Congregational Health ReSource - A Faith Based Health Organization devoted to wholeness.

Prevention and awareness are key essentials in maintaining our physical bodies. Many resources may be found here including: statistics, demographics, and basic health regulations to assist you in a lifelong journey of whole health focusing on the first component of wholeness, the body. The health and faith resources found on this site combined can bring balance between our body, soul (mind, will and emotions) and spirit. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.

Wondering how you can be more health conscious and are unsure where to start? You can check the National Health Observances calendar and see how you and your congregation celebrate health and honor those you love by making them aware of resources and agencies that provide support and materials to help you succeed!

Focus on health observances throughout the year.

Timely Topics:

Here's how to fight the "flu"...

Use this guide to discover the most common causes of the most common symptoms for your illnesses...

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Description: Spinal cord injury may consist of a bruise (contusion), which will improve as swelling subsides, or compression (which causes more lasting paralysis and weakness), or deep tearing (laceration or transaction) of the spinal cord, which causes permanent loss of spinal cord function below the level of injury and, therefore, complete paralysis and loss of feeling from the level of injury down. These injuries are usually caused by trauma such as motor vehicle or sports-related accidents.

Incidence: Common

Prevalence: Most common among males age fifteen to middle adulthood

Signs and symptoms:

Loss of feeling and movement below the level of injury
Loss of ability to control bodily functions below the level of injury

Risk factors: engaging in high-risk activities that could injure the neck or back

Usual treatment:

Stabilizing the spine through surgery and/or braces
Medications to manage complications (such as infections and muscle spasms)
Extensive rehabilitation

Usual Course: Symptoms vary with incomplete injuries (that is, spinal cord not severed). If the spinal cord is only mildly bruised, numbness and or weakness or even paralysis of the arms or legs may occur temporarily-for how long depends on the severity of the contusion. Some incomplete injuries may result in sufficient destruction of the spinal cord to cause permanent loss of function of the arms, legs, or both.

Spiritual considerations:

This is a problem of devastating magnitude that affects the entire family and community.
This injured person and family members often deal with feelings of grief.
Thoughts of suicide may occur to people with permanent paralysis.
SCI places an enormous strain on marital or intimate relationships, which often change after accident. Provide as much social, economic, and spiritual support as possible, and plan for the long-term.
Peer support has been shown to help. Help link the person and family with another person that has successfully dealt with the same kind of injury.
For injuries high in the spinal cord (“broken necks”), the person may be dependent on a ventilator for the rest of his or her life.
Most SCI patients are wheelchair-bound; transportation and access to buildings is often a concern; make sure your church is accessible and has bathroom facilities to accommodate wheelchairs.

Suggested scriptures: Psalms 69:14-17; Romans 8:18

Resources:

Midwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury Association
600 W. Cummings Park, Suite 2000
Woburn, MA 01801

Faith, hope, and love coupled with wisdom assists the believer in achieving health harmony in the soul (mind, will, and emotions) and spirit. Strengthen your inner man's soul and spirit by the associated articles, resources, and inspiration in our faith section. May the Lord prosper you with whole health. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.

We welcome collaboration with any professional health care agencies, as well as, church leaders. Also, if you are interested in linking, contributing or assisting Congregational Health ReSource with content, please contact us.