Prayers Needed

[Tarheeldance]

I have two DD's who will be attending Reynolds High School, studying Dance in this newly assigned Arts Based Magnet School in Winston Salem, NC. On Friday night, I took my daughter to her first high school football game and what should have been a great start to a new school year, turned into a nightmare. With around 10 minutes left in the ball game, Matt Gfeller, a sophomore linebacker lie motionless on the field for 40 minutes. He was on life support at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center after a regular football play caused a brain injury that put him in intensive care. He underwent brain surgery, but took a turn for the worse and passed away Sunday morning. Monday, Matt would have been attending his first day of classes at Reynolds High School. What a horrible tragedy. We had not had the opportunity to meet Matt, but there is so much positive buzz about what a great kid he was and I know that he will be sorely missed. My heart bleeds for his family and I ask that each of you would say a little prayer or take a moment to think about Matt, his family, friends and community, during what has been an unimaginable tragedy.

[ceecee]

I will pray for peace and healing in the hearts of this young man's friends and family, and for your DD's as well and their classmates, and Matt's teammates, coaches and opponents. Tragedies like this are hard to understand.

 

Best Wishes,

CC

[Tarheeldance]

I will pray for peace and healing in the hearts of this young man's friends and family, and for your DD's as well and their classmates, and Matt's teammates, coaches and opponents. Tragedies like this are hard to understand.

 

Best Wishes,

CC

 

 

THANK YOU!

[4everDriving2Dance]

What a horrible tragedy. I will also pray for strength and healing for the family and friends of Matt.

[CDR]

I don't pray but I'm thinking of his family and what they must be going through. x

[swanchat]

Having a son who played high school football, I can say the fears of all parents who cheer their young sons on the field came to bear here and my deepest condolences go to the family and all who witnessed this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers of healing go out to all of you.

[jmh4]

It is always so sad to lose a young person without rhyme or reason. Deepest condolences to the family, friends and community of this young man.

[mirabray]

My prays with you, may your community come together to comfort each other in this hard time.

[balletbooster]

Heartfelt prayers to the community, family and friends as they cope with this tragic situation. My special prayers go to the boys involved in the play who must be fraught with guilt and uncertainty about their part in the play that caused the accident. What a terrible burden to carry for those involved!

[Taradriver]

My heartfelt sympathy to Matt, his family and friends. I got chills when I read the post. -TD

 

To An Athlete Dying Young

 

The time you won your town the race

We chaired you through the market-place;

Man and boy stood cheering by,

And home we brought you shoulder-high.

 

Today, the road all runners come,

Shoulder-high we bring you home,

And set you at your threshold down,

Townsman of a stiller town.

 

Smart lad, to slip betimes away

From fields where glory does not stay,

And early though the laurel grows

It withers quicker than the rose.

 

Eyes the shady night has shut

Cannot see the record cut,

And silence sounds no worse than cheers

After earth has stopped the ears:

 

Now you will not swell the rout

Of lads that wore their honours out,

Runners whom renown outran

And the name died before the man.

 

So set, before its echoes fade,

The fleet foot on the sill of shade,

And hold to the low lintel up

The still-defended challenge-cup.

 

And round that early-laurelled head

Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,

And find unwithered on its curls

The garland briefer than a girl's.

 

A. E. Housman