This is a modified version from the Candlelight Prayer Pep Rally, Thursday Feb 15th, 2007

Thank you all for joining us in supporting Jake and his family.  There has been a tremendous outpouring of concern for the Drews from everyone in the community and they appreciate the love you have come here to share.  Jake is our brother, our son, our friend, our student, and even our teacher.  He’s multi-talented, handsome, smart, and a bit goofy.  In times like this it’s hard to make sense of such an event, and we can feel confused, anxious, afraid, and maybe even helpless.  You have heard the news of Jake’s accident and ask what can we do?  Well THIS is what you can do.  We can combine to create a formidable force of love and spirit for Jake.  No matter what religion you practice, loving one another is the most fundamental principal we can use in our lives and this is it. It takes a village and this is the village, after all.

Alison and Hal are straight shooters and since they have asked me to speak for them, I am going to do the same.  It’s not easy to hear about the accident and the injuries but they want you to know so that this doesn’t have to happen to your family or friend.  On Sunday afternoon, Feb 11th, a group of boys and Jake went to a parking lot and thought it would be fun to pull a sled with a rope behind their truck, taking turns in the sled.  Jake was the last to go and it swung out and hit a curb.  He hit his head and cracked his pelvis in two places.  When they got to the hospital, he had surgery right away on his head injury.  We breathed a sigh of relief, as he’d come through well.  But as the hours passed, it was evident that the pressure on his brain was not stabilizing and he needed to go back in for another operation.  Since then, in the intensive care unit at Mercy Hospital, he has been in a drug-induced coma so that his brain and body can heal enough for him to wake up and start on his road to recovery.  At this time, it is not known exactly to what extent Jake will be affected. 

There is no blame and judgment, here.  The fact is, this could be any of us.  Everyone here has taken unnecessary risks at some point, and perhaps been lucky.  The biggest part of this for Jake’s family, is how it could have been avoided.  They want kids out there to know that even if they think they are invincible, they are not, and should be sure that they think about consequences.  Every time you get on your bike or skateboard without a helmet, you are taking the same risk that Jake did.  You might think that nothing will happen but there are some things that are out of your control.  We cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering that is a result of such an accident. It’s not just you against the world, the people in your lives hurt when you hurt.  

But what has happened has happened and we cannot punish ourselves with shoulda would couldas, we must move on.  An incident like what happened to Jake reminds of what is really important to us, our loved ones.  We are all here because we love Jake and want him to get better.  There is great power in the uniting of our hearts in prayer for Jake as he recovers, and even weeks and months from now, the power of our spirits can continue to touch Jake and his family.  As things develop, we can organize ways to help the Drews.  Alison and Hal are giving and generous people, and given the support they have received so far, it is evidence to me that what you put out really does come back to you.

Amy Sanders

for Hal, Alison, and Max Drew