Staying Connected with Your Loved Ones During Difficult Times

By Ed Martinez

August 10, 2009

At one time or another, we have seen our loved ones go through critical illnesses. The news usually arrives fast and is unexpected. When family and friends are spread out geographically, offering support may be difficult.

A company is helping families and friends stay connected during these tough times. “At some point, everyone knows someone with a health crisis,” notes Sona Mehring, founder and executive director of CaringBridge. “Caregivers and family members tell me support is the most important piece of recovery.”

CaringBridge has been around since 1997. It was one of the first social networks to appear on the Internet with a unique and compassionate mission—to help those facing crisis stay connected. The idea behind it is quite simple, but innovative. It was prompted by a personal experience Mehring encountered about 12 years ago. One her closest friends gave birth prematurely. She wanted to help communicate the progress of her friend and the new baby to friends and families. Rather than using the traditional methods of communication, which were time consuming, she set up a website blog that offered support and connected those loved ones with her friend.

Mehring combined her extensive experience in the information technology industry with a personable, compassionate touch—some have called it “technology with heart.” CaringBridge helps those loved ones stay connected by offering free, personalized websites during a health crisis and the stages of treatment and recovery. Their mission is “to ease the burden of keeping friends and family updated, while also providing a way for them to send their love, support and encouragement.”

Last year, Mehring received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for her outstanding and invaluable service to the community. She has a passion for helping others and is a visionary. She was one of the earliest adopters of Internet technologies, which have helped millions stay connected to their loved ones. More than 155,000 personal sites have been created and over half-a-million people connect through CaringBridge each day. “CaringBridge is a powerful example of how social networks on the Internet are used to connect people around a common purpose,” adds Mehring.

In Arizona, there are several health systems and hospitals that provide CaringBridge as a valuable resource to the patient and families. Among these include Scottsdale Healthcare hospitals, the University Medical Center - Tucson and Evercare Hospice & Palliative Care Services.