FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 9, 2005

Minneapolis, Minn. – Mercy Medical Center, 1111 6th Avenue in Des Moines, has become a funding sponsor of nonprofit CaringBridge, the world’s oldest, most widely used free online service to keep patients and loved ones in touch during important life events, including medical treatment, childbirth, rehabilitation and end-of-life care.

By visiting www.mercydesmoines.org and clicking on the CaringBridge logo, patients and their families can easily create a secure CaringBridge Web site and sign-in at any time to post journal entries and photographs for their circle of family and friends. The service allows the family to easily update everyone and still be able to focus their energies on the loved one who requires healing. Visitors who are provided the personal Web site address and password, can read updates and post their messages of support and encouragement to the family.

“Mercy Medical Center believes that CaringBridge is a remarkable resource for our staff to offer patients and their families during a challenging time,” said Amy Baker, Mercy Medical Center. “CaringBridge reflects our values, to do all we can to support the patient and their family during medical care.”

As a CaringBridge Sponsor, Mercy Medical Center will share information about CaringBridge with every patient. The hospital name and logo will appear on each personal CaringBridge site created by Mercy Medical Center patients. Of course, CaringBridge is available to the wider community, too.

“CaringBridge welcomes Mercy Medical Center as a sponsor. I want to thank the leadership and staff for recognizing the value of CaringBridge as a useful tool for patients and their families during challenging times,” said Sona Mehring, CaringBridge’s founder and executive director.

The Internet’s Higher Purpose
Nearly 29,000 CaringBridge sites have been created since 1997. There have been 163 million visits to those personal sites, and 4.2 million guestbook entries written. Up to 1,200 new sites are being created each month. Approximately 70 percent of the web pages are created for sick or injured children and newborns.

The free CaringBridge service makes a profound connection with users and visitors. “CaringBridge takes cold, impersonal technology and uses it to serve a higher purpose in a most intimate and powerful way, Mehring says. “I believe the Internet has a higher calling - helping bring people together at important times, facilitating love and support that is meaningful for all involved, wherever they may be,” she adds.

“CaringBridge is a blessing,” says a family member who used the free service during medical treatment. “We could easily update family and friends without having to field too many phone calls and questions during an exhausting time in our lives. And each day, we read what the visitors to our site had written in the guestbook. Their messages of support and encouragement lifted us up at a difficult time, strengthening us so we could keep going.”

History
The inspiration for CaringBridge came from a real life experience. When Sona Mehring’s friend developed a life-threatening condition and prematurely delivered her baby during the 24th week of pregnancy, Sona created a web site to keep family and friends connected and informed. Although baby Brighid later died, she inspired a remarkable grassroots phenomenon that continues to extend love, encouragement, and hope around the world.

Interview Opportunities:
Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines

Amy Baker, Mercy Public Relations and Marketing
Please call 515-247-4228 to arrange an interview.

CaringBridge Founder and Executive Director

Sona Mehring
Please call 612-782-8551 to arrange an interview.