Philadelphia Church’s Seven38 youth ministry has created this fundraiser to be a helping hand financially to the Ille family. As Cole’s situation has gotten better, he still has a long way to go towards complete recovery. Continue reading for the full story…

Cole Ille was hiking in North Carolina when he slipped and fell more than 75 feet off a cliff and was trapped under a waterfall. By the time rescuers arrived,

he wasn’t able to feel or move his legs. He was transported to the local trauma center via helicopter in critical condition.

It is a miracle that he is not only alive today but that his spine was not broken and he is not paralyzed.

He has been a warrior and has surprised his medical staff by his progress. His surgeries have been successful and his bones are healing. However, the depth of trauma to his lower back, including nerve damage to both legs, will require an unknown amount of time and work to completely heal. Unfortunately, he has to undergo surgery twice a week for a deep wound in his lower back. As we write this, Cole has been hospitalized for 20 days and we are hoping he will return home soon. He can’t yet get up or walk on his own.

Cole’s journey to complete recovery has just begun. Although medical insurance will cover his hospital stay, the cost of his longterm care is unknown. Cole will most likely be transported to a rehab center in Chicago for some time before coming home. Once home, he will need frequent nurse visits to tend to the wound in his lower back. Doctors anticipate he will also need extensive, yearlong PT treatment to regain his muscle and mobility in his legs.

We invite you to join us in financially supporting Cole’s longterm recovery. Whatever is collected in this fundraiser will go towards Cole’s rehabilitation costs after he leaves the hospital.

We also invite you to join us in celebrating and rejoicing that Cole is alive and he is healing. It is by the grace of God that Cole is with us today. We praise God and thank Him for his tender mercies and His healing hand.

Lastly, we invite you to join us in prayer for Cole. Prayer for when the days feel hard. Prayer for medical staff to make wise decisions. Prayer for a full recovery.