Miracle on Rio Fuerte: Off to College

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Off to College

COLLEGE
Today Julia heads off to UC Santa Barbara to begin college! Yay! She is doing well! Julia will need to take Spring semester off college for knee surgery ... everything else healing.

Hayley starts Cal Poly San Luis Obispo January 7, 2013! Yay! Some things are worth waiting for. She's volunteering at Birch Aquarium, working part-time, in Rehab sessions (Physical Therapy and Cognitive Therapy), and adjusting to LPT (Life Post-Trauma). She still has vocal cord damage and limited ankle mobility but her attitude is optimistic, she never considers worrying about her injuries and her scars. When she was told that she might have to have a spinal fusion, she said "Well, I'll handle it!" Hayley has even been asked to speak at conferences ... she is an inspiring speaker!

FLASHBACKS
Last night Hayley had a vivid flashback when Gram (me) ran over a curb in a low sports car ... the car belly made a loud thump. This triggered strong anxiety and a vivid flash of sitting in the back seat of the plane, seeing the pilot's seat back in front of her and the river surface just ahead. Until now, Liam Guzman has had flashbacks (in the front seat, saw the wires, felt the airplane spinning). We were hoping Hayley and Julia would be spared, flashbacks are terrorizing.

DIRECT DEPOSIT
I have had several emails about direct donations (not through PayPal) for our girls. Here is their direct deposit information for their Trust Funds that will help them with not just medical expenses, but future issues.

Hayley E Brown Trust Fund:
Bank of America
Acct: 164105320796
Routing: 121000358

Julia Tower:
Union Bank
Acct: 0020650338
Routing: 122000496

Thanks to everyone for their love and support.

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THE MIRACLE ON

RIO FUERTE

El Fuerte, México
On June 2, 2012, three young volunteers: Hayley Brown, 18, Julia Tower, 17, and Liam Guzman 15, were flying on a medical mission in Sinaloa México, when the Cessna in which they were passengers hit power lines, crashed into the Rio Fuerte, breaking up on impact.

The pilot died, but the three young survivors were miraculously ejected or partially ejected from the aircraft. Three fishermen happened to be very nearby and rescued the three teens, safeguarding them until help arrived. The river was only half full. If it had been normal depth, the fishermen would not have been fishing there, nor would they have been able to move to save them.

Much has been written about this miraculous event; the news stories are filled with details. Although they say the crash was “not survivable,” against all odds, all three young teen survivors are recovering.
News Report from El Fuerte

Newspaper Article

AOPA August 2012

The three kids wanted to help the fishermen who saved their lives: Andrés Armenta Armenta, his 16 year old son Andrés and a friend Sam, aged 20. We learned that the family is extremely poor, and their only wish is to help their children receive an education. We can help realize their dream.

As of March 2013, $8,250.00 has been raised and $2,500 has already been sent down to them. The remaining funds are being allotted to both education and to creating shelter for the Armenta family.

To contribute to the Fishermen's Fund, click on the Donation button. All funds will be managed by The Flying Doctors of Mercy, a 501(c)(3) California Nonprofit. Donor's names will be given to the Fishermen, and listed permanently as Fund Donors.

HAYLEY BROWN

For now, our three teens are facing a long road to recovery, at differing levels.

Hayley Brown (18) was sitting just behind the pilot, and suffered the most severe injuries. She received blunt force trauma to her head and chest, resulting in a collapsed lung and traumatic brain injury (DAI), along with severe infections, fractures of her spine and left leg, and damage to her pituitary. She was placed into a medically-induced coma in México, and was airlifted to the USA on Thursday June 7, 2012. Hayley is following a physical and cognitive rehab program, and has begun University with a reduced load.

READ MORE ABOUT HAYLEY

JULIA TOWER

Julia Tower (17) returned to the USA from México on June 6, 2012 and followed a course of surgical interventions and rehabilitation. Julia has had surgery to fuse lumbar and thoracic vertebrae, and to reattach severed ligaments. Her right orbital bone has been repaired, her spleen laceration has healed, her clavicle was repaired, lacerations mended, and her broken left foot has been repaired. Julia will need surgery on her right knee to repair torn ligaments.

Julia has an excellent prognosis for a full recovery, and maintains her positive and loving attitude. Following the accident, and despite considerable injuries, Julia helped coordinate the rescue effort and alerted the fishermen to her friend Hayley on the other side of the plane. Julia started University in September 2012 and is doing well.

READ MORE ABOUT JULIA

OUR ANGELS

HAYLEY E BROWN FUND

Brian Moffitt ... Janet Lapp... Gary Felix ... Terry Allen ... Fred Kalinoff

FISHERMAN'S FUND

Janet Lapp ... Terry Allen ... Philip Klein ... Patricia Cruz ... Lynda Noppe ... Fred Kalinoff ...

Jean Skoblar Rea ... Jean Slater ... Cathie Slater Eroh ... Jeanette Slater Ham ... Carla Slater Kettrick ... C Whalley ... Gary Felix ... John Ruley ... Angela Bates ... James Blodgett ... Allison Howard ... Gregory Caldwell ... Kelli Marovish ... William Allen ... Karen Clayton ... Martina Jackovich ... Julie Mccoy ... Susan Canale ... Brian Moffitt ... George Renfroe Jared Nelson ... Connie Dieken ... Bianca Mettey ... Alan Thomson ... Ted Richter ... David Dunn ... Rafael Salem ... Jim Ott ... Pilar Horowitz ... Erika Camacho ... David Lee ... Richard Wetherell ... Gary Felix ... Philip Manly ... Ernie Guzman ... Richard Coorsh ... Rich Jennings ... Dan Brennan

Angels appeared from everywhere:

Eileen Bardolph (Liga neurologist) and Alan Black reassured and supported everyone from the very beginning. Karen and Bruce Hoffman donated 5 days to shepherding the families around Los Mochis. Robert and Sharon Hatch were on site at IMSS in El Fuerte and helped us all the way through.

Bianca Mettey nursed Julia and became a surrogate mother to us all. Steve and Kathi Blythe helped organize, well, a lot. Pat Spier handled the media inquiries. The whole Board rallied around Winnie Parish's inspiring leadership.

Jody Goodenough volunteered her King Air to make two round trips from California to Los Mochis with her able co-pilot Julie McCoy. Both gave at least two full days of their lives to us. Julie researched and found an Aeromedevac company and made all the arrangements.

Erik Knudson supervised the accident site; Dolores Serrano, Michael Apodaca, Ernie Friesen helped at the scene and afterwards, Dr. John Goodno and Dr. Carleton Wallace and Lori Welling RN came to El Fuerte IMSS hospital immediately to supervise, help out and support us. The volunteers at each clinic rose to the occasion by continuing to provide care when devastated by the news that weekend, with some needing to leave their duties to help out. Renee Vinyard gathered our belongings from our hotel rooms and brought them to Fatima.

Carlos Alvarez MD, our Trauma Surgeon, helped save the lives of the kids and was a charming, thorough and loving presence. Ernie Guzman MD acted as both father to Liam and our personal pediatrician! The Governor of Sinaloa offered us hotel accommodations and meals during our stay in Los Mochis and help with our medical bills in México. The Mayor of El Fuerte was on hand to offer support. Kaitlin Turck, Vice Consul American Citizen Service from the US Consulate in Hermosillo came to the hospital twice and smoothed out border issues. The local people in Sinaloa were lovely.

Julia's parents John and Deborah Tower, and Hayley's parents Bryce and Susan, who came right away to México and stayed strong in the face of the unspeakable.

Words cannot express our gratitude.