Jenny Crain, a Milwaukee native, was an elite marathon runner who, while training for the 2008 United States Olympic Team, was struck by a car. She received head and neck injuries, as well as a traumatic brain injury. Her hopes of making the Olympic Team were gone. Runner’s World Magazine.(2009). Close To Home. (November 2009). Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Brant [1].
The Accident edit
On the morning of August 21, 2007, while on a training run, Jenny Crain was hit by a car. Jenny Crain suffered both head and neck injuries. Once an Olympic hopeful, she may never run again. [2] The driver of the car, Nathan Hass, was a 22 year old man who was on his way to work.[3]
Jenny's Hospital Stay edit
Jenny Crain laid in a medically induced coma for a month at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She had a shunt permanently implanted in her head to relieve pressure from the fluid that had built up on her brain. Her spine was fused to repair the broken vertebrae, and she underwent a series of operations on her broken jaw and other injuries. After a month, Jenny Crain did gain conciousness but was unresponsive.[4].
Jenny was transferred to Mt. Carmel Health and Rehabilitation Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in April of 2008. It is here that Jenny underwent occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and massage therapy to help her regain movement in her extremities as well as become more independent.[5]
Court Ruling edit
Jenny Crain's parents filed a lawsuit against Nathan Haas, the driver of the car that hit Jenny. The charge claimed that Nathan Haas "negligently and carelessly" drove his car of the morning that he hit the runner. As a result of this lawsuit, Nathan Haas and his insurance company were ordered to cover all of Jenny's medical costs relating to the accident[6]
Make It Happen Fund edit
Jenny Crain has her own website at jennycrain.net. It is here that people can donate money and read about Jenny's progress through her rehabilitationtherapies. This site also links to an article Runner's World magazine artical wrote about Jenny called Close to Home. Close To Home includes information about Jenny's pre-accident successes, the accident, her hospital stay, and her post-accident life. Followers are also able to write blogs to Jenny and her family through this site. People can follow Jenny as she faces her post-accident life.[7]
Jenny Crain's Accomplishments[8]. edit
- 4 time United States Olympic Trial qualifier in the marathon
- 2 time United States Olympic Trial qualifier in track
- Represented the United States in the marathon at the 2005 World Track & Field Championships
- Top U.S. finisher at the 2004 New York City Marathon
- Finished 11th at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in a personal record of 2:37:36
References edit
- ^ Runner’s World Magazine. (2009). Close To Home. (November 2009). Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Brant
- ^ Driver Who Hit Runner Sued: Witnesses Give Varied Accounts. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [Milwaukee, WI] 21 Sept. 2007. General OneFile.Web. 27 May 2010.
- ^ Driver Who Hit Runner Sued: Witnesses Give Varied Accounts. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [Milwaukee, WI] 21 Sept. 2007. General OneFile.Web. 27 May 2010.
- ^ Injured Runner's Family Sets New Goals: She Was Aiming for Olympic Team When Car Struck Her."
- ^ Injured Runner's Family Sets New Goals: She Was Aiming for Olympic Team When Car Struck Her." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [Milwaukee, WI] 30 Sept. 2007. General OneFile. Web. 27 May 2010.
- ^ Driver Who Hit Runner Sued: Witnesses Give Varied Accounts. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [Milwaukee, WI] 21 Sept. 2007. General OneFile.Web. 27 May 2010.
- ^ Injured Runner's Family Sets New Goals: She Was Aiming for Olympic Team When Car Struck Her. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [Milwaukee, WI] 30 Sept. 2007. General OneFile. Web. 27 May 2010
- ^ http://www.runnerscookbook.com/ryanandjenny.html