

Mariah Steele will be arriving in Clarksburg, WV early Monday Morning and will travel from there to Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH by medical transport.  After she is evaluated Mariah will undergo a few days of physical therapy before the treatment team makes their decisions about next steps.  This is very happy news for all of us.

Rick and Michelle are so thankful for all of you and the way that you show your love and support.  Mariah is simply amazed at your outpouring of love and with the idea that we will be having a benefit concert for her on September 13.  Everyone is of course, invited to share the joy and the miracle story on this first day of Southeast Ohio’s Healing Renewal.

People to People Ambassadors have lived up to their promises regarding transportation for Michelle and Mariah, and in expiditing the Passport process so mom could rush to her daughter’s side.  The organization has a well ordered system of resources ready for their student ambassadors in the event that medical issues become critical.  It has been a tumultuous situation for Rick, Michelle, and the rest of the family, and despite the initial confusion, the people who were assigned to iron out all the details did so with professional and personal service.  On behalf of the family we here at helpmariah.com offer our thanks for making a very difficult time just that much less confusing.  We also recommend that future student to student ambassadors do not fail to purchase the full compliment of travel and medical insurance that People to People Ambassadors offers to the student travelers.

For those who desire to send gifts, cards, flowers and all that; Childrens Hospital in Columbus Ohio is the place and Mariah Steele is the patient, but you better hurry she may not be inpatient for very long.

Rick, Mariah’s dad and Matthias stopped by the parsonage at 12:45 today.  We talked a while about how thankful he is about YOU.

Without you there would be no use for the website and so much less encouragement for Rick and Michelle so from his words to your eyes…Thank You!

Now, on to the latest news:
Over a several hour period, Mariah has transitioned from her hospital bed, to a chair, to standing and taking her first few steps.  It was very challenging because the transition awakened all her pain receptors and she had to go through some pretty yucky nausea.  But she did not give up.  Through the tears and the searing pain Mariah and her body brace took her first steps since July 7.

Rick wants to remind everyone to continue to pray and not give up.

There will be times that even Mariah will be discouraged.  I know that’s hard to imagine, knowing how much courage she has shown and how miraculously the Lord has been present with her. Just remember that our greatest weaknesses are triggered by those moments of our greatest triumph.  The power to overcome those times of weakness will come in response to her prayers and to ours.

Another bit of good news is Mariah’s response to the Benefit Concert we plan to have on September 13.  She finds it hard to believe that our love in action is continuing to be poured out.  She is thrilled.

All of our plans are going to require us to dig deeply but I know you have it in you because of how much you love.  Thanks so much for loving, caring, giving and praying.  All of us together are touching Mariah through the Holy Spirit in answer to our prayers.

Beth Riggs and I talked briefly this afternoon (Friday 7/11) about fund raisers and the need to be coordinated. We all know what can happen when you lose your coordination.  Right Gert?

I digress,

Well gee says me, why not put a calendar here so planners can see if a date is open.

Gee says she, you’re a genius!  (Well she didn’t really say that in so many words but well anyway) Please email me at jmichaelwebber@hotmail.com with your Fund Raiser Plans.  All those Spagetti Suppers, Work Projects, Walk-a-thons, Bingo Games, Book Sales, Garage Sales, Bake Sales, Hot Dawg Eating Contests, Car Shows, Car Washes and Charity Ebay Sales…… whatever.  Get them on the calendar today.

We received an angry comment from one of the boys on the hike with Mariah.  The comment was inappropriate on several counts but it does deserve a response because we must believe that he has Mariah’s best in mind.

The bone in Mariah’s neck that was broken is located at the thoracic section, and T2 would be the second vertebrae down from the top of that section.  If the break had occured above T1, in the cervical curve, the boys who heroicly stayed with Mariah until help arrived would not have seen any movement.  The fracture in T2 would still allow Mariah to have nerve impulses to her arms and legs.  That is why boys, Mariah could still move a bit while you were with her.

So the point we are making here is not that Mariah was paralyzed from the neck down, she was not. The break in T2, what we have called a break in her neck was medically verified in the Trauma Center of the Hospital with all manner of scans appropriate to their diagnosis.  The good news we are celebrating is that the fracture of T2, which would have meant Mariah would have to be placed in a halo, is no longer a fracture. Mariah does not need a halo to immobilize her head while she continues her healing.  We are happy that what was once broken is now restored.

Animation

Anatomy Guide: Normal Spine Normal Spinal Curves MEDICAL REVIEW: Reviewed by Michael Smith, MD, May 2004 SOURCE DOCUMENTATION: Orthopaedics: A Study Guide, 1999, McGraw-Hill. LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This tool is for general information purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It may not be right for you and should not be relied upon in making decisions about your health. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.

At 6:30 on Tuesday evening Michelle talked with someone in Scotland (don’t know who) but I think it was a Physician and was told that her crushed pelvis was shoved “upward” and for some “unknown” reason it has decided to move down where it’s supposed to go and if it keeps moving at this rate—maybe no plates and screws…..it’s like a cracked egg shell that can heal?

Miracles are continuing to manifest in Mariah’s body.

Keep the prayers and thanksgivings going Michelle is elated!

Oh friends

Rejoice with us. At 10:00 am this morning Rick Steele received a call from the caregiver who is staying with Mariah.  The physicians had transferred Mariah to a Clinic that specializes in Head and Neck trauma and they were conducting their own examination on Mariah just moments before.  The Specialists could not find the fracture in the vertebrae.  The T2 fracture has been miraculously healed.  They will be able to relieve the immediate trauma to the spinal cord by unpinching T2 and T1.

Rick is weeping with joy.

Michelle is still in transit at this time.  The travel arrangements place her arrival in Scotland at 7:50 am local time Thursday.  That makes it 2:50 am here I believe.

Mariah’s long term prognosis is much improved…… She may be able to walk across the platform to receive her diploma at Frontier High School in the Spring.

The miraculous wonders of God are continuing to follow after the prayers of God’s people.  Good Christian Friend Rejoice!

Pastor Mike Webber

One of the bones that has broken is T2.  The way the bone has broken places it so that it pinches the nerves of T1.

If the fracture had been closer to her skull, in the C vertebrae Moriah would have no use of her limbs at all.  She is able to move the side of her body that is free of fractures, the left side.  On her right side however there is extensive damage.  There is no word forthcoming about tissue damage, but with broken hip, broken pelvis, broken fingers etc, these will be matters of prayer well before we hear a report from the physicians.

My thanks go to Kay York at the Marietta Times for giving priority to this story, and to the good people like Sheila at the Monroe County Beacon who will publish Moriah’s story as a letter to the editor.

I have not spoken to the folks at the other news outlets like WTAP, but I understand that someone there is following the story as well.

The real heroes are the hundreds of people who have been activated for prayer.  No matter what people say about our mainline churches, when the time comes to light up the prayer lines to heaven, we are easily reachable by phone so that we unite in prayer wherever we are.  God richly bless each one of you for that.

For any of Moriah’s friends, please feel free to activate your social network buddies, Twitter followers and all by utilizing the comments you are welcome to make on this site.  It would be fantastic to have your thoughts and prayers here.