Dr. Cook lifted in prayer

On the heels of the car accident that took the life of 17-year-old Kelsey Orndorff in a two-vehicle crash along Route 3 Aug. 29 and rocked the Culpeper community, folks gathered this week to uplift Dr. J. Bryon Cook in prayer. Cook was severely injured in the crash.

A prayer vigil was held at Culpeper Baptist Church on Tuesday evening from 7 to 8 p.m. with more than 80 people in attendance.

The sanctuary was filled with hope on Tuesday as friends and patients of Cook arrived. In the lobby, some gathered before the service to share conversation and sign a large get well card that Father Michael Gray, Rector at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, planned to deliver on Thursday morning to Cook’s hospital room.

Myrl Barfield, a patient of Cook, spoke fondly of him as a doctor. Barfield moved to Culpeper with her husband in 1977 and said that Cook came to Culpeper, with Dr. Smith, and opened his practice not long afterward.

“He came here soon after me and he’s been my doctor ever since,” said Barfield. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” 

Carolyn Johnson has worked for Cook for 25 years and attended Tuesday’s vigil. She said he came out of Trauma ICU on Sunday and is now in the Med Surge ICU. She adds that he has suffered a great deal of internal injuries.
Cook, an internal medicine practitioner at Commonwealth Medical on Oaklawn Drive, has remained at the University of Virginia Health System hospital in Charlottesville since the accident.

Father Michael Gray led the service on Tuesday. At the beginning of the vigil he provided an update on Cook’s status. Gray explained that Cook remains in isolation on a ventilator.

Though unable to eat he has been up ambulating with a walker and the assistance of a staff member. He has started rehab for atrophy and is in good spirits, according to Gray.

With concern in his voice, Gray added that, “though he is out of the woods, he has a long way to recover. Keep him in your prayers.”

Prayers for Cook were the focus during this service of hope. Gray led those in attendance through songs where comfort, healing and wholeness were themes.

During a period of free prayer, directed by Pastor Ted Fuson of Culpeper Baptist Church, prayers were spoken thanking God for Bryon’s progress thus far. Steve Reza offered up a prayer for Cook’s healing and speedy recovery. He included a request for unity within our community for prayer and support.

The Orndorff family was also remembered in prayers during the evening. Out front, following the service, Betsy Smith, Children’s Minister at Culpeper Baptist, alluded to an older member of the congregation that had also lost a young loved one in the past.

She reminds us that, “when a family’s loved one dies, we need to walk with them (the family) and help them put one step in front of the other,” Smith said, adding that this is an extremely difficult time for the Orndorff family and we need to walk with them and support them.

Amy Wagner covers church news for the Star Exponent. Have a story idea? E-mail her at .