Jenny Crain hit by car

Updates?

September 14, 2007

DEFENDING CHAMP OF AL’S RUN MAKING PROGRESS

On the eve of Al’s and Briggs Run, three-time defending champ Jenny Crain is making small progress. Her medical team is evaluating whether she can be moved out of ICU. Jenny will be with the leaders tomorrow in Al’s run. Stay tuned!

September 16, 2007

JENNY TRANSFERRED OUT OF ICU, CONDITION UPGRADED

Tonight Jenny was moved from ICU to 5NW Room 18 at Froedtert Hospital. This is an important milestone reached by Jenny. Jenny has been taken off all of there antibiotics indicating that her infection has been successfully addressed.

For the third straight day Jenny’s eyes are open and moving. She seems to be showing increased eye movement and is occasionally following objects around the room. Jenny is also beginning to exhibit some muscle resistance in her arms when her family is helping her with range of motion therapy.

Jenny’s family is deeply appreciative of the entire care team in the ICU. Please join in thanking the medical team for their outstanding treatment of Jenny.

Yesterday Briggs and Al’s Run occurred on the streets of Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article on the event reported it this way:

“Jenny Crain wasn't there Saturday to defend the title she has won the past two years at the Briggs and Al's Run and Walk for Children's Hospital.

But her spirit was certainly in attendance.

Crain, the well-known Milwaukee marathoner, remains in critical condition at Froedtert Hospital, where she has been since Aug. 21. On that day, Crain was hit by an automobile in Milwaukee while on a training run.

Crain, 39, who had been given a strong chance of making the 2008 United States Olympic team, is suffering from head, jaw and neck injuries. The three-time winner of the 8-kilometer Al's Run's was in the hearts and minds of many of the competitors and spectators at the event, which is in its 30th year.

"I have never run in this event before, but I wanted to be here today for Jenny," said women's winner Bethany Brewster, 27, a six-time All-American runner at the University of Wisconsin from Madison. "It felt good to come out here and race for her."

Many of the runners and spectators wore "Make it happen" T-shirts supporting Crain.

Al's Run organizers gave space to the Crain supporters to sell the T-shirts, the proceeds of which will be used to help defray her medical costs.”

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=662679

20 years ago, my older brother was a passenger in a small car that slid under a parked dump truck on a rainy night. He was nearly decapitated and had serious, serious brain injuries.

When I got the call at college the next day, I was told to get home as soon as possible because he may not be alive when I get there.

My brother was in a coma for months and in ICU for 4 months. He eventually came out of his coma and was moved out of ICU.

Today, he is 100% healed with some facial and neck scars as the only evidence of that accident. Well, if you really know him, you see some personality differences, but he\'s doing just fine other wise.

Keep going, Jenny!! Each day, you\'re getting closer to going home!

Any updates?

September 18, 2007 JENNY ADJUSTING TO NEW ENVIRONMENT AND INCREASED STIMULATION Today Jennys condition remains much the same as in our last post. Jenny had a small blood clot in her ear removed today. Her doctors believe this will help improve her hearing. Since her move from the ICU Jennys care team has been performing physical therapy, range of motion exercises and generally trying to stimulate her as much as she can handle. While Jenny is not in a coma she needs all of her senses stimulated to help her brain regain cognitive abilities. Jenny requires a good balance of rest and stimulation. This is a fine line and new territory for all of us. Jennys family is grateful for the visitors and other forms of support Jenny continues to receive.

September 20, 2007

SOME GOOD SIGNS, MORE NEEDED

“Jenny Crain -- Make It Happen Fund” -- A Big Thank You and an Appeal

While Jenny remains unconscious today she did get on a bicycle with the support of her care team and was able to move her legs and pedal. Wow! This is a good sign. Yet more is needed. The next key milestone her doctors are monitoring is for her to blink her eyes on command. The goal is to have her blink once for yes and twice for no.

In another sign of slight progress Jenny today was taken out of infection control isolation. This means that visitors are no longer required to wear protective gowns and gloves when visiting.

Jenny Crain -- Make It Happen Fund

It has been a few weeks since we have talked about the Make It Happen Fund. Jenny’s family is deeply appreciative of the generous contributions made to date.

Thank you!

We have all been focused on getting Jenny out of ICU. Now that Jenny is in the next phase of her treatment, we are asking that you consider making a contribution to support Jenny’s medical expenses. While Jenny has limited insurance, she faces significant medical expenses not covered by her insurance.

Make a donation to help Jenny now!

The “Jenny Crain -- Make It Happen Fund” was established with the help of M&I Bank. Jenny’s family created this fund so Jenny’s relatives, friends, teammates, and colleagues can help with Jenny’s care. 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

Everyone who contributes will regularly get reports on how your generous contributions have been applied to help Jenny.

We can make a major difference in Jenny’s life now. Together we can Make It Happen for Jenny!

I just donated to the fund. I want to give my best wishes to Jenny. I am in the Army. I have run all over the US and I can tell you all that 99% of drivers are conscientious about pedestrians. There are however ignorant drivers that are totally clueless and they are immature and selfish. I have almost been run over so many times that I take offense to drivers that act like they own the road. A 4,000 or 5,000 lb vehicle striking a runner, walker or bicyclist will have devastating results. As far as a crosswalk is concerned....Why on earth would any driver take the attitude that the light is green therefor they have the right-of-way and can run you over since you are not supposed to be crossing? Many times I have been in a crosswalk that only gave me 5 seconds to cross. If an elderly person or a person with a small child were in the crosswalk would we blame them for not moving fast enough if they were run over by a car? People...Wake up and stop blaming the victim. The person that was struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk is not to be blamed for being struck by a car. Ask any runner if they want to be run over. What do you think their answer will be? So, for those of you that blame Jenny for being run over you Just Don't Get It!

I am sorry that she got hurt on her run, but I know the young man that was driving the car and his family. He did not see her at all and she stepped into the street in front of him. He is not a cheesehead or a beer drinker. I think it is really sad that you make all of these assumptions about him and do not know the situation. He was not "totally oblivious" and did not go "out of his way to put a runner in danger". He is a very conscientious young man and good driver. Did it every occur to any of you that she may be at fault?

As more details come out, yes it appears it may have been Jenny's fault. However the original report suggested that the light was about to turn red and that the driver was hurrying to not miss it.

Recently I had a conversation with someone who was very close to Jenny, and this is apparently what happened:

Jenny was near the end of her run and came upon an intersection. She was waiting to cross the street when a car wanting to make a right hand turn, came up alongside her. Though the car had the right of way, the driver, thinking he was being curteous, motioned for Jenny to go ahead (does this sound familiar to a lot of you runners?). Though Jenny probably should have insisted the driver make his right turn first, she went ahead at the same time as another vehicle was approaching in the outside lane (I am assuming that the light was green). As she emerged into the middle of the intersection from the front of the first car, she was struck by the second car. Perhaps nobody was at fault. Just a sad situation.

If we can learn anything from this, we can learn to trust our gut a bit more...regardless of how considerate a driver may be our bodies are more fragile than the metal of a vehicle.

gmfarfol wrote:

I am sorry that she got hurt on her run, but I know the young man that was driving the car and his family. He did not see her at all and she stepped into the street in front of him. He is not a cheesehead or a beer drinker. I think it is really sad that you make all of these assumptions about him and do not know the situation. He was not "totally oblivious" and did not go "out of his way to put a runner in danger". He is a very conscientious young man and good driver. Did it every occur to any of you that she may be at fault?

Thanks for your story. Though it may be hard to believe, there were more than a few people who wondered about the other side of this story and questioned who was really at fault. Unfortunately, those opinions were deleted by moderators, either on their initiative or by a poster who wasn't interested in other opinions, reported the post as offensive and had it deleted.

Thanks for reminding us there is another person living with what happened. Best to him and his family.

A driver should never wave a pedestrian across the street on a four-lane road. I know of an old woman and a little kid both getting killed this way. The driver in the left lane cannot see what's happening until it's too late, and they have hit someone.

I just cringe when I see a car do this, sometimes in the middle of the road not even at an intersection! You are not doing a good deed people!

It would be nice to avoid turning this into a discussion in traffic etiquette between runners and drivers, please. Maybe you can start another thread about the issue. The fact remains that Jenny's condition is very serious and any financial help or just positive encouragement to her and her family is probably most effective and helpful at this time. thanks.

Here's another way to help which merits another mention:

http://www.runnerscookbook.com/

OK. I guess I missed something. Someone dug up this year old story and got the thread going again. So how is Jenny now that a year has gone by?

anyt update on Jenny's condition?

lets hope.... wrote:

anyt update on Jenny's condition?

many struggles still

I've run against jenny in this Roots and Wings Northwestern Mutual Company road race in wisc. As i was maturing as a runner she was always nice and friendly throughout the years we raced. She is a great individual and i can't believe this happened...although the man who hit her had no fault or chance to avoid it his concern and compassion must be noted as well. Very bad situation but it shows how fragile life is