Emergency trips to the hospital to save Erik’s young life were frequent. An ever-changing series of drugs helped. But every night, [the Rev. Brad] Karelius slept by his son’s side, ready to save his boy.
It helped that Karelius’ wife, Janice, was a family nurse practitioner. And it also helped that the couple’s other child, Kathryn became not only one of Erik’s helpers but her brother’s best friend.
On the outside, it appeared Karelius was handling things. He was building the congregation from 150 to more than 700 members. And Karelius was being courted to become rector at All Saints Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills.
But his son’s suffering tore Karelius apart.
My heart goes out to parents in such situations as these. To see the way they patiently and lovingly deal with such life-altering tragedies is profoundly humbling. God must give them a very special grace. Great must be their reward in heaven.