Day +29

This update was written by Alex. Thank you for your patience as we've been waiting for a cumulative update!

GREG: Greg's continued rapid recovery is amazing all involved. He is constantly asking the staff to cut the niceties and esteem boosts and tell him his real progress. The point being if he's below average he can work harder, if he's average he might work harder and if he's above average he's just okay. The steri-strips below his eyes have been removed for an even more clear picture of Mr. Crane. All bandages other than the one covering his healing tracheotomy have been removed. Greg can now consistently speak and be understood well without having to cover the hole in his throat with his hand - something he's been eager to achieve for a while. Over the past weekend the only real notable event has been his orthopedic physician, who's apparently in Mexico, changing Greg's movement regiment from partial weigh bearing on one leg and his arms to non weight bearing on all extremities. After a bit of ruffling feathers by his sister Diane and other family the vacationing doctors, overly conservative, prognosis was reversed back to it's previous standing once a physician actually saw Greg in person. With no weight bearing on any limb Greg's rehabilitation would have taken a significant turn for the worse since most of the effective practices would have been stopped all together and his stay in the rehab unit would have been unnecessary. He would have most likely been sent home or to a nursing home. We are all grateful for Diane's experience and watchful eye. Anyone out there with help to lend can find an avenue to the Cranes by helping Diane remain where she's needed most right now; at Greg's side.

SUMMER: Summer appears to be recovering very well. She seems in good spirit and back at being a teen. Her rehabilitation is slow going due to her dependence on the wheel chair while her legs are both casted but will be able to overcome this burden when her casts are removed Wednesday. Once the casts are removed Summer will also have some of the pins removed from her left knee and perhaps some other work on her legs; minor though. She will continue to be stuck in the wheel chair until the end of September and perhaps a bit longer but is anticipating much solace in being able to bend and stretch her feet, knees and toes. She is continuing to receive support from her family with the Orner grandparents temporarily taking residence at Summer's household and the Crane grandparents taking her out of the house for sleepovers and excursions. Summer's recently received an iPhone from her aunt Denise which is keeping her rather occupied. I imagine anyone out there with her email address already knows this (sorry but I will not release it - if you know someone who has it... ask them :) ). Summer's mobility has increased due to the handy work of the Pirkle family (Greg's Sister). She (and hopefully soon Greg) will enjoy a well built and sturdy ramp in and out of their front door. (Carole - I know you didn't build it but Randy wouldn't have made it here without your help - thanks for driving my car back from San Diego!)

TIA: Tia's condition remains mostly the same. The doctors have told the family she is not currently progressing quickly and that they feel it is imperative she continues to receive a high level of care. She continues to receive much support from the family, primarily from Barb and Tim Willis who have remained at her side. We are all hopeful she will soon recover and at the same time wary of this prolonged state. Your encouraging thoughts, prayers and vigilance are requested for Tia.

LORI & AUSTIN:
Lori and Austin's have been transported from San Diego to Phoenix. We will wait for Greg, Summer and Tia to be ready and then memorial arrangements will be made. Thank you for your continued patience.

Day + 22

Thanks to each one of you for your understanding as information is coming a little slower at this point. That's good news!

A few orders of business...please continue to send mail to the address at the right hand of this post. It's easier to manage that way. Thank you for understanding this.

FUNERAL: Although there is not a date set for the funeral, the family is definitely aware that each one of the friends & family of Lori and Austin need a chance to mourn, grieve, and celebrate these two beautiful lives. According to Lori's wishes, she & Austin's bodies will be cremated and will be arriving in Phoenix no later than next Monday. Because of this choice, Greg and Summer and the rest of the family feel that time is on their side and they wont rush to make memorial service arrangements until they're ready both physically and emotionally.

CURRENT INFORMATION:

GREG: As expected Greg is actively and ambitiously working through his rehab. He has had most of the bandages removed from his face and his right arm now only has a splint...and a large pin sticking out! The hospital staff has said that his recovery is going as fast as they have ever seen. Additionally, Greg is continuing to be able to eat higher caloric (liquid) food each day and that is aiding in gaining his strength back. He's eating a liquid diet, as you'll remember because, he has his mouth wired shut. Also, sucking through a straw has proven to be quite challenging because of the surgery done on his nose & the resulting stitches. Greg is not loosing heart despite the pain & discomfort. He knows that ridding himself of his feeding tube is one more step to going home!

Greg is continuing to seek privacy as he works through healing and is gaining support from the many family members and wonderful doctors & staff. Here's proof! Two thumbs up!

SUMMER: Each day Summer is exhibiting the resilience of a child--and the fruits of lots of love from her family! She is doing well at home and adjusting to her new normal. The majority of her time is spent at doctor or dentist appointments or rehabilitation. Some logistical things that have been challenging has been having her Orner Grandparents load and unload this young lady into a vehicle. Not that summer is a big person, but she has on very heavy casts! Thankfully the Crane grandparents were able to rent a wheelchair lift van and now Summer's travels can be done without leaving her wheelchair. Much to the relief of the Orner Grandparents! You can see this really is a whole family effort.
Summer did get great news today from her leg doctor--her casts can come off next Wednesday as well as some of the pins in her legs. However, Summer will still be unable to bare weight on her legs so will continue to be in a wheelchair until at least the end of September. As it was explained to me, her bones are like Styrofoam, with metal rods in them so they need a lot of time to recover before weight baring begins!
She continues to take over bits and pieces of her own personal care including the care of her mending jaw. She looks like she has braces with rubber bands, rather than a completely wired shut mouth. She changes out her bands as often as needed and seems pleased with the progress!
Additionally Summer is continuing to receive support from her school. Although she has not resumed studying yet, she is well aware of what is being taught at school, the school is being so supportive and has a tutor lined up for her when she's ready. Her cousin Jessica also is a teacher, so each day is filled with learning. Summer continues to spend a lot of time with her littlest cousin Lila. As a three year old, Lila easily can take her mind off of the stress of her recovery and bring pure joy!

TIA: There were meetings today for the whole family regarding Tia's condition. When more information is available I will post. Please keep Tia in your prayers as well as the doctors who are caring for her.

Day + 20

Sorry for the delay in posting. As you can imagine it's taken everyone's strength and energy to get all three of the Crane family members settled into their new environments. The family supporting Greg, Summer and Tia has taken all of the time and concern needed to ensure that all of their needs & comforts have been met.
Here's the update!

CURRENT INFORMATION:
Greg:


Greg is settling in his new environment well. He is understanding and adapting to the schedule and processes of rehabilitation better than anyone could have expected. With home so close he's received a few of the items that make the rehab center seem more comfortable and home like. He's finally decided he's willing to take his mind off of the tasks at hand and enjoy some R&R with the help of the History Chanel. Meals are easier to take now although they are always at least as soft as a warm milk shake. I'm continuing to spend the night with Greg and provide whatever physical and mental support he'll take throughout the night. Physical therapy has and will continue to work him like a dog until he is well. We've discussed this fact and he understands it and is prepared. Summer arrived in his room yesterday morning while out for a doctor's appointment; and they seemed to be pleased with the meeting.

Summer:
(from Barb Willis)
Summer arrived Thursday evening having traveled by van with Grandma and Grandpa Orner, Aunt Denise and Spencer. The trip went well and Summer was happy to see all her pets who were equally excited to see her! While she likes being in her own home with her own things, it is also difficult and strange. She went to Olive Garden with some girlfriends Friday night to celebrate her birthday. It was good to laugh and do something “normal.” Saturday she had a birthday party with family at home. Next week she’ll begin several different therapies and a tutor is being arranged to help her stay current in school. She seems in good spirit - being bolstered by family.
**Thank everyone for their wonderful birthday wishes to Summer!

Tia:
(from Barb Willis)
Tia and Barb landed safely in Phoenix Friday afternoon. The air transport was seamless from the moment they were picked up at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego until they arrived at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The staff in Phoenix were completely up-to-speed on Tia’s condition and her continuum of care didn’t miss a beat. She was “agitated” most of the day, however, with strange voices, movements and sounds. Barb was by her side the entire way doing everything possible to help her relax. She was finally able to settle down in her new environment late last night and today is resting well. She will be evaluated by the head of the trauma unit and, most likely, transferred to their rehab department. Tia remains unconscious with spells of “neuro-storming.” We will be given a full update on her condition after the team here has an opportunity to complete a full assessment.

Day + 18--GOING HOME!

WOW. A lot has happened in the last 24 hours! Such good news I can hardly stand that it doesn't flow from my own fingertips. Due to all that is happening and the constant state of change, some of the upcoming updates will be written by Alex and by other members of the Crane and Orner families, simply published by me. Alex wanted me to be sure and address that in case writing styles or the communication sounds different--he also wanted me to point out that this is the case since we don't have telepathy since we're not identical twins. Ha ha. OK. I digress. This is a long one, hang in there. It's all great news.

Here's what you're really here for!

CURRENT INFORMATION:
GOING HOME:


So much has happened in the past two days I have not been able to get an update in. Sorry everyone

Greg:
(from Alex)
Greg was told on Tuesday that he would be released by Thursday and preparations started immediately. He's made much more progress over the past two days with dramatic swelling reduction and continued sleep. His feeding tube, unfortunately, is remaining in due to Greg's difficulty eating enough food to stay healthy. He's started taking real interest in his medication to ensure he's only getting enough to do the trick and it's not affecting his body or mind negatively. He's now on his 31st hour without any substantial pain medication other than inflammation reduction medicine (Celebrex) . Physical therapy continues to progress well and again Greg is interested in ensuring he understands and can do the required motions. I am continuing to spend the nights with Greg and have to admit I'm experiencing and doing things I never thought I would with Mr. Crane. :) Yesterday he finally got his hair washed, it was very... not Greg like. They used a shower cap filled with some dry cleaner and just rubbed it around for a few minutes – very strange. Greg continues to work on processing all that is and has happened. I spent about an hour talking with him detailing the entire period of time, from my perspective, from when the news reporter showed up in our office to ask questions about the crash (this is how our office found out) to when I showed back up in San Diego this past week. He asked questions about conversations we'd had and details of events he was present for – showing that although he's cognitively there; trauma and drugs affect memory. Greg was interested in the details of the events and didn't seem to mind reliving some of the more traumatic experiences from the week. Mourning continues with periods of doubt and periods of determination. He is concerned with the fact Summer's birthday is Friday and struggling to deal with that for the first time without Lori.
Today has been very exciting to me. We're going home and we can begin making the "new normal" life. Officer David Miller, of the San Diego Police, stopped by Greg's room today. He is the one who pulled Greg from the wreckage and recesitated Greg – fortunately he was a paramedic prior to joining the police force. I love David Miller. He found out Greg was leaving today from this blog and needed to see Greg off. He and Greg and family spoke for about 20 minutes about the scene and Greg asked questions about specifics. David and I exchanged information and will continue to communicate as Greg has more questions about the scene. It was an amazing conversation and Greg, Norm, Vicky, Diane thanking David from the bottom of their hearts. Shortly there after the company arrived to take Greg and me back to Phoenix. During his pack up Greg received well wishes from his doctors, nurses, surgeons and other staff members from Sharp Memorial Hospital who's hearts have been touched by this tragedy.
The flight was on a Cessna 421 with an airworthiness certificate issued 5/18/1976 (which is five years, eleven months and nine days before I was born). I was sitting at Greg's feet and he's laying on a gurney strapped in with four seat belts. We have a pilot, EMT and registered nurse accompanying us on the 1.5 hour flight from Montgomery Field (this is the airport the Cranes took off from 17 days ago) to Sky Harbor. We climbed to 13,000 feet and are traveled at 170 knots. Surprisingly enough Greg was dozing throughout the first 30 minutes in the air and seemed extremely in control and relaxed. Thumbs up the whole way. When on Tuesday Greg was told he'd be available to be transferred from Sharp Memorial Hospital to rehabilitation care in Phoenix. He was advised that he can travel by plane or ambulance and he chose plane. He didn't want to drive because the trip would take too long and be too bumpy – much of his family was surprised he made this choice. Learning of the options, I figured he would fly with no other real justification to himself other than proving he could get back into one of these little planes – the other reasons are most likely just convenient. After a 1.5 hour flight we were on our decent into Phoenix and Greg gave an indication of satisfaction with another round of thumbs up. The transport company loaded Greg into a ambulance van, which is one of the private vans with a bubble top - not an ambulance in the traditional sense, and we headed to the hospital. After a short ride we arrived and were quickly in the room. Upon entering Greg said he thought this place was nicer than the last one and seemed satisfied. He asked for "no sweat" sheets and was pleased to find t-shirt material sheets. The new nursing staff has already proven themselves kind, attentive and willing to listen - Greg said he likes them too. Greg's received a meal, medicine and all new dressings on his wounds. It looks like sleep will come easier tonight.

Summer:
(from Barb Willis)
Summer has done extremely well since her discharge Tuesday. She is at the Ronald McDonald house rooming with my sister, Denise, and two doors down from my parents. Overall, it was a good day. She is already becoming proficient with her wheelchair and learning ways to get around with leg casts. They re-cast her legs before discharge – just wait till you see the colors shoe chose! She is enjoying “real” food again and getting outdoors. She tires easily – physically and emotionally – so we are being very sensitive not to over-stimulate her.

Today, Summer is heading home! Summer, Grandma and Grandpa Orner, Spencer and Aunt Denise will drive from San Diego to Summer's home in Scottsdale. The family and summer have received excellen counseling in preparation for this next step and have counselors and resources in place when they get there. FYI: Summer's birthday is Friday – 12! The family will decide, after they arrive home and get settled, whe, who and how we will celebrate. PLEASE do not visit without calling first. You can contact Grandma Jan at 928-231-0814 or call the Crane residence AFTER FRIDAY. Word has it, that the family just arrived in Phoenix. Please contain your excitement!


Tia:
(from Barb Willis)
Tia's condition remains the same. Her physical burns and facial woulnds are healing nicely; however her neurological condition is taking longer to see improvement. Doctors constantly reassure us that her reactions are “normal” for the extent and type of brain injury she sustained. Most of the time she is unresponsive to verbal stimuli, her body is reacting without what doctors call “posturing”, and she has no control over her bodily functions. She if off all life-support other than a feeding tube. Since Summer and Greg are going home, the hospital is making arrangements to transfer Tia to Phoenix on Friday. I will be traveling with her via medical transport.

(from Alex)

P.S. We received confirmation that Tia's travel will be covered by insurance and on top of that she'll fly in a Lear Jet with Barbara for a short 48 minute flight. This will save the Crane family $6k of out of pocket expense. THANK YOU HUMANA!!!!!!!

Day +17

Change is brewin! Thank you for your patience as the family is working to get details in place for the Crane's to move towards Phoenix...They've been busy. While this post does include information regarding the family's imminent arrival in Phoenix, the extended families, both Orners and Cranes, and Greg himself continue to wish for solitude at this time. Their locations (with the exception of Summer) will not be released until Greg says that it is OK to have visitors. Please respect their privacy and their need for peace to continue the healing process.

CURRENT INFORMATION:
GREG:  doing very well. He's passed his swallow test and now may drink all the liquids he wants, which for Greg is almost always water. He's also able to eat apple sauce and broth. He is still being supplemented with food through his stomach feeding tube at night. Part of his facial reconstruction surgery included a cast over his nose which has bothered him significantly, the said cast has now been removed. He's looking even more like himself. Some stitches have been removed from underneath his eyes from the facial reconstruction surgery his ability to be expressive has increased. His ability to sleep is improving and he's sleeping for longer periods of time. Due to his great progress, his sleep is uninterrupted by his pain or hospital staff. Greg was able to get into a standard wheelchair yesterday and scooted himself around the halls using his least injured foot. Discussions have started for Greg's release from this hospital to a new one closer to home (at this time the location of the new hospital will not be released per Greg's wishes to continue this stage of his recovery with some level of solitude). Greg has chosen to be transported to the new location via a small medical airplane... determination is one of Greg's strong points; if you didn't already know. He continues to directly address many of the details of his and the girls continued physical and mental progress. Greg is obviously interested in the journey he has ahead... difficult or not.
His progress into the mourning process is becoming more apparent in a healthy and open hearted manner. He is continuing to find solace in discussions with Tim. Ale has expressed his gratefulness for Tim's wise input and insight in this time. Greg and Summer met again yesterday after not having the opportunity the day before. They spent about 30 minutes together alone in Greg's room. Although it's not known what was discussed or said but when Greg was asked about the visit he said it was very good.

SUMMER: Great news! She was discharged from the hospital and should be well established in the Ronald McDonald house across the street from the children's hospital. She received new casts on both legs yesterday. She will be heading home this week via van with her grandparents (Orners) and Tim. She is expecting to head directly home, at her request, to the Crane home in Scottsdale. She is excited to get herself setup and await Greg and Tia's arrival. The Orners will be moving into the Crane house until they are no longer needed. FYI EVERYONE!!!!!! Summer's birthday is the end of the week and no one better forget! We still ask that you do not drop by the house (please!) but you may send her something in the mail to the address listed for the Crane Family Fund. Summer received a laptop from a very close family friend today which will help her keep in contact with friends and family. Preparations for her arrival have already begun at the house and her animals await her tender care.

TIA: remains in mostly the same condition she was yesterday; continuing to stay asleep. She received another MRI yesterday which should provide more information for tomorrow's posting.

Day +15

It's hard to believe that this is the two week mark for the journey that this family has been on! What a difference a week makes in everyone's progress.

I have been on vacation, in San Diego--NO, I did not see the Crane family or even my brother for that matter. This trip was previously scheduled, and I have had sporatic internet connections. Thank you for your patience while our family took a break!

CURRENT INFORMATION:

GREG: Much to Greg's relief, his trach has been completely removed! He is working to heal himself as quickly as possible. He's told Alex he needs to research how to make trachs heal as fast as possible (if anyone has any input on this, Alex would be pleased to present it to Greg - with the hospital staffs approval necessary before implementation). He is speaking well and communicating clearly with those around him. He is no longer just speaking about his needs but also about his thoughts and future. Greg's attitude is improving in regards to his medical care and prospects of going home. He's becoming accustomed to working with the staff, the schedules and his pain. He can now move from his bed to a special chair and be moved from his room throughout the hospital floor. Thankfully becuase he can now move throughout the hospital, he was able to visit with Summer!
He has found the "perfect position" in his bed and last night insisted that Alex take many pictures of him to show the nurses in case they have to move him. He wanted to make sure they knew how to get it back. He is off two of the medications he was taking around the clock and although this is causing him more discomfort than he'd like he understands the necessity to lower his medication intake.
His humor is in full force surprising the family and the staff. He's joking at times when least expected. He seems to be amazed and in disbelief of his progress sometimes. Greg's greatest interest at this point is passing his swallow tests so he can drink water himself - currently, due to the tracheotomy and facial trauma, he cannot trust his swallow to put liquid into his stomach and not his lungs.
Emotionally, Greg has started to deal with the accident and mourn the loss of his amazing wife and son. He's had discussions about the accident and the loss of family with Tim and Alex on separate occasions. Greg has expressed his interest in ensuring he takes advantage of the time he has with his daughters while continuing to honor the memory of his wife and son. Greg is understanding that he will have many more thoughts and emotions as a result of this tragedy and is preparing himself to face them. Greg's family continues to stay by his side at all times and is remaining open to Greg indicating he's ready to see visitors.

SUMMER: Amazingly, Summer's physical healing continues well. The orthopedic surgeon explained the next phase of recovery and longer-term rehabilitation and therapy. It will take time but, at this time, full mobility is expected. Her cousins, Sarah and Ashley, spent time with her Sunday lifting her spirits and making her laugh. They had a “picnic” on the patio, followed by a “spa” treatment including a sponge bath, manicure, and massage. She also visited her sister, Tia, which brought tears to her eyes and prayers from her heart. Later in the day, she went to visit Daddy. They spoke for about 5 minutes and cried together. Both showed their continued love and support for each other. It was apparent that it was difficult for them both to see each other in their condition, each seeing eachother for the first time. Thankfully it was comforting to see immediate family no matter their condition. Summer went back to her room accompanied by Lila, her 3 year old cousin, and Summer remained uplifted by her playfulness for about an hour. Lila will be used as an uplifting tool in Summer's recovery.

Plans for Summer's discharge are taking place and she will be transfered to the Ronald McDonald house this week. She is learning how to get around in her wheelchair and seems to be comfortable maneuvering it.

TIA: continues to sleep—at times fitfully and at other times peacefully. The trauma to her head was more severe than Summer’s which is one reason it’s taking her longer to regain consciousness. That, and the fact that she is Tia, and her body will recover on its own timeframe. The doctors remain optimistic and communicated that her “condition is normal” for her injuries."

***The update for the girls was taken from Barb Willis--the girls Aunt who has spent countless hours by their sides. The update from Greg came from Alex.

Day + 14

Here are additional updates from yesterday.

CURRENT INFORMATION:

GREG:  As expected, is going through the emotions typical in a situation like this. With the support of his family and the drive we all know and love he is finding himself peaceful with a positive outlook.  He told Alex today that he wants to take his family home.  To help inspire Greg, his mom printed 2 huge pictures, one of Tia and one of Summer - they're posted in his room on the wall directly in front of him.  He is obviously drawing inspiration from their images.  Greg has been asking for his brother in law, Tim, to come and provide spiritual guidance to him - and time is obliging.  Greg seems comforted by Tim's bedside prayers.   Physically, Greg is doing very well.  His facial swelling is down significantly and he's looking more and more like himself.  Due to the work needed, Greg had some stitches holding his lower eyelids in the proper position which have been bothersome to Greg and those were removed.  This morning Greg received a new tracheotomy and he is talking! This is the biggest relief to Greg and all the family. Thankfully,  he's been able to explain some of his pain to the staff and as a result they've been able to assist him more in managing pain.   From his comments doctors and nurses have discovered that he is having nerve pain from the surgeries in his face and on his hand.  He's described this pain as if he's being electrocuted.   This pain has made him most upset and frustrated. Unfortunately, the medicine for it takes a few days to start working.   Previously, Greg was refusing some of his pain medication and was only taking it if the staff demanded.  Now, he's asking for pain medication when he feels he needs it.  This is a good sign because it means he's trusting the staff, his family and the medicine and it will allow him to get his much needed rest.  They've removed most of the bandages from his left leg and have just small bandages covering the holes from the posts.  His tracheotomy has been approved for removal from his surgeons and just needs a final approval from Greg's overseeing doctor.  Greg is extremely excited about that and want's it done NOW.

SUMMER: The greatest news for Summer is that the doctors are working to have a reunion between her and Greg. In addition, the staff at the children's hospital are making preliminary arrangements to make sure that Summer and Tia will share a room when they're both moved into the rehabilitation step down movement.

TIA: She is continuing to become more and more alert. Her burns continue to heal great!

**The Orner and Crane families are still being vigilant at the bedsides of each of their family members. Each of the girls have someone with them 24 hours a day. Family support is absolutely essential for the physical and emotional healing for each of these wonderful people.

Day +12

GREG: Had another rough night last night. He is used to having total control of his environment and himself (not in a tyrannical) and through this process he's had very limited - if any control of himself, what's done to him or his environment. For anyone, being through what he's been through must be so frustrating. Additionally, Greg is an amazing and natural communicator and as long as Alex has known him he's been able to tell people what he wants and needs with ease and tact... so far in this process he hasn't. As much as the family may have tried our efforts at communication have been pretty dismal.
 
SUMMER: is doing extremely well. She is still talking and expressing herself like she always does. Alex says that she is as strong willed as any kid he's ever seen. Her nurses recommended that her ipod be brought last week and was able to deliver it today. She was pleased with this and wanted to use it right away; unfortunately it wasn't charged  so she had to wait a bit longer. Aunt Carole went and purchased a dock so Summer can listen to her music without having to use headphones and didn't have to worry about anyone forgetting to charge it. She'd requested access to her email yesterday but wasn't able to log in so today she regained access. As soon as the computer was available to her she logged right in and began reading her emails. Summer's aunt Barb (Lori's sister)  has remained vigilant at summers side and they are obviously very comfortable together.

TIA: great day for Tia today - she had her breathing tube removed! The staff has ceased her sedation medication and Tia has started to wake up and respond a bit. She is unsure and uneasy about being in the hospital and doesn't really care to be there. She is still very immobile and it will be a while before she is up and moving. Hopefully she will be transferred to a new room in the next few days. because she has had more direct head injuries than summer it will take Tia a little longer to progress. She appears to be healing well from her burns.

Day +12

No news yet today regarding the Crane family. Hopefully first thing in the morning I will hear from Alex.
Please keep Greg in your prayers. I know Alex has been spending a lot of time helping him today. Communication is one of Greg's passions, and since he can't communicate yet, he's pretty frustrated.

Donation & Contact Information

A Fund has been set up to help the Crane family cope with the medical bills and the long rehabilitation that Greg, Summer and Tia all have ahead of them. If you feel lead to give to the family, please do so at this address:

Crane Family Fund

4710 E. Falcon Dr.

Suite 121

Mesa, AZ 85215 

**Please send check or money orders only.

All donations will be applied directly to and only to the medical costs. Not cost of living, housing or anything other than the medical costs alone.

**A note on communicating with Summer & Tia, within the next couple of days Summer should have access to e-mail. Please do not send personal notes to the cranesuccess@gmail.com address. This is an "administrative" address only and I don't have capabilities to get the e-mails directly to the girls. In the days ahead e-mail accounts will be set up to contact them directly. In the mean time, please send personal notes to Summer & Tia to the address to the right of this post. Thank you!

Day +11

**If you have questions (within reason) that you would like addressed by this blog, you can send them to cranesuccess@gmail.com. Please title the e-mail "Questions" so I know to tag the e-mail and address it. I will put together a post answering your questions mid to late next week. I reserve the right to not answer any questions that do not aid in providing appropriate information or that would jeopardise the privacy of the families involved.

Alex returned to San Diego this morning at 2 am and was at the hospital by 8 am. After a long day of updates & reconnecting there is a lot to report!

CURRENT INFORMATION:

GREG: Today was the first time Alex saw him after his facial reconstruction and he said he looks exactly like Greg. Reconstruction was a huge success. He's just a little swollen at this point. He has bandages around his face to help support all of the reconstruction. With all of the bones broken in Greg's face, he's pretty frustrated that he can't feel his face--there may be some nerve over stimulation and perhaps some nerve damage. As you can imagine at this point in this healing journey, Greg has hit a bit of a rough spot mentally/ emotionally. He is also on some medication that makes it difficult for him to relax and sleep. He's also choosing to take as little pain meds as possible. Although this is something that he will have to weather, please continue to pray that Greg's positive attitude and his will power to get through this situation will remain intact! Imagine all of the factors going on for Greg, things we know and things we don't know, it's definitely going to be an uphill climb. If you have time to send him an encouraging letter, please do so--the address is just to the right.

His lung drainage tube came out today which should make him feel more comfortable. He was able to get out of bed (with a lot of support) and sit in a chair for a while. The big test for this week is to see if he can get his tracheotomy out.

SUMMER: Has been moved to rehabilitation center (within the same hospital) and is up & talking! When Alex saw her this morning, the first thing she asked about was her favorite little cousin lila. Her head has been shaved for all of the work done on her face & head. Many of her bandages have been removed so the wounds that her body has endured are more apparent. Alex said she in all respects is Summer-- a little loopy with the meds--but seems quickly on her road to recovery. Her neck brace is off much to her relief and she is eating a real food in a liquid diet form. Her mouth will remain wired shut to continue to heal her broken & reconstructed jaw. She also is able to get out of her bed on her own strength. The hardest part about today was that her Grandmother (Lori's mother) told her about the death of her mom and Austin today. Grandma told her that Austin and Lori went to be with Jesus. To show how resilient children are, shortly after Summer learned of her mom & Austin's death, she was desperate to talk to her friends. She wanted her laptop. She also asked what day it was, and she realized right away it was the second day of school. She was bummed that she missed her first day.
When her Grandpa walked in today she said she needed a hug.

TIA: still in the ICU still sedated, all of her burns have been uncovered to help with healing. Those who visit her are required a special uniform to help prevent infection. Her burns are clearly healing, new healthy pink skin is starting to show through. Hopefully tomorrow Tia will be coming out of sedation, leading to the removal of the ventilation tube. According to her doctors, she's about 2 days behind her sister in her recovery. Pray that infection stays away!

As you can imagine there are so many details & obstacles to overcome in this situation--because of that, actions to make the funeral arrangements hasn't been on the forefront of every one's minds. Rest assured that there will be some progress made in this area in the week ahead. We know that each of you who are lovingly praying for and thinking of the Crane family also needs a chance to grieve and say goodbye. Details will be forthcoming.

Day +10

Sorry for the delay in posting. This is a travel day for Alex. I know he has been anxious to get back to Greg, Summer and Tia so that he can resume giving his perspective for the updates!

CURRENT INFORMATION:

This update is from Barb Willis--Lori's older sister, aunt to the girls.

SUMMER: Monday and Tuesday, August 9th and 10th, Summer had “big” days. Monday, she was slowly brought out of her induced coma in order to be extubated. Removing the respirator was a huge milestone, and she has been breathing well on her own. Tuesday, as her vital signs remained stable, the IV with attached tubing was removed.
She is in and out of consciousness, talking through “clenched” jaws, and extremely uncomfortable. She’s frustrated and hurting. She especially does not like the neck collar and catheter and tries to remove the splint on her left arm and casts on her legs. Grandpa is amazed at how strong and resourceful she is!

TIA: also had a big day on Monday as they did facial reconstruction surgery in the evening. Since then, she has been heavily medicated. The burns on her body continue to heal, and we are grateful for the power of drugs combined with the healing powers of the Lord.
 
Today was the first day of school at Tia and Summer's school. Jessica was at the girls school today talking with the administrators and each of the girls teachers as well as Austins "would be" teacher and helped get their school supplies ready and organized. The school & Jessica are all ready and organized to make sure that when the time is right that the girls can get caught up and back to learning! The school had all of the teachers & staff meet with grief counselors earlier in the week so that they could be prepared to meet the student's needs & questions concerning the Crane family. The school also told Jessica that they had just sent a large box of cards & letters to the girls.

Day + 9

Just a quick update so far for today.

CURRENT INFORMATION

GREG: Thankfully, Greg was taken into surgery yesterday evening at 7:30 pm and the surgery was complete sometime around 3 am. He is recovering well. 

Day + 8 Update #2

Update #2 for today since I received the earlier update late last night.

CURRENT INFORMATION:

GREG: Unfortunately, Greg's  facial reconstruction surgery was delayed this evening. He is clearly frustrating him. (this is a nice sign to family). Otherwise no material change. It's unclear when the surgery has been rescheduled or the reason for delay.
SUMMER: More great news, she was extubated today. With her extubation, her sedation has been lifted and when she is conscience she is experiencing pain. The medical team is working diligently to tweak her pain medication so she can be conscious but not in pain. She is speaking and people can understand her speak. She has reportedly said that she wants to go home and that she is thirsty. Orners are rotating to provide Summer with full time family presence. They have this covered and will notify people when they need additional help. Summer has opened her left eye.

TIA: Doctors had to manage her blood pressure a little this morning but now it seems to be under control. She went into her facial reconstruction surgery this evening. Due to this surgery she is still fully intubated and the doctors will probably leave that in for a few more days. She has opened her eyes and responded to “blink if you hear me” correctly. This is a very encouraging sign!

Hope still lives in this situation.

Day + 8

It is hard to believe that it was one week ago today that this family's life was changed forever! In some respects, this past week seems like a life time and in others, it's hard to believe that all that has happened in just one week.

CURRENT INFORMATION:

GREG: is still recovering from his surgery on Friday and preparing for surgery today. So everyone understands Greg's condition more clearly, although the bones in his face have been broken he looks like himself. He did not suffer major cuts on his face although his face is somewhat swollen, once he has his surgery today, he should be right back to normal. At this time, due to facial injuries and breathing tube Greg is unable to speak and communicate with everyone. He is currently communicating with family (primarily Alex) by drawing letters on peoples palm. This is a long and difficult process because he can only use his left hand, as his right is broken. Furthermore, he cannot lift his left hand because of his shoulder injury and therefore cannot see what he is doing. Greg is right handed. To make matters more complicated he is medicated for the pain and therefore the process of communication is very difficult. Fortunately greg is extremely patient and he and Alex have been communicating for years which makes for greater success in communicating.
Additionally, although it appears that Greg handeling the situation well, due to the communication issues expressed above, his emotional state is not clearly known since he simply cannot physically express himself. Pray that as he continues to heal that his emotions will have appropriate outlets and healing.

Alex is currently in phoenix ensuring, through the support of the team Greg has appointed over the years, that all of Greg's affairs are in order and that business is continuing. Alex anticipates being back at Greg's side on wednesday. His family remains with him in the meantime.

SUMMER: Great news, her brain pressure guage came out yesterday without a hitch! No further changes to report.

TIA: No changes to report at this time.

The following is an e-mail I recieved from Alex regarding the excellent care that the family is recieving. I think it is comforting to know that when we all can't be at the side of those we love, there are wonderful people filling in the gaps!

" I want to tell everyone about the fantastic care Greg and the girls are receiving and what Austin received.  I've been in a few long term care facilities and have met nurses and have never experienced kindness and care in a hospital like I have there. All staff at both hospitals are extremely knowledgeable and very soft spoken. Whoever hires the staff at these locations is amazing. The staff is extremely attentive to the needs of both Greg and the kids and then they are kind and available to the family. Every time I've been in the girls and Austin's rooms they have always had at least two nurses in there watching monitors and/or talking to the children despite their conditions. They are playing the music Summer loves in her room and calming music at night. Each shift of nurses who I meet ask me questions about the girls and Austin in a effort to know them before they wake up. I cannot express my comfort in their care and gratitude for their attention. The family cannot ask for better care or more kindness. We wanted everyone out there to know the Cranes are receiving the best possible care in the kindest manner." --Alex Callan

Important Information

This is just a friendly reminder that the Crane and Orner family's are still not ready to have additional visitors at this time. Please know that this is for the best for Greg, Summer and Tia at this time.

**If you are a parent of a child who knows Tia and Summer, please get to writing get well wishes to the girls. The doctors expect that sometime next week they will be coming out of sedation.
The address can be found in the post below or to the right on the sidebar. We want their room covered with get well wishes!

Day + 6

Several orders of business

The blog is not private yet. Obviously. Due to a limit that Blogger puts on how many private readers we can have, we'll be switching domains soon. The new address will be posted here at this site and also e-mailed to all those who have already requested to be a reader. Sorry for the delay! An unexpected glitch.

We have an address to which you can mail get well CARDS to the Crane family.

500 W. Harbor Dr.#1002

San Diego, CA 92101

Please note: this is just a mailing address, not a location. You will not find the Cranes here! The hospital will not allow balloons or flowers etc. in the hospital rooms at this point. Please just send cards & letters.

CURRENT INFORMATION:
Greg: Successfully came out of surgery yesterday. He had his shoulder and tibia repaired and set. He has pins and rods pretty much from the top of his shoulder all the way down to his feet. The outer rods will be removed after the bones heal, athough those internal screws and rods will be in there permanently. As a reminder, although for the average person, imagining having unset bones for a long period of time (like 6 days) seems strange. Greg had to be stable enough to have the surgeries, addressing the most severe & dangerous breaks first, the femur and then the other things are addressed.

Summer: Great news for Summer today, they are talking about extubating her within the next couple of days. That means she'll be starting to breath on her own again. This is a huge accomplishment. She will also in the next 48-72 hours be taken off her "coma meds" to help her come out of the medically induced coma. This means also that her "brain pressure gauge" will also come out. She will most likely not just wake up because she's also on a significant amount of pain medication. She will have moments of being awake and then quickly going back to sleep. It will be a process, but definitely a step in the right direction.

Tia: More good news for you, Tia was examined by the "burn doctors" and he said that her burns were not severe enough to need to come to the burn unit. That's great! Her burns are considered mild second degree burns on a large portion of her body, the most severe being on her backside. As far as the doctors are concerned her scaring will be very minimal. It may seem like these burns are a major item, however, as with the case with all of those involved, the primary goal is to get the patient stable, address those critical injuries, and then move onto the less severe. Those less severe injuries are not left unattended, but the repairs may come a little later.

Day + 5

The family's are looking forward to a quiet weekend before a pretty busy week ahead.
Today the family met with 2 of the fire fighters who were first responders to the plane crash. The fire fighters expressed how they were impacted by the Crane family already and that their entire organization is praying for their fast and complete recovery.

CURRENT INFORMATION

Greg: Since Greg has been awake the most, he's had the most work done. His surgery included having his tibia and shoulder re-set and having pins and rods put in place to help stabilize the bones permanently.

Summer: Summers condition remains the same, please see previous posts for most up to date information.

Tia: Something that was missed in the previous posts is that Tia suffered some chemical burns to her skin. I don't have the details on the percentage of coverage or the severity, however, they are watching that closely and if the need arises, she will be cared for in the burn unit for a time.

Austin: At last Austin's body is at rest. The Life Sharing organization was able to take 7 life saving organs from Austin. Tonight, the families of seven children across the country know that their child will live because of Austin. Thank God for this gift of beauty amidst the ashes!

Important Information!

The Crane and Orner familys would like to remind everyone that at this time they would prefer NO VISITORS. They have all of the family surrounding Greg and the children that they need. Please do not come to San Diego to visit with the family at this time. As you can imagine, this is a very difficult situation and the family just needs to cling to one another.

When this changes, you will be invited to visit. But please respect their wishes

Blog Will be Private

This blog will be private beginning on the evening of Friday August 6, 2010.
If you have already sent your e-mail request to cranesuccess@gmail.com then you will be added to the approved reader list. As a reminder, you will need to sign in with your submitted e-mail address in order to access the blog, again, this is to protect the privacy of the Crane and Orner family's.

If you have yet to do this, it's not too late, please send your e-mail request to the address above. You will be added as the e-mail is received. Please be patient as the blog maybe disabled for this changed for a few hours.

We know that friends & family are still learning that this blog is available for updates. Please don't hesitate to inform other friends & family members. The Crane's can  use all of the love, prayer and support that they can get!

Day + 4

Thank you for your patience today. It has been a long day waiting for an update. But I assure you there is a lot of really positive things going on. I know that much is contained in this update, please continue reading, I believe you will be blessed by all of the news.

The first thing that Alex wanted to communicate to everyone, is his, the Crane and Orner family's sincere appreciation for all of the love and support that you have given them. They are certainly feeling your prayers and are continuing to rely heavily on them! Alex specifically wanted to convey that this blog is primarily coming from his perspective, but that in the coming weeks and months there may be others providing insights and views as roles change etc.

There are several other touching details that I believe you all will want to know about. First and foremost, The Orner family, Lori's extended family (maiden name), her parents, brothers and sisters have been in San Diego from the on-set of this horrific event. They have been holding constant vigils at the bedsides of Greg, Austin, Tia and Summer. To be available at any second, the Orner family has been staying across the street from the hospital at the Ronald McDonald House. Their closeness & proximity relays their hearts desire to comfort and love their family!

Jessica (Pirkle) Callan and her daughter Lila are returning to Phoenix this weekend. Alex and Jessica have been living on the Crane property for several months. Jessica is responsible for setting up the groundwork for the long-term care & rehabilitation that the Crane family will need. Alex will be coming home later in the weekend to take care of some of the business needs and then return to San Diego.

CURRENT INFORMATION:

Greg: miraculously, Greg is breathing on his own! This is a huge accomplishment. He still has a trachea that is supplementing oxygen, but he is primarily breathing on his own. He is off IV nutrition and is receiving "real food" albeit in liquid form! The swelling in his face is reduced significantly and he's able to open his eyes at will.
As mentioned in the previous post, Greg's hand was splinted yesterday. While he was with the doctor, the doc explained that in a little while he would begin moving his fingers and rehabilitating his hand. Later in the day as family surrounded Greg, he began moving his arm & fingers and the family thought he was trying to communicate. One family member realized what he was doing, and said, "Greg, you've begun your rehab already haven't you?" And in Greg fashion, he nodded enthusiastically. He's also already begun wiggling his toes.

Summer: The significant change in summer is that she is responding to movement and stimulation in an appropriate manner. Other than that, her status remains the same.

Tia: Swelling in her face & body seems to be recessing a little bit. Her status has not changed, please read the first post.

***It is important to note that the change in the girls seems slow at the time. It is because they are in medically induced comas. The medically induced coma is really allowing the girls bodies to heal and not be in pain. In the coming weeks & months there will be much more to report. The girls have constant vigilance from family, 24 hours a day, there is someone with them, talking, soothing, holding their hands. The doctors say that they are progressing exactly as they are supposed to.

Austin:  Although Austin's spirit is no longer with his body, he remains on life-support. Because Greg has gifted his organs to other children, the process of letting his body go takes a little longer. There are thousands of children across America on the national donor database and the hospital and organ transfer teams are doing their best to find the right children to receive Austins organs. This process can take some time. But, the hope in this is that right now a child is looking at death, but because of Austin, in a few days they will be looking at life.
In light of Austin still being on life-support, I wanted to communicate to you all that he is still not alone. There has been a very close friend of Lori's who has been at Austin's bedside from the moment allowed until the current time. He has been loved and cared for also by his family, however, this particular close friend has stayed with him for hours and hours. Both the Orner and Crane family believe that this would have been Lori's wish.

Day +3

Thank you for your amazing outpouring of support on the Crane family!
Again, let me reitterate that this blog will be private beginning on Friday August 7, 2010 so e-mail your request to be added to cranesuccess@gmail.com as soon as possible. You will be able to be added after that date, but will not be able to view the blog until your address has been added.

CURRENT INFORMATION:

Greg: Early in the day Greg was taken into surgery to pin the bones in his femur. The surgery was successful and doctors hope to address the needs for his tibia soon. Last night Greg was informed of the status of each of his immediate family members, including the death of his wife Lori. Despite the devistating news, Greg displayed great strength and determination. He is calm and certainly understands the condition of each of his children. He spent the night with Alex and also his brother in law Tim who spent a long time in prayer with Greg. He also was able to get good rest. This morning Greg was surrounded with his family for time of encouragement and love. Lori's parents spent time alone with Greg this morning, reassuring him of their love and support for him and his children. Today Greg is having his broken hand put in a splint and also having a blood clot filter proceedure.

Summer: last night while the nurses were changing her bandages and caring for her wounds, some of her immobilizing medication wore off. The nurses were talking to Summer and telling her what they were about to do, putting ointment to her eye and summer gave them a big thumbs up! This is great news, and very reassuring to the family as they know for sure that she can here them. Summer had oral surgery today, repairing her mandible. Her mouth will be wired shut for a few weeks, but each day she is looking more and more like herself. The family has been speaking so highly of the care that Summer has recieved. They were even playing Hannah Montana music for her! Alex spent time with Summer last night and assured her how much her dad loved her and how her whole family was praying for a speedy recovery.

Tia: Status has not changed, please read post below for the most updated information. The family believes that the doctors will wait for the repairative surgeries until Tia is a little more responsive. Again, Tia continues to be surrounded by family and cared for by a wonderful doctor and nurse staff.

Austin: Several hours ago Austin was declared brain dead. His spirit left his body today. Greg was informed of his death immediately and has decided to have Austins organs donated to help save another life. We are so grieved by this, but have hope that the gift Austin's organs will spare another family this loss.

First News

Family and Friends,
This is a brief synopsis of the events that have focused the Crane family in our hearts and minds over the past 2 days. Thank you for taking time to read the information. What is shared in this blog is relayed by Alex Callan, nephew-in-law to Greg & Lori. My name is Emily Maurer, I am Alex's twin sister. He asked me to create this to keep all of you up to date so you know what to pray for the family. We also hope to eliminate rumors and gossip about the situation. We want each of you to stay informed, however, it's difficult at this time to respond to the outpouring of love & support via phone, e-mail and text. You can rest assured that if there is a current update that you will find it here first.

**This blog will be private beginning on Friday August 7, 2010. You must send your e-mail address to cranesuccess@gmail.com and you will be added to the reader list. This is an important step to help protect the privacy of the entire Crane family.

CURRENT INFORMATION:
Lori Crane: As many have already heard, Lori Crane was pronounced deceased at the scene of the plane crash. Lori's parents & family members will be invited to share their love for Lori via this blog in the coming days as they are ready.

Greg Crane: First things first, Diane, Greg's sister was talking with the doctors about Greg's condition and she said to the doctors "If anyone has the will power to get through this, and come out well, it's Greg". Greg, from his hospital bed nodded enthusiastically!
Greg sustained extreme facial injuries as well as a broken shoulder, broken hand, and leg. He is intubated currently, but awake, responsive and aware of most of the situation at hand. He is communicating via hand signs.

***The family would like to relay this great news from the doctors at the children's hospital. The general prognosis for Summer and Tia is that they have the best chance for full recovery in relation to the injuries they sustained. Their prognosis is VERY GOOD.

Summer (age 11): Sustained jaw and cheek bone fractures and major bone breaks in her tibia and femur. She is in a medically induced coma to help address the swelling in her brain. She also has minor lacerations throughout her upper body. She has already come through surgery to set & pin the bones in her legs.

Tia (age 10): Sustained facial fractures and a break in her jaw bone. She also has a minor brain injury which doctors say she will certainly overcome through rehabilitation. She also has a bruised heart and lung. Tia is also in a medically induced coma to address the swelling in her brain.

Austin (age 8): Still listed in critical condition, Austin sustained the most head trauma. He is currently on life support, in a coma that is not medically induced. The team of doctors are being extremely vigilant surrounding his care and condition.