GREAT NEWS from Pretoria

Jenn's mom is in Pretoria, and was able to spend some time with her tonight (8 hours time difference) - she is doing amazingly well, good blood pressure, no fever, on 30% oxygen (everyone keeps asking me about this) - Brenda says the hospital is amazing, the doctor is very impressive, and Jenn has a 24-7 nurse beside her bed, constantly monitoring her. They did have her up and walking today, and started some light exercises.

Tim is doing fine - is still having difficulty remembering events, and still somewhat confused. He had a chance to visit Jenn today, and they both fell asleep.

At this point, it appears that Jenn will be in ICU for another week, then will move to a "High Care" room for a week, and then to a regular hospital room - and if she progresses adequately, she may be coming home in about three weeks, for further surgery (plastic) and other care.

So, in spite of this being a very scary time, and being way off balance, everything seems to be working out.

Most likely, from what we can determine, because removing the spleen reduces her immunity, she will not be posted back in Malawi - South Africa is an outside chance. But that's for another day.

Now it's time to celebrate the end of an incredible year, full of about every emotion and experience a family can have, and to welcome the dawn of a new year - hopefully less traumatic, but eventful, fun, and full of celebration and joy. Happy New Year to all of our friends and family!!!

Dad's thoughts about Jenn

Going through all of this has brought out a new perception of Jenn - many of you may have seen this differently than a Dad, having been through different events with her, by now I see an incredibly strong, level headed, cool headed young woman with a strong presence of mind. Yes, her body is badly broken, but she is still Jenn.

Thinking events through, at the crash site, SHE called us - as badly injured as she was, and as traumatized by watching her effects being stolen as she was fighting to get help - she called and said "Mom, I've been in a bad accident, and am hurt - call the Peace Corp. I am in Mzima". I also understand that she was concerned about Tim and his head injury, and kept after people to keep him awake - again, inspite of her own injuries.

Talking to the acting country director, who was with Jenn all night the first night, he said it was a great experience to talk with her and get to know her - again, in spite of her condition.

And in Pretoria, she called us as she was going into surgery, and told us "This is an anesthesia surgery, but it is something that I have to do. I love you".

And the PC medical director in Pretoria told me today that, after the transfusion, it was apparent that she was doing better - she greeted him with a big smile!!

What an incredible, strong, intelligent young woman!!!

Monday Update to Jenn's Status

We have just talked to the Peace Corps medical officer, and Jenn is doing fine after her surgery. She had to have a blood transfussion (the doctor assured us that they screen the blood for hiv, malaria, hepititas, etc. by the same standards as American hospitals) and that helped her alot. She had a big smile for him when he arrived, and is able to sit up for short periods at a time.

She will be in intensive care for several days, and then in the hospital, eventually moving to an apartment near the Peace Corps headquarters, where they will set her appointments for her and take her to them.

Her mom, aunt and uncle are planning to leave Tuesday afternoon and go to see her, so they should be there on Wednesday some time and we will have more information. Jenn's throat is sore from the tube inserted for anasthesia, so she won't be able to talk to us for a couple of days.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers - they mean a lot to us and Jenn.

Sunday late afternoon update

Jenn is out of surgery, the doctors had to remove her spleen and insert a tube in her lung, which turned out to have small holes in it. She is stable, the surgeon has gone home for the night. We will talk with the Peace Corps medical officer in the morning, and will know more overall then.

We are lucky that she is still with us. It looks like she will have a long period of recuperation, once she is past the immediate danger.

If you would like more information, you can call her parents at (615) 373-2822, or e-mail at bhcjr@comcast.net.

Medical Update

We have just heard from Jenn's doctor again, a new scan showed that her spleen is damaged and bleeding - they are prepping for surgery, to go in and find out how bad the damage is. We will know more in a few hours, after she wakes up from surgery. The doctor says " she is quite an amazing young woman, very strong. She has been through a very bad ordeal, but is still relatively upbeat". Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Sunday Mid-morning update

We talked to Jenn and her doctor today - she is in Pretoria, and is doing ok. She has a cut over her eye, that they are going to clean up and re-stitch, multiple glass cuts, a broker collar bone, a broken bone near her nose, chipped teeth, at least four cracked ribs, bruised lungs and a bruised heart. She will require very little surgery, but will take some time to recuperate. She is on oxgen, so she could not talk for long. The doctors are going to run some more tests, we will know more tomorrow, Monday, late afternoon. Tim has a concussion, and is sleeping alot, but is up and moving around. Jenn is not able to walk around yet.

She and Tim lost everything they had - if someone has a way to get to her belongings in Chitimba and secure them, that would be extremely helpful, as we feel that as soon as word gets out that she is not there, everything there will be stolen also. She has no clothes with her, other than what is on her back.

We will have a hospital room number later today.

Jenn Update Sunday Morning

We have heard from the doctor in Pretoria, Jenn and Tim have landed in Johannesburg and are being transported to the hospital in Pretoria, Unitas, a first class hospital - the largest private hospital in Africa, highly accredited. We won't know more about their condition until later today, and will post an update then. Jenn will be in Pretoria for some time during recuperation, staying in an apartment near Peace Corps headquarters and the hospital for follow up treatment.

More later, Jenn's dad.