Monthly Archives: February 2007

Matt’s family has set up a web log through Caring Bridges to post information:

This is the link: 

www.caringbridge.org/visit/matthewwolfer

You may need to set up a visitor’s account, but that is free and relatively simple.  Once you are on the site, there is a link that says “Read Journal”  You will want to click on that to read all that has been posted.  Plus there is a guest book where you can leave messages for the family.

And my thanks to Carlene Swartzentruber for alerting me to this website!

News From Raph!!!

Hey —

We just got back from vacation. It was wonderful. We stayed in a pretty nice resort ate good food and just had a great time. .

We saw some wild rhinos and we got to swim with the elephants. we rode them down to the river and went swimming with them. it was one of the best things about the vacation.

And one morning 3 of us guys rented motorcycles and drove around Chitwon for a gouple of hours. that was also one of the highlights. But seeing wild rhinos ranks way up there

We were supposed to go to Hetauda after vacation but due to roiting and unrest we are back in Kathmandu. we might be here for ten days or we might never get to Hetauda. We don’t really know what is going to happen. So yeah thats what’s going on.

Tell everyone hi and that i’m doing good.. Talk to ya later.

This just came in on our “Yutzy Family Network” From Matt’s Dad,  Terry.

We deeply appreciate the outpouring of prayers, concern, and support for Matthew. We’re so grateful for your love for him and for us.

As a result of the car accident on Friday morning, Matthew suffered multiple skull fractures, a broken jaw, broken sternum and fractured ribs, and a chipped pelvis. The accident severely bruised his brain and lungs. He is currently sedated and on a ventilator to assist his breathing.

One day after the accident, his condition was “critical but stable.” Doctors and nurses report that his first night and second day were “uneventful,” what his trauma doctor said was “the best we could hope for at this point.” Today, he remains in basically the same condition but with an elevated fever.

It’s difficult for doctors to gauge Matthew’s responsiveness because of the sedation so they periodically reduce it. At those times, although he’s not yet responding to commands, he exhibits “purposeful movement” of the head and all four extremities. We’re very grateful for that.

Although we are more than three hours from home, some of our closest friends live nearby. One family met us at the emergency room parking lot, parked our car, stayed with us each day, and provided a place for us to sleep. They are the Ulmers, homeschool friends who lived one mile from us for 10 years before moving to NC last year. We’re planning that David will resume school work at their home tomorrow. Another family we know from Nebraska, the Peacheys, stayed with us the first night and also offered us the use of their home. That seems like a God thing.

If everything goes well, Matthew will likely have a lengthy convalescence. We’ll try to send info periodically. Please continue to pray for him, and especially for his lung and brain trauma.

Terry (for Gina)

Matt Wolfer

Many of you are aware of the accident that Matt Wolfer had yesterday.  Daniel is a first cousin of Matt’s mother, Gina Yutzy-Wolfer, and he has talked to her twice since the accident — and one of those times was this afternoon.

At this point, the best thing we can do for Matt is pray.  He is very battered.  He has much damage to his facial bones, there are skull fractures, and the rest of his body is quite broken as well.  There are broken ribs, a broken sternum and a broken pelvis.  There are several things that are of most urgent concern.  The first is that, though there was no puncture to his lungs, there are multiple lung contusions, and the danger of pneumonia is quite real.  Also, as the swelling increases, and there is great concern about his brain and the injuries there.

Last night, when they decreased his sedation, there was some response, but Gina said that it was very minimal and there has been nothing since.  She said that they will be taking him out of sedation periodically to evaluate his responses.  The doctors told her that the next three to five days are critical.

Terry and Gina have friends who live only thirty minutes away from the hospital and they have graciously offered a place for them to be.  Their younger son, David is with them. 

Please pray for this family.  What actually happened to cause the wreck is uncertain.  It was a single car accident, and it appears that Matt drifted off the roadway into some trees.   He was on his way to Rosedale Bible College and was about 3 hours from home when the accident happened.