Craig/Jeannie Family Burn Recovery
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Help Craig, Jeannie and their pets recover from a horrible RV Fire and life threatening Burns!
My name is Jon Norris and I am setting up this Go Fund Me account to help my best friend and his family in their time of need. On Sunday, August 21 tragedy befell a Tucson family while on vacation. Craig Winters, Jeannie Withrow, her teenage son and the family’s three dogs were driving in their RV to San Diego beaches to celebrate Jeannie's birthday. While driving on the interstate coming into San Diego, flames burst out of the side of the RV. Pulling quickly to the shoulder of the road Craig and Jeannie made sure that her son and one of the pet dogs were safely out of the RV. While Craig and Jeannie were trying to evacuate, each holding a dog, the RV propane tank burst right next to them, engulfing them in flames. The sudden and violent flames burned Craig over 30% of his body. Jeannie was burned far more severely on over 60% of her body and face. Both were in shock as they waited over 40 minutes for transport. The first responders to the scene were Border Patrol agents, who happened to see the flames and smoke from the other side of the highway. They were taken to a hospital in San Diego that has a nationally ranked burn unit. The dogs, Godiva, Izzy and Pandora, were taken to a veterinary hospital.
Craig was hospitalized for more than a week but luckily does not require surgery for his injuries. Jeannie however has been in the intensive care unit of the burn section and in a medically induced coma for more than two weeks. During this time she has received two major surgeries. She is expected to be kept in a coma for at least another week or more, while more surgeries are performed. While Jeannie is strong and responding well, the severity of her burns will require hospitalization for many months. Their son is back in Tucson with family attending school.
Craig had recently retired from 30 years employment at Pima Community College and was looking forward to time with his family. While he is now out of the hospital, he will be staying in San Diego for the foreseeable future to be near Jeanie during her prolonged recovery.
All of the belongings they had in the family RV were lost when it was engulfed in flames. Clothing, computers, money, it was a total loss. Because Jeannie is a self-employed musician and computer programmer, the status of her health insurance and her astronomical medical bills is still to be determined.
When I asked my friend Craig about his injuries, his response was, if this tragedy had to happen, then the pain he feels from his burns will help him to understand in a small way what Jeannie is going through.
When I asked about the dogs, he told me that one recommendation was for them to be put down. He said that they had done nothing wrong and he felt that for their sake and Jeannie's sake he had to try and save them. He knows that when Jeanie comes out of her coma, the first thing she will ask is “How is my son Justin?” and after Craig explains that he is safe with family and back in school, she will want to know how are the dogs. Craig wants to be able to tell her that they are healthy and have recovered. That's the kind of guy Craig is, when suffering personal tragedy and pain, he is most concerned about what he can do for others. The veterinary bills for two of their dogs have already exceeded $20,000. As of today, Gociva is fine. Izzy is recovering well, and Pandora is still struggling.
IZZY
PANDORA
Please donate what you can. Even small amounts can add up and make a huge difference in this time of crisis. Thank you.
My name is Jon Norris and I am setting up this Go Fund Me account to help my best friend and his family in their time of need. On Sunday, August 21 tragedy befell a Tucson family while on vacation. Craig Winters, Jeannie Withrow, her teenage son and the family’s three dogs were driving in their RV to San Diego beaches to celebrate Jeannie's birthday. While driving on the interstate coming into San Diego, flames burst out of the side of the RV. Pulling quickly to the shoulder of the road Craig and Jeannie made sure that her son and one of the pet dogs were safely out of the RV. While Craig and Jeannie were trying to evacuate, each holding a dog, the RV propane tank burst right next to them, engulfing them in flames. The sudden and violent flames burned Craig over 30% of his body. Jeannie was burned far more severely on over 60% of her body and face. Both were in shock as they waited over 40 minutes for transport. The first responders to the scene were Border Patrol agents, who happened to see the flames and smoke from the other side of the highway. They were taken to a hospital in San Diego that has a nationally ranked burn unit. The dogs, Godiva, Izzy and Pandora, were taken to a veterinary hospital.
Craig was hospitalized for more than a week but luckily does not require surgery for his injuries. Jeannie however has been in the intensive care unit of the burn section and in a medically induced coma for more than two weeks. During this time she has received two major surgeries. She is expected to be kept in a coma for at least another week or more, while more surgeries are performed. While Jeannie is strong and responding well, the severity of her burns will require hospitalization for many months. Their son is back in Tucson with family attending school.
Craig had recently retired from 30 years employment at Pima Community College and was looking forward to time with his family. While he is now out of the hospital, he will be staying in San Diego for the foreseeable future to be near Jeanie during her prolonged recovery.
All of the belongings they had in the family RV were lost when it was engulfed in flames. Clothing, computers, money, it was a total loss. Because Jeannie is a self-employed musician and computer programmer, the status of her health insurance and her astronomical medical bills is still to be determined.
When I asked my friend Craig about his injuries, his response was, if this tragedy had to happen, then the pain he feels from his burns will help him to understand in a small way what Jeannie is going through.
When I asked about the dogs, he told me that one recommendation was for them to be put down. He said that they had done nothing wrong and he felt that for their sake and Jeannie's sake he had to try and save them. He knows that when Jeanie comes out of her coma, the first thing she will ask is “How is my son Justin?” and after Craig explains that he is safe with family and back in school, she will want to know how are the dogs. Craig wants to be able to tell her that they are healthy and have recovered. That's the kind of guy Craig is, when suffering personal tragedy and pain, he is most concerned about what he can do for others. The veterinary bills for two of their dogs have already exceeded $20,000. As of today, Gociva is fine. Izzy is recovering well, and Pandora is still struggling.
IZZY
PANDORA
Please donate what you can. Even small amounts can add up and make a huge difference in this time of crisis. Thank you.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jon W. Norris
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC
Craig Winters
Beneficiary