My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Youth minister hurt before Rose Parade


Hamlin resident falls off float, undergoes surgery


Marketta Gregory
Staff writer



(January 4, 2007) — A local youth minister is improving but still in critical condition after falling off a Rose Parade float in Pasadena, Calif.

Steve Klafehn, 34, of Hamlin, was helping to decorate the Lutheran Laymen's League float Thursday when he fell off the scaffolding he was standing on, hit the float with his shoulder and then rolled off onto the ground.

"He either reached for something or possibly became dizzy," said Larry Palmer, spokesman for Phoenix Decorating Co., the float builder

Klafehn, a youth leader at Concordia Lutheran Church in Brockport, remains in intensive care at Huntington Hospital after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain, but Klafehn's father said he is progressing day by day.

"The physicians have done their job and it's up to the good Lord to do the healing," said Christian Klafehn. "With God's guiding hands, he will be healed."

Doctors haven't been able to say if the clot was there before the fall or was a result of the fall, Palmer said, adding that Klafehn had been volunteering as a decorator for about 10 years.

Typically, Klafehn takes groups of teenagers with him to volunteer to put finishing touches on parade floats — something Lutherans have done for years, said the Rev. Roger Kimmel, pastor at Concordia Lutheran. This year, Klafehn went by himself to help with the ministry.

Because of years of volunteering at the parade, Klafehn knows many people from around the country and Canada, Kimmel said, adding that the Lutheran Laymen's League is spreading the word so that people can pray and donate money to help Klafehn's parents with travel expenses. The local congregation has also helped.

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

How sad
But if the clot pre-existed before the fall, this may have been a blessing in disguise.
Either way I wish him a full and speedy recovery.

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

many prayers!!!

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Thanks everyone. My ex and I (he emailed me about this since hes in the Rochester area) are going to try and organize something through the college for him. He still volunteers his time there.

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college

Re: My turn to ask for prayers - this is a close friend from college