Prayers for Rags

When Tricia and I lived in Maryland in the late 90s, we were both new to the area. Typically when you move somewhere and don't know many people, your first friends there tend to be people that you work closely with, assuming you can stand to be around them. This was the case with Tricia's job at the University of Maryland sports information office. One of the people we became friends with was a guy named Mark Ragonese, aka "Rags." Rags was one of the most stand-up, genuine people I've ever had the opportunity to meet and get to know.

Yesterday we found out that Rags was in a horrible accident this past weekend. Below is the information regarding the accident and Rag's condition. If anyone sees this post, please keep Rags in your prayers. He has a long road ahead of him, but we're extremely thankful he is still with us and because of who he is, we are confident that he can overcome the obstacles that lay ahead of him. Also, you can visit here to see how Rags is progressing or make a donation.

From Mark's wife Erika:

The accident happend while Mark was setting up for a running race on Sunday, June 8th (Ironically, the race was the Survivor 7 Mile Run, an event created to raise awareness and funds to assist survivors of catastrophic injuries get back to an active lifestyle.)

Mark was on a box truck unloading 8 ft wooden tables-- something he has done approximately 20 weekends a year for the past 10 years. The three-person crew was working together, two on the ground placing tables in their proper location and Mark on the truck handing them down. The two helpers had just taken their load of tables when the 8-10 tables fell on top of Mark. Although no one actually saw the tables fall, it is thought that he was knocked to the ground by the following tables and hit his head in such a way that caused the injury.

Emergency services were called immediately and an ambulance was on the scene within 15 minutes. Mark was taken directly to University of Maryland Shock Trauma, the best hospital in the WORLD (literally) for his type of injury.

Mark broke several vertebrae in his neck and injured his spinal cord. Doctors have performed two surgeries to "fuse" the bones in his neck together so that the spine will have a clear pathway that will cause no further damage to the spine and aid in its recovery.

Since the accident, Mark has had no feeling in his legs or arms. He is alert and aware and lights up when his friends and family come to visit. He is still sedated and has a ventilation tube in this throat to assist him in breathing while they performed the surgeries and he recovers from the initial trauma. Because of the tube, he is unable to talk out-loud but can converse through whispers, lip-reading, and facial expressions. Once he has regained the strength to fill his lungs to capacity on his own, they will remove the tube.

It is too early to tell the eventual outcome of the injuries. Everyone knows the importance and sensitivity of the spinal cord. Regardless, Mark will have a long road ahead of him. He will begin Rehabilitation almost immediately and a lot will be learned in the coming days and weeks.

Those of you who know Mark know his strong will and dedication and his undying love for his family and friends. It is this strength and desire that we hope and pray will drive Mark through recovery.