Tragedy again

Ok, here is what happened yesterday. First Randy (he works here at the courthouse) got called out to Imnaha for search and rescue. We later found out there was a wreck with 6 kids and one adult. We knew there was one fatality, and they were trying to get Air Life to Dug Bar, but the weather was horrendous and they couldn't get there. During a class at about 6:30 a friend recieved a phone call that it was Jeff Geartner that died. He and Neil Isley had taken a bunch of youth on a "Survivor" trip. Jeff and his wife Heidi live in Jackson Wyoming, but when he was the youth leader here in Enterprise at the Baptist church he would do this trip each year with the kids. This year he made a special trip up to do the Survivor trip and even brought some others from Wyoming. They still hadn't gotten anyone out yet and were trying still to get the Air Life helicopter there. There were several in critical condition. I went home and in my living room were Bethany, Nikkie Bashon, Ashley and Racheal. The girls were laughing and having a great time, so I knew they didn't know about the accident yet. I told Bethany. She was very close to Jeff and Heidi. Then I told the other girls and Racheal said "my brother was on that trip." So she called her dad and he was at the hospital waiting for the ambulance to arrive. It was around 8:30 at that time. He said he thought Jacob was fine because he was in the other vehicle. We also knew then from phone calls that Isaiah Buck, Marshall and Forrest Cox, were also on the trip. Isaiah needed the life flight. And they couldn't get the helicopter there. Forrest was in critical condition. He had a broken leg and lost a ton of blood. Marshall had a broken leg. Neil isley was running around from body to body trying to help. And his good friend, Jeff was dead. Ashley went to the hospital with Justin, her brother. Bethany left shortly after. They arrived at the hospital as the ambulance got there, around 9:30. And found out Jacob Gertz (Racheal's brother) was one of the kids in the truck. Jacob rode the car down the hill..he was knocked unconcious for at least 30 minutes. He had the least amount of injuries. James Hayes needed to be transported to La Grande where he would be life flighted to Boise. Same with a kid named Eddy from Wyoming. Their injuries were more crucial than originally thought. So.....
1. Jeff-dead
2. Isaiah Buck: Life-flighted to the nearest hospital from the scene. He is in Lewiston. has massive head and chest injuries. Didn't think he would make it through the night, but he did. Still unable to breathe on his own. Isaiah has a collapsed lung and tear in other lung. He is on a ventilator. They are currently waiting for the neurologist to arrive to assess his neurological status. He is unconscious which is self-induced and they are waiting for him to wake up. The swelling in his brain remained unchanged overnight. is responding to stimuli - such as a pinch on the toe - even though he is unconscious. The doctors feel that he is strong and that he is fighting. Keep praying specifically about the swelling and bleeding on brain to stop. They are reading scripture to him as the doctors feel that Isaiah can hear them. they are keeping him knocked out so he doesn't move. Doctors were hopeful this morning. But he does have swelling on the brain and bleeding on the brain.
3. Marshall Cox: just a broken leg, keeping him here at this hospital. has 3 breaks in his left leg and damage to his knee
4. Forrest Cox: transported to the hospital in Walla Walla. Lost a lot of blood in broken leg. Will have surgery there. will be having rod placed in leg due to break
5. Eddy from Wyoming: Life flight to boise friend of Jeff Gaertner's from Wyoming, compound fracture. Will probably have surgery or did this morning. Also has internal injuries.
6. James Hayes: Life flighted to Boise compound fracture and broken pelvis -
7. Jacob Gertz: Doing pretty good except the trauma. home with family.
So sad that Jeff died. He made such an impact on the youth in our county. All the kids knew him. Ashley's favorite quote from him is "I don't care if you were baptized in coca cola..just do it!" Ashley was friends with 5 of the 6 kids. She came home and was all cold and clammy and sick, crying until 5 this morning. I am waiting for another update on Isaiah. Hopeful that his youth is working for him and that all the prayers are working. .
Also, Ashley was suppose to go to Albany tomorrow for the Oregon Youth Fine Arts festival. We don't know right now if she will be going. If not I will probably try to get her to Spokane to her brother, Eric. he can help her more than anyone during this time. he is all she wants right now. Ashley plans on going to Enterprise today to visit with Marshall and Jacob. As for the Bucks...well their family has been through so much in the last few weeks. Becky's stepdad died Monday, their pregnant daughter got married and her husband beat her so badly she had broken ribs and they are hiding her from him, Mr. Buck lost his job at the school (he was my boss for 6 years), they have been very sick and now Isaiah is in the hospital and to top it off their cat died today.
So there you have it in a nutshell.

Update: Ashley will be going to Spokane Friday so Eric can take care of her. She just wants to be with her brother. She cries a lot. God's grace is good. Ashley was friends with 5 of the 6 boys and knew Jeff. Her favorite quote from Jeff is "I don't care if you were baptized in coca cola...Just do it!!
I just got an update on Isaiah. It is not positive. The neurologist is very disconcerted because he has shown no signs of improvement nor regained consciousness in the past 24 hrs. Dr says if does not have any change in next 24 hrs then likely will not and all tubes and support systems will be removed. Lord have mercy