On the fourth of July, 2007 Caleb Potter was involved in a skateboarding accident.
He suffered serious injuries and continues to need all of our positive thoughts and prayers.
This blog is to serve as a space for updates on Caleb's journey of recovery.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Please Pray for Caleb - Mum

Tomorrow is a big day for Caleb - So big prayers are in order ! I am back home in Fleet today to re-group with my other miraculous son's and will be joining all of you at the prayer circle tonight - all of you who are here in person and all of you from a distance. . . Between 9 pm. tonight and 10:00, lets send those doctors restorative energy, and lots of love so that everything that can go well for Caleb, does! Every thought that you have of Caleb is a prayer, every prayer for Caleb is a miracle in the making.... Hold him ever so close in your hearts tonight . ... I will sign off with a quote sent from my dear friend Ellen- "Faith is the power to stand up to the madness of the physical world, while holding the position that nothing has authority over what heaven has in mind for me." " Let's kick some ass" -that is my quote - Love Mumsie

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Let's all get together throughout the country at 9pm eastern time light a candle and meditate on Caleb. Spread the word, spread the message, spread the love.

Peace and healing. ARRRRGH!

Anonymous said...

we continue to believe
praying everyday
never giving up.

Banana said...

all things good to you, caleb, fiercely.

Anonymous said...

i don't know caleb, but i was in wellfleet over the weekend with my family and was so touched by the outpouring of support. we wish you all the strength in the world, and we will keep you in our thoughts.

Anonymous said...

Tonight tonight healin all right

Anonymous said...

Yarr!

Anonymous said...

Will light a candle for Caleb tonight at 9pm; am so moved by the love and messages here. Thinking of all of you.

Anonymous said...

I wrote this personal essay and sent it to the 'My Turn' column in Newsweek to try to raise some cash for Caleb. People said to put it on the blog. Everything's true except my age; I'm much younger.



A Good Crop

I'm older than two-thirds of the people I know. I rode in on the shirttails of the sixties and twenty years later the boys who did return home from Viet Nam were men who didn't vote; twenty years after that are men who are dying from cancers caused by exposure to Agent Orange. Then there's the hippy side of the sixties. We all know the history; the disappointment, the drugs and money, and 'it's not going to work anyway' attitude. And the nether side of the Civil Rights movement -the gunning down of leaders, the violence and inequalities that persist today. All of this coupled with the breakdown of formal religion results in a breeding ground for violence, apathy, or if possible a materialistic scramble to the top of a ladder of opulent spending. Gross generalizations, I realize, but I am trying to give a picture of where I come from as a single mother, artist, and laborer.
I've seen a lot go down. The demise of the local fishing fleet has been one of the most heartbreaking. To have the tradition, culture and livelihood wiped out by international factory ships depleting the waters while our own small boats post for-sale signs or go off to auction in the government buy-back program, a list as long as those lost at sea, while displaced fishermen and families move off-Cape - is a loss that makes the heart sink.
And then there's all the greed. And the war. Not to mention the present regime so unhealthy for the working class.
Sure. Lately these last years of feeling my age, is the knowledge that, if I let it, the hot fetid breath of disappointment in life could very well sour what I've got left of it.
However…
This week an overwhelming tide of hope washed in, so strong, so viable, so present and so here-to-stay-not-going-away. It came onto the shores of Cape Cod where a tragic accident occurred on Independence Day. A beloved member of the community, twenty-five years old, was injured in a skateboard/truck accident, the board dragged under the wheel and our friend up in the air and down on his head. By nightfall the word was out. Seven per cent chance of survival.
And then the tide roared.
His generation, the twenty to thirty year olds, are praying. On the Town Hall lawn they're praying. Twice a day they're praying. In every store in five towns is a magic marker flyer 'Pray For Caleb". On surfboards paddling out in the Atlantic into a circle one hundred and twenty-five strong, they're praying while Caleb's pirate kites fly high from the dunes. Praying all over town. Praying in Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. They are brothers and sisters and they are not going to let this tragedy go down It's as simple as that. They are not going to let it happen.
Each day as Caleb wiggles a toe or blinks an eyelid or comes off the life-support and takes a breath on his own, the prayers are rampant. The young women sew leis for the off-shore surfer circle. Donation cans are stuffed and emptied five times a day. Tourists in restaurants read the news and voice their rational, judgmental, negative opinions and are blasted out of their coffee cups by the waitresses. Only positive thoughts for Caleb!
Now I am drawn into the circle of prayer by my twenty-five year old daughter. Beside the pirate flag we light the candles at the vigil on Town Hall lawn for Caleb, the much loved shellfisherman and surfer. Tomorrow undergoing brain surgery. Tonight, hands held, the prayer circle rings three deep to include two hundred and fifty people; octogenarians and three week old babes and the rescue squad who picked up his pieces. The gathering swells. Chanting soars. Only positive vibration is accepted.
Here I am uplifted by the hope, the determination, the force and yes, the know-how of this young crop of people.
It's here again. The hope. It can not be dismissed.
I don't know how they know how to do it. The drumming. The chanting. But it's here again. A gift of the spirit.
And I'm thinking because I've felt it before, and I've witnessed it go down just as I've witnessed the local fishing fleet go down, that these are the people who can do it. These twenty to thirty year olds. This generation. This good crop. They can raise the young man, brother, lover, son, best friend, beloved, raise him off his death bed. They can sustain the local traditional industries. They can collectively raise natural wind and solar resources to replace death-bound oil. They can find a way to feed the people. They can spread healthcare to those who can't afford it. They can. They will.
For God's sake they've even brought me into it! No longer tottering on the edge of skepticism and cynicism, I can say 'we' again. We will do it.
I'm with them. I'll give them all I've got.
Because this crop has given me back what had slowly hemorrhaged away these past forty years. Hope.
Hope.
More power to us all.

Edie Sweet July10th, 2007

Settie said...

Sharon,
I love the noise you shared with us last night at Prayer Circle. The sound Caleb has been making. I realized that Ella Mae and I make that same soft comforting noise when we are snuggling together. I have been hearing it all day in my head and I am sending it to Caleb. He needs a nice snuggle right now from all of us.
love, Settie and Ella Mae

Anonymous said...

I'll be praying!!

Anonymous said...

Prayers are coming from places you wouldn't even beleive...
Word travels and your blog comments have touched me !!
Up here in Nova Scotia, we are one hour ahead of you...so the good vibes are startin early !!!
God Bless Caleb and all of you...

Anonymous said...

Worked with Caleb one summer long ago-his wacky almost impossible energy made the 4 am wakeup call worth it every day. I'll be lighting candles in Somerville and sending my love over the bridge to MGH.
Lisse

Anonymous said...

praying and sending light and love and healing to Caleb

Irishmiss said...

praying and sending light and love and healing to Caleb

Anonymous said...

praying here from maine for caleb and the potter family and friends. i have never seen a community like wellfleet- you kick ass! peace. erin

Sue said...

Caleb, keep you in my thoughts all day today- your surgey will go well and be successful. How can it not with all these people praying for you.

Anonymous said...

It's 8 am. I am sending out POSITIVE HEALING thoughts to Caleb!
Heal that eye Docs! Take care of
The Captain! Send him back to his
"Fleet" and his mates as soon as possible!

Love,
Carolyn Kramer
(Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum!!!)

Anonymous said...

Caleb,
we are praying hard here at
69 lovers lane. sending love,peace and strength your way today. heal on Caleb, heal on.
Audrey & Greg

Anonymous said...

We prayed with you at the July 7 evening circle and continue to do so from our home in Maryland. Great news and great progress. Happy to see the love and support spreading! Hang tight and hang loose. He'll be back home soon!

Kirk, Susan, Sadie, Clara

Anonymous said...

A friend taught this prayer to me when I was going through a difficult time and I found it very soothing. This is the prayer that I am saying for Caleb every day.

May Caleb be safe and protected from inner and outer harm.

May he be calm and peaceful of spirit.

May he be strong and healthy of body.

May life come to him with ease.

Elizabeth Bridgewater

Anonymous said...

For Sharon and her brave crew...on the sea of prayers.
There are so many of us in this world (as many have attested) sending their energy and light towards your family. Many of us have alters in our own homes to light candles and join in the energy flowing from this community and beyond.
Last night at 9pm I lit my buddha candle (on the crown of his head-how appropriate) and put my finger to his eye and drew my light and love and spare energy and good clear thoughts and sent them out. I am not adept at channeling these things but I did my best. I pulled it out of myself and over the top of my house, arching it into the center of town where I imagined a swirling vortex of light and pulsing flow of energy. I imagined this shooting over us all and stretching out to Boston- a huge column of joy and love crashing through the elements, pushing through bridges and buildings and landing squarely onto Caleb.
This is where we all triumph, where we get to see first-hand the power of the heart, the power of love. I hope we can all continue to carry this with us-always, a small jewel in our hearts to keep people in this world depending on each other and our own strong selves.
We are all family...stay connected.
Peace, love and light,
Tracy

Anonymous said...

Any chance we could get some insight on the "cast of charactors" we are loving on a daily basis?

Jenny= girlfriend
Sharyn= mom
Jan= dad
Kai and Max= brothers

Shaye? Sky?

Sending the power of prayer and love from the west coast. I am so coming to Wellfleet next summer to surf, work, and experience this HUGE love in community

Anonymous said...

We are thinking of you in Canada. I have people praying for Caleb in circles all the way from Kitchener, Ontario to Edmonton Alberta. I don't subscribe to such things but I have loyal friends that do. I am sending Caleb my good wishes today and always.
Suzanne

Anonymous said...

WOW Edie, what a true view! The young people of Wellfleet have brought back Hope and Faith and Friendship to the community. they have been taught well and I am glad they are our future. It's amazing how powerful these young adults are.
I could not hold the tears back when I read Sharyn's comment about the worry of the scraped knees when you are a new mother and how we try to protect them as much as we can, but by the time they become 25 you have no control any more, you think that maybe you are out of the woods and never do you imagine that something like this you can live through. Sharyn I commend you on your strength and the whole family is in our families thoughts daily!!

All the prayers for Caleb and his healing.
the Nordahl Family