Yeshivaworld had reported the story of the major accident which took place in Saint Louis on Chol Hamoed Succos. The father R’ Elazar Grunberger Shlita constantly thanks the Tzibur for their Tefillos etc. Here is his latest letter. This mans strong Emunah is truly amazing.–YW Editor.

It’s 3 1/2 weeks; Wednesday night will be one month since we encountered this ordeal.
 
I wish I could track the flood of thoughts, ideas, emotions, and insights that have crossed my mind and heart. 
 
I think about what is the human experience all about anyway:  it’s about “u’Vacharta BaChaim” (“and Choose Life”).  We don’t live in utopia.  We don’t live free of tests and challenges.  We haven’t yet perfected the world (starting with ourselves) to merit the dream existence which we don’t exactly have a conceptual grasp on anyway.  We’re distracted.  We loose sight of what is really important and what our true priorities should be.  I’m at least speaking about myself.  So we get different levels of wake up calls, all for our benefit and good.  We need to make the right choices and respond to all the different challenges, opportunities, and gifts, in the proper and effective way.  This is the choice and this is part of the test.  We strive and are committed to keep the right attitude, perspective, and focus and hope that we’re making the right choices. 
 
There are times when reality hits home.  This is the time, which I hope that I, my wife and my kids, will be able to internalize the basics of life: “we’re not in control”, “prayer is real and works”, “HaShem is the Rofeh Cholim” (and the Doctors are the wonderful agents), “there’s a master plan and all is for the good”, and many more basic and important life lessons.
 
The more we internalize these critical tenants of life, the more zechusim (merits) will accrue in the merit of those who need merits, including ourselves and all of our families, particularly for Tehilla and Rafael Dovid who are in need of rachmei shamayim, (mercy from Heaven).
 
Here’s the update:
 
Tehilla has made tremendous strides.  She talks a lot, she’s writing, reading, recognizing most of her visitors and friends, she’s welcoming, courteous, friendly, and more; all good signs towards a great recovery.  In the meanwhile, with all the appreciation of how far she’s come, she is far from her self and her injury still takes its toll in disorientation, confusion, agitation, and other distressful signs.  This I’m told is part of the healing and recovery process and the positive signs thus far are very encouraging for the short term and long term possibilities and prognosis, be”H (with G-d’s help).  To translate this into practical terms, how the head heals and everything reconnects (please G-d), re energizes, regenerates, and gets back to normal, is all up to HaShem which means our tefillos (prayers) and efforts to create merits are critically important. 
 
The same goes for Rafael Dovid.  He has made improvements.  His eyes are opened (for over a week), his pupils are normal (Thank G-d), he seems to be looking, he’s trying to move his hands a bit.  Last Wednesday, they started sitting him up in a wheel chair for different time periods.  He looks much better in a chair than in bed the entire time.  Today, my daughter and the nurses are convinced that he blinked and nodded upon command.  I hope it’s true which is a huge step.  These accomplishments, especially for his age, are encouraging signs for rehab.  Our job is to daven with him, love him, read to him, play music, caress him, and encourage him.  I hope it’s giving him strength and comfort under his circumstances.
 
I mentioned on Shabbos during my Drasha (sermon) how ecstatic the nurses and we felt when his pupils responded to light!  How excited we were when the neurologist pinched his leg and he reacted!  How he responded to a lemon stick touching his tongue along with what I believe was a somewhat sour face. !!  Wow!  We say our morning Brochos everyday which enumerates all our basic gifts and blessings; and how much do we pay attention?  Why is it that for so many of us, we need a “reminder” to appreciate all our wonderful blessings? 
 
Tomorrow morning, 7:30 am St. Louis time (in 6 1/2 hours from now), Rafael Dovid is scheduled for surgery to put back his bone flap, the part of the skull that was removed to allow the swelling to take it’s course during the first critical week after the accident.  Thank G-d, as I wrote earlier, each week he made tremendous strides which we hope will continue all the way to a full recovery.
 
We appreciate the outpour of concern and tefillos on their behalf.  It’s our hope and prayer that all the many tehillim, learning in their merit, tefillos, chesed and numerous other efforts to increase zechuyos, will not only be a direct merit to Tehilla and Rafael Dovid but as Mesilas Yesharim writes, “haOseh Chesed, mekabail Chesed”, (one who does chesed will receive chesed), and everyone will see nachas and simcha, yeshuos, venechamos within your own families and communities.  The spiritual energies and merits that are generated should also benefit all Cholei Yisroel, all who are sick and need our prayers.
 
On a simcha note:  our newborn granddaughter born last week to our daughter Sora Liba and Binyomin Yudin, was named, Bluma (Blumi) after Binyomin’s late grandmother. 
 
On another simcha note: we are beginning to make plans for Leah’s chasuna which looks like it will be here in St. Louis sometime in Shevat, late January or early February.  We daven that Tehilla and Rafael Dovid will be able to dance and bring joy to the Choson and Kallah.
 
We appreciate your continued tefillos and efforts which has worked thus far and we pray will continue until both will be granted a full recovery, complete in body and mind to serve HaShem with their full abilities, talents, and understanding, and without handicaps, deficits or limitations. 
 
Thank you.
 
Elazar Grunberger