All, Please forward this letter on to who ever you see fit...


Good morning all. Let me first express on behalf of Amanda, Kyle, Myself and both of our families so many thanks for all of your prayers and well wishes. We are all so fortunate to have such a wonderful support network in all of you.


We are still waiting for updates and it could be many hours, days, or weeks before we know exactly how the recovery process will play out between Amanda and Kyle. I can however report that Kyle was not injured and or burned as badly as reported earlier by the media and is expected to make a full and rapid recovery. I can also say that the updates we are receiving on Amanda are increasingly optimistic and though she has a long road of recovery ahead of her, the doctors are giving us the impression that things are not as bad as first reported and her chances for a full recovery are getting better not worse. The first 24 hours will set the tone for the story ahead.


I also have to extend a very sincere thanks to my brother-in-law Kyle who I strongly credit for the fact that my little sister is still with us. Having witnessed the accident and being on of the first on the scene, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that he made no less than five quick decisions in the air and on the ground that gave her a second chance at life!!


When the engine quit, Amanda was on the top wing in the rack. Kyle continued to fly the airplane in a straight and level fashion as long as he could to give Amanda every opportunity to unstrap and get into the front cockpit where she would have the best chance in the event of a hard landing. He also resisted the tendency to turn for the pavement which typically induces a fatal stall/spin situation. He avoided a landing in the pyro field which could have proven to be fatal, and faced with the only other option of land in mesquite woods, Kyle landed into the wind drastically reducing the forward speed at impact. Upon reaching the scene, I noticed that he set the airplane down in the only Waco sized piece of ground in that dense woods that didn't have tall trees in it. Kyle sustained the majority of his burns trying to pull his wife from the wreckage and when his efforts produced no results, he stayed in the cockpit and transmitted a repeating distress call about the post impact fire that had started. I honestly believe this motivated the rapid responders to press through the brush and douse the airplane at a more rapid rate which meant the split second difference that saved Amanda, who was still in the plane.


The first responders on the scene did an excellent job of responding to the situation in a rapid manner. Having a professional air boss teamed up with professional CFR personnel made a world of difference that could be the single most important factor that both Amanda and Kyle are still with us.


Please continue to send your thoughts and prayers this direction because we sincerely believe they are helping. I will pass updates along as I receive them.


Sincerely
Matt

Dear Air Show Fans, Friends and Colleagues:

It now appears that Amanda’s injuries will require a difficult and potentially expensive recovery and rehabilitation process.

To help ensure that Kyle and Amanda are able to focus on the difficult challenges of healing rather than the financial challenges of that process, the ICAS Foundation has created a “Kyle and Amanda Fund.” Every penny donated to this fund will go directly to Amanda and Kyle. It is our hope that members of the air show community will contribute to this fund as generously as their circumstances allow.

And the Foundation has made that process very easy:

1. By check. Make your check payable to ICAS Foundation and mail it to ICAS Foundation, 750 Miller Drive, Suite F-3, Leesburg, Virginia 20175.

2. Online. Go to ICAS Foundation website at www.icasfoundation.org. On the left side of the page there is a Quick Link to make a charitable contribution. Use the link and click on “Donate Now” on the next page. Indicate the donation amount, and complete your donation by following the prompts.

3. By credit card. Call the ICAS Foundation Chairman, Caroline Trinkwalder, at 734-595-0864. Caroline will take your credit card number and expiration date over the phone and run your card for your specified donation amount. You can advise Caroline how you wish to designate your donation.

4. You can also call ICAS headquarters (703-779-8510) with credit card information and we’ll make sure that the information is passed along to Caroline securely.


Due to the peculiarities of IRS regulations, a direct contribution to the Kyle and Amanda Fund will not be tax deductible. We hope that that will not deter you from making a contribution.

If you would like for your donation to be tax deductible, you can make a contribution to the ICAS Foundation Family Fund, a program that the Foundation runs to help any member of the air show community who needs financial assistance due to a tragic event. An increase in donations to the ICAS Foundation Family Fund will make it possible for the Foundation to make larger contributions to people in the air show community – like Amanda and Kyle – who can benefit from assistance.

Thank you in advance for your participation in this very important fundraising effort.

Sorry I have not been keeping up with the up dates. Between the doctors, my physical therapy, fund raising, emails, phone calls and everything else, I have a hard time keeping up with it all. Sorry.

I am doing fine and I should be discharged from the hospital on Sunday or Monday.

Amanda is doing very well for the most part. They rotated her and her bed to a 45 degree angle for about 40 minutes today which is very good for her. My physical therapist came running in to my room the tell me about it and what a big step it was for Amanda's recovery. Amanda is also down to 30% on her ventilator which is also really good.

Amanda did have a surgery yesterday on her hands and unfortunately it did not go really well, but it could have been even worse. The doctors had to amputate half the length of her fingers and thumb on her right hand and the same on 3 fingers on her left. They were able to save her thumb and pinky on her left hand. In technical terms they amputated the Distal phalanges and the Intermediate phalanges.

She goes back to surgery this morning around eight to try to fix all the fractures in her face and around her eye. I saw the x-rays and the doctors have a lot of work. I pray they do their best work ever.

I asked the doctors today about how long it might be before Amanda is awake and talking. They guessed about 2 months. Amanda has a very long, hard and expensive road ahead of her. I ask everyone to pray for her and for those who are able to donate to one of Amanda's funds to please do so. Every dollar counts and the Franklin and Younkin families will forever cherish your support to help Amanda. Thank you all and God bless you. I will let you know how things went tomorrow night.

Thank you again, love you all,

Kyle