My husband, Michael Carlisle - longtime golf coach at the University of South Carolina Aiken - recently was stricken with a life threatening illness: Group A strep pneumonia. Treatment was lengthy, and complications nearly a daily event. Hospitalization lasted for seven weeks, followed by two weeks of inpatient rehabilitation, and six weeks of outpatient rehabilitation currently in progress.

Truly, hundreds of people in ours and surrounding communities and churches were intercessors in prayer for us. This is a very humbling blessing to receive. We are grateful beyond words to everyone who lifted us up in prayer. Many, many people expressed their support in cards. This support was so moving we could only read a few cards at a time. To all of you who sent us cards, we are very grateful for the motivational support you provided, always exactly when we needed it.

Literally hundreds of medical personnel touched our lives during Michael's stay at Aiken Regional Medical Centers and Walton Rehabilitation Hospital. The doctors at Aiken Regional worked together as a highly skilled medical team to bring Michael over every bump in the road to recovery, ensuring that he recovered. Aiken Regional has highly skilled doctors and nurses who provide high-quality health care. We would never consider any other hospital.

We owe Michael's life to the power of prayer and those in the medical fields who became the hands of God. Please accept our sincere thanks for every prayer, every card, every phone call, every visit, every doctor and every nurse! We are eternally grateful and proud to live in such a community! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving us our family back.

Patricia Carlisle, Aiken, S.C.