There are many people at North Point Community Church that are friends with Eileen and Jason Tamblyn or have heard about Eileen’s recent tragic story through friends or friends of friends. If you have not heard her story, here is the short version.

Last month what began as a normal workout routine landed Eileen in the hospital due to a painful bump on her leg. She developed a very rare disease called “Necrotizing Fasciitis,”  which is a flesh eating bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics. No one knows where or how she got it. The infection produces toxins which enter the blood stream and play havoc with her vital organs. This is called “sepsis” and is life threatening. Just before Thanksgiving, her leg was amputated in the hope that it would save her life. The only way to fight this killer disease is to remove it from her body in its entirety.

If Eileen survives this battle she will be in the hospital for several months. She will have to undergo many surgeries, a long recovery, and extensive rehabilitation, which will be very costly.

So even though our table only received $ 50 at the “Giving Up Christmas” Event, we collaborated with 4 other tables, and some people even donated some of their own money; we collected a total of $ 325.  Most of the people we spoke to among our groups do not even know Eileen or Jason, but the reoccurring theme was to help them even in some small way, as they were touched by her story. We immediately thought of buying some Christmas presents for their three children.  We even made some fast phone calls to get their children’s “wish lists.”  The gifts will delivered sometime next week to the family.

In addition, last month, one of our friends ran a half marathon to help raise money for some of Eileen’s medical expenses.  We ask that everyone who reads this story to please pray for the Tamblyn family and for Eileen’s health and recovery. If you would like to follow her story, a Caring Bridge website has been set up at:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/eileentamblyn

Thank you North Point Community Church for allowing us to help make a difference in a lives of a few children and for coming up with such a great idea to bless so many other people in need this holiday season!

You are blessed …. So please bless others !!!