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*NEW* 5/29/08 I have added a new page set up for people who want to put prayers up. If you would like me to post a prayer send me an email via the contact button above. Write out the entire prayer and I will post it exactly how you write it.
On Sunday morning April 6, 2008, a group of 8 friends got together for a fun day on the river. All of us, including Mark and his fiancee were prepared with layers of warm, water-resistant clothing, life-vests, and a great deal of enthusiasm to be outdoors after a long winter. It was a beautiful morning and everyone was having a wonderful time. After about an hour on the river we reached the dam in Keene, NH. We all pulled out our boats, went around the dam, and put them back in below the falls. Mark, being the helpful and generous person he is, waited until everyone else were safely in their boats before getting in himself. Then, as we were preparing to leave, Mark accidentally got a little to close to the side of the waterfall and the current pulled him in. Despite all his strength and the fact that he is an excellent swimmer, he was unable to get out of the strong current. It wasn't until he lost consciousness that he escaped the current. By that time, we had already screamed to the people nearby to call 911. With a lot of effort from everyone in the group we were able to get him to shore and up the banking where we performed CPR until the firefighters arrived. From there he was taken to the Keene hospital then life-lighted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Where Mark was in critical condition for about 3 weeks. He has proved to be a strong healer, and has shown a lot of progress, his lungs have overcome all the trauma that occurred. Mark has almost fully recovered. He is out of the hospital and going through outpatient physical therapy rehab. He still has not returned to work but is looking forward to getting back to normalicy.
Mark is currently surrounded by family and friends who love him very much. He and his fiancee have just bought their first home are planning their wedding for this August. Mark has a love of life. He is a fighter with a strong will to live. He is the kind of person who makes an impression on people. He inspires people around him with his enthusiasm for life, his unique character, and his wonderful sense of humor. Mark has always been a hard worker and a giving person. He is a strong person, he is a fighter! Mark's family wants to thank his friends who rescued him, the paramedics who responded quickly, and doctors & nurses both at Cheshire in Keene and Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon for their effort and vigilance. They are the reason that Mark survived.
