Jenny Crain hit by car

RobC wrote:

Can everyone please stop posting messages regarding whose fault this was, drivers vs. pedestrians, etc...This is incredibly insensitive at this time for Jenny's friends and family.

RobC, please stop being so sensitive. First, I'm sure Jenny's friends and family have better things to do right now than read this thread. Second, when tragic events happen, the best we can do (as a "society") is to try to learn from them. If this debate about fault will make a few of the many runners who read this pay better attention in traffic, then how is that a bad thing?

Keep it clean and respectful, but carry on...

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Liam, looks like the city did do something to make running safer, and coolisions between metal and flesh could be avoided there. There\'s a bike path two blocks over from where Jenny was tragically hit. Best of luck to her in a total recovery.

his bit of good news comes by way of Jenny's neighbors, who are passing the word along.***Jenny had her neck surgery this morning. They were able to keep her intracranial pressure under control during the operation. They consider the surgery a success...her C2 vertebrae was fused to her C3 and C4 vertebrae.Good news for this part of the journey!***

September 4, 2007 JENNY HAS NECK SURGERY TODAY Two weeks after the accident Jenny doctors today performed surgery to repair fractured vertebrae. The four-hour operation was successful and Jenny is recovering. Her brain pressure levels remained stable during the surgery. While this is a very important step, Jenny remains in critical condition. Her medical team is looking for signs that she trying to take control of some functions. There has not been any real progress in her ability to communicate. Every individual with serious head injuries responds at a different pace. Her doctors indicate that some people show signs in a few weeks, others in a few months. There are no other surgeries planned at this time. Jennys family was very pleased with todays operation. Most importantly, Jennys ability to handle the stress of surgery as well as she did is a hopeful sign.

September 5, 2007

JENNY TAKEN OFF MEDS SEDATING HER BRAIN

Following a successful surgery to repair Jenny's fractured vertebrae, her medical team today took the next step by taking her off the medications that are keeping her sedated. This is an important next step enabling Jenny to start forward progress in regaining consciousness. Now we will be looking for signs of Jenny coming out of the controlled state she has been in since the accident.

Jenny has been in a reclined position and her head has been completely shaved. Her family indicates that she looks much better with the “Sinead O’Connor look.” The response to the surgery has been really good. Her color looked very healthy. Aside from the serious injuries she looks “like a healthy Jenny.”

Jenny is showing a lot of potential.

There is no word tonight from the medical team on the next steps.

Jenny’s family is hopeful following the operation and Jenny’s positive response

Great, great news! Jenny is going to make it!!!

September 6, 2007

JENNY RECOVERING FROM TWO SURGERIES

Jenny has been through a lot in the last few days. Jenny today continued to recover from the two surgeries she went through earlier this week. As we have reported previously the neck and jaw procedures were important milestones that Jenny has successfully met. Her medical team is now looking for signs of her waking up. They have taken her off many of her medications in an effort to get her to come to.

Jenny remains unconscious and is not responding at this time. Jenny’s family, friends and colleagues are all pulling for her to show signs of consciousness.

Your expressions of support mean a great deal. Please keep them coming. Send us your pictures, stories and ideas on how we can Make It Happen for Jenny.

How can I send card/flowers/etc to Jenny?

Instead of sending cards/flowers it might be best to donate that money towards her recovery. Check out http://www.carepages.com/ and find the supportjennycrain page. It will tell you what you can do to help her and her family. The site also provides a spot to say some words so that she knows others are thinking of her.

There's no page for jenny, or crain, or supportjennycrain. Please provide more info.

malmo, I found a supportjennycrain page at that site, but I could not find any information about how to contribute.

Correct link is below. You have to register the first time, then you can sign up for email alerts when it's updated (usually each evening).

Here's the scoop on the contribution fund again:

There are two ways you can make a donation.

1. Send a card with your donation to:

Jenny Crain – Make It Happen Fund

c/o M&I Bank – Mail 098-9120

Attn: Cathy Haukedahl

651 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, MN 55402

2. Visit any M&I Bank and let the teller know you want to contribute to the Jenny Crain – Make it Happen Fund

To find an M&I Bank locations please visit:

http://www.mibank.com/mibanknew/atmbranchlocator.html

Please send your cards only to:

Jenny Crain

1952 Commerce Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

Does anyone have any updates regarding Jenny's progress?

There were no updates over the weekend. Here's what was just posted:

JENNY CONTINUES TO FIGHT

Jenny had a rough weekend. Over the past few days Jenny developed a lung infection, which is relatively common for people in Jenny’s condition. The infection is being treated with aggressive antibiotics. Her doctors have tentatively scheduled an MRI for Tuesday. The MRI is needed to gain important information that will help her medical team determine the next steps in Jenny’s care.

Jenny remains in critical condition and we all continue to pray for our friend, relative, team mate, and colleague to recover.

JENNY HAS MRI AND MONITORING EQUIPMENT REMOVED

Jenny today had an MRI for the first time since her accident three weeks ago. The MRI will provide her medical team with important information needed to design her care plan going forward. In another small but significant development today Jenny had her brain pressure monitors and drainage devices removed from her head. Her doctor indicated that her brain has stabilized to a point where the monitoring equipment could be removed and the MRI done safely.

Jenny remains unconscious and in critical condition. The infection we reported yesterday continues to be treated aggressively.

As of this writing the family is awaiting the results of the tests performed today. As new information becomes available we will post an update.

Please keep posting the updates when you can, JimG. There are a lot of us out here praying.

sparty wrote:

Please keep posting the updates when you can, JimG. There are a lot of us out here praying.

Praying is good, sending $$ to the fund is even better.

JimG, thanks for the updates.

JENNY TAKEN OFF VENTILATOR -- BREATHING ON HER OWN

Jenny today was taken off her ventilator and is breathing on her own. Aside from this development, her condition has not changed from yesterday’s report.

Jenny remains in critical condition.

The results from her tests yesterday are not yet available. Jenny’s family will be meeting with the medical team on Thursday and we expect more information will be available following that discussion.

There have been many wonderful and generous actions taken by Jenny’s friends and colleagues. Jenny’s family is deeply appreciative of the overwhelming support you have all provided in this time of need. We are currently working to organize and coordinate these efforts to best support Jenny. Stay tuned.

Jenny needs you now more than ever.

Thank you!

JENNY TAKING SMALL FORWARD STEPS, LONG-TERM OUTLOOK UNCERTAIN

Jenny today continued to take small steps forward. Late this afternoon as Jenny’s family was getting an update on her condition, Jenny was in her ICU room sitting up in a chair.

Jenny remains unconscious and in critical condition.

The results of the MRI confirmed that Jenny sustained extensive brain trauma in the accident. Her care team advised that it is too early to know the full, long-term ramifications of her injuries.

There is hope that Jenny may be beginning to respond to the aggressive treatment her doctors are directing. Over the past 24 hours she has begun to show small and important signs of coming to as evidenced by eye and movement. Jenny has begun clearing her throat and she is successfully breathing on her own after the removal of the ventilator yesterday. Her respiratory infection appears to be under control.

The goal over the next few weeks is to get Jenny transferred from the ICU to a unit where she can receive more visitors. This is a milestone Jenny can aim for and there is no timeline for this goal.

Medical evidence indicates that people can recover from serious brain trauma. Every individual responds differently to serious head trauma. With Jenny making forward steps there is potential. Time will tell.

Sadly, this weekend in Milwaukee Jenny will not be defending her 2006, 2005 and 2004 titles in Brigg’s & Al’s Run. Last her Jenny won the women’s division 8K with a time of 27:25. Jenny’s family is grateful to the many people in the running community who are expressing support for Jenny. Following the race there will be a booth in the expo where people can help Jenny Make it Happen.