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Social support can be a lifeline during health crisis

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CNN
By Leslie Wade

During a serious medical event, social support can help a person live better, maybe longer. While Ken Gehle was getting medical attention, he felt the need for emotional support, plus he wanted a way to communicate with his large extended family. So he and his wife, Tamara, got on the Internet and signed up for an online community called CaringBridge.

Helping people like the Gehles cope with a medical crisis or a life–changing event was part of Sona Mehring’s inspiration for the creation of CaringBridge. Twelve years ago, a friend of Mehring’s gave birth to a very premature baby and needed help communicating with her family and friends. Instead of making dozens and dozens of phone calls on behalf of her friend, Mehring created CaringBridge. “It was one of the first blogs… It was one of the first social networks,” says Mehring.

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