We've been flooded with e-mails and calls, which we love to read and share among eachother. Many have asked what they can do. Here are some options:
Two donation accounts have been set up. As you can imagine, their recovery will be costly (well into the millions). You can donate by:
Visiting a Bank of America and donating to the "Christian and Stephanie Nielson Rehab Fund."
Or,
Visiting a Wells Fargo and donating to the "Stephanie Nielson Fund."
We will be setting up an online ability to donate, probably later today.
Although, visiting is highly restricted right now (only family members) we can post cards, pictures and well-wishes in their rooms (two separate rooms). Of course, they are heavily sedated at this time, but will make these hospital rooms Nie worthy regardless!
Send cards, pictures, etc. to:
c/o Stephanie and Christian Nielson
Maricopa County Hospital
2601 East Roosevelt Street
Phoenix, AZ 85008
Some of you may know that Steph and Christian have a family tradition of writing wishes on helium balloons to release them in the air (see:here.) On Saturday, we'd like to invite people anywhere, everywhere to write thoughts of faith and hope to be released at the same time. (Nie is going to love this!) Lets do 5:00 AZ time (6:00 MST/7:00/Central/8:00/Eastern). Will you all take pictures of the release where you are and e-mail me so we can post them on Monday?
Thanks everyone! We feel your love!
August 19, 2008
Things You Can Do
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65 comments:
oh the balloons!!! the thought gave me goosebumps, and tears, and tears on my goosebumps. wonderful idea!
Cjane -
I don't know you or Stephanie personally, but I do read your blogs daily and I feel as though my friends are in trouble. I am terribly saddened to hear about this accident, and I hope that all goes well with their recovery. It's amazing that one could feel such a strong connection to someone they've never even met.
Your family will remain in my thoughts, and I send my wishes of a speedy recovery your way.
Kaylyn =)
My son was in Claire's Kindergarten class last year. She is a cutie. Our family is praying that the Lord blesses Stephanie and Christian with strong minds and bodies to be able to overcome this and that your families will feel peace during this trial.
Awesome! Can't wait to help.
Sending love and good wishes your family's way.
Lauren
Leave it to your family to handle a tragedy with such style! We'll continue our prayers and any of your suggestions below. God Speed.
Oh thank you thank you thank you for updating us! I check your blog every few hours to hear any news at all. I will be sending something happy in the mail for Stephanie so that at some point I can possibly contribute to lifting her spirits even just a little bit. Hang in there. I am comforted to know that Christain and Stephanie seem to have the worlds best extended family!
The balloons is such a great idea. Stephanie helped make that a tradition in our family four years ago and we've been doing it ever since.
Thank you for the update. Please continue to let us know what it is we can do to help.
We continue to keep everyone in our thoughts and prayers.
the thought of releasing balloons nie style makes me burst with hope and faith for their recovery. what a wonderful idea.
we will give what money we can. thank you for letting us help.
our prayers will continue.
Anyone in the Provo area interesting in getting together to launch balloons together? Perhaps Kiwanis Park?
if so email me at Saigers@gmail.com
Awesome idea. We let off 80 balloons for my Grandma's birthday a la Nie. Can't wait to participate!
Thank you thank you. I'll do all I can (maybe now is the time to play the lottery and win :)!
Oh, beautiful. Rob and I will ready to launch our most joyful wishes at 6:00 on Saturday.
Thank you so much for taking the time and care to update like this, C Jane. We all of us need something to DO.
i loved all the posts about the balloons. i am so excited to do this with my family. thank you for including us in this. we are loving you and praying for you all. what a sweet thing to do together.
love, the mccoy family
i will be releasing mine with angle wings drawn upon it. they can never have too many angels looking down upon them . . .
Oh, I can barely type, the tears are welling up in my eyes...as soon as I read balloons the water works began. Wherever we are on Saturday we will be releasing our wishes of faith and hope and love. Thank you for giving us a way to show our love for the family, and for providing us such a wonderfully creative way to do it.
Donations will come pouring in, I just know it!
I think it would be an awesome sight to have it done in a big group or on an individual basis.
Someone mentioned in provo, but for us Mesa residents we could have a designated spot.
Not to be a spoil-sport, but releasing balloons is illegal due to the harmful environmental impacts in Connecticut, Florida, Tennessee, New York, Texas, California and Virginia.
Cities of Ocean City, Maryland; Louisville; Huntsville, Ala.; San Francisco; and Baltimore.
Legislation is pending in other states including Massachusetts, Maryland, and New York
If you do choose to release, PLEASE do not use ribbon string, since those do not biodegrade.
I hope Nie and Christian can soon be reunited to heal together. I'll be donating as soon as I can get to the bank.
Oh my lady. Jayner emailed me about this today. Thanks for keeping us all up to date. We're all pulling for you guys. Stephanie couldn't have a better family to rally around her!
oh shoot. "dad" is ali. Strange alias...i know.
Great idea with the balloons! I'm sure you guys are just being bombarded with well wishers. It's nice to know how many people really love her and feel like a part of her life through her blog. We teach together at Blissful living and have many mutual friends. So the news of the crash was just heartbreaking to me! Good luck in this time of need, and thanks for the updates!!!! Keep 'em coming!
Bless you for keeping everyone updated.
Get well prayers and wishes for Christian and Stephanie
Sending positive thoughts and prayers. My thoughts and heart are with you and your entire family.
Hugs,
Rachel
thank you for all the updates, and even more- thank you for letting us help. i love the balloon idea. will also be sending things to "nie-ify" the hospital rooms!
I am saddened to hear such horrific news. I read NieNie for inspiration. Her blog is one place I know I can go and be energized. Her spirit is strong enough to be felt through a computer. Her creative abilities and her positive outlook draw me to her blog. My prayers are sent to you all for comfort and strength in the months to come. Today I will do something NieNie style in honor of her excellence.
I am the sister in-law of Doug Kinneard who was the third person on the
flight with your sister. If it's OK I would like to share a little about
Doug and the wonderful family he left behind. Doug grew up in Canada and
loved camping, fishing, hiking, running, diving and anything to do with
the outdoors. He loved to talk, he could talk to anyone about anything. He
lived life enthusiastically! But most of all he LOVED his family. His wife
Roslyn is amazing, she has made us all feel at peace because of her sweet
example. They have 4 children from the ages of 25 to 13. The children are
doing well. In Doug's last few hours in the hospital the family gathered
around his bed and sang "God Be With You Til We Meet Again" many tears
were shed and much love was felt. We believe in a loving Heavenly Father
that has a beautiful plan for families to be together forever. Our family
takes comfort in the knowledge that this life isn't the end and that we
will see Doug again and what a wonderful day that will be.
Kim Beazer
such a lovely tribute kim. thank you for sharing that with us.
Our thoughts + prayers are with you and your family during this extremely challenging time! My heart goes out to you and I'm so thankful for your updates. Your sister has a ton "friends" in the blogging community and we'll all do whatever we can to help. Your idea about the balloons is very special and I hope to join in the tribute.
Stay strong and know we're all here with you!
Kim,
Thank you so much, if you don't mind, I will post this on the blog.
Kim, I also appreciate the tribute to Doug. Thank you and please know we are praying for your family.
Stephanie's friend Reachel already has an online donation capability here, if anyone is anxious to give.
Clarks and Nielsons, we are elated to hear good news. Thank you for being such an example of staying positive through trials! We love you!
Hi, I just wanted to let you know your family is in our thoughts and prayer. My dad is the Airport manager in St. Johns. At the time of the accident he was visiting my family and I in Utah. When he heard the news he was devastated and flew home ASAP to help. We were all shocked. I am friends with the Herring family in St. Johns. Again, know your family is in our prayers and may the Lord be with you all at this trying time!
Emilee
That is such a lovely sentiment Kim, and know that I have been keeping your family in my thoughts as well.
Stephanie is so blessed to have such awesome sisters! So sweet to have you doing just as she would do! We are praying for your families (even my little 4 & 2 yr old :) and wish miracles to continue to occur for the Nielsons. Way to be an example of what a strong LDS family can teach others. We'll keep you all in our thoughts and prayers!
Thank you!! These are great suggestions!
Jane, I am a friend of Jordan Mangums, a friend of Stephanie's. I read about the accident on her blog, and wanted to come express my support and prayers for Stephanie and Christian and their family. I will check back often to see how they are and what else we can do to help.
Thank you for sending the hospital address, I've been wanting to send flowers in some form or some notes.
It breaks my heart to hear of their condition but I know prayers of faith are one of the best things we can do for them at this time. I hope and pray for the best for Stephanie and Christian, they show to be such amazing parents. What a cute balloon tradition, I would love to participate.
Love, Jordan and Katie Sebresos
I'm with Tia, balloons are a bad idea. What happens when a bird migrating south spots the balloon and thinks it is one of his own only to have others follow until before you know it millions of flocks are migrating east and disoriented causing a massive shadow which block all sun rays over the east coast resulting in the melting of the polar ice caps that eventually flood the world? Did you ever think of that? Lets just make origami flying dragons and bunnies, out recycled paper of course.
I knew Stephanie and Christian when they lived in New Jersey a few years back. I pray that they will recover quickly. They are wonderful and have such a beautiful family. Best wishes to them and the rest of their extended family.
Thanks Courtney!
We will have one major balloon fest!
xoxo
PS- a package is on it's way. It should be there by Friday.
my thoughts and prayers are with them and their children. Life is so precious.
I'm old high school friends w/ Christian. My family and I are praying for you all. Thanks for the great ideas we can do to help. We'll continue to fast and pray.
Cjane-
I have been an avid reader of you and nie's blogs since Elizabeth B. has turned me on to it. Liz and I went to Culinary School together in Rexburg. Anyway, I was absolutely devastated to hear the news of Christian and Stephanie. I am saddened by the accident but want you to know that reading Nie's blog and your blog have made me always want to be a better and loving woman. After struggling for two years to get pregnant with my son, I decided to borrow the baloon tradition from Nie and it makes our son's birthday's special. Our families are praying for their recovery and hope we can make a difference by making wishes on their behalf. I pray that the Holy Ghost may also comfort your family at this time and be able to bless her sweet little children with love and peace. Thank you for the updates.
-Michael
Thank you so much for the updates and ideas of how we can help. I was gone all weekend and just saw what happened. I will keep your family in our prayers- Nie Nie's blog is so sweet and good and so family oriented. I have loved reading it and wish for both of them a quick and full recovery. The balloons are such a great idea!
thank you so much for these updates, c jane. i am one of the many faithful readers of stephanie's blog. while i don't know her personally, reading her blog has inspired me to embrace my role as a stay-at-home mom with as much zest as stephanie does, day in and day out.
my thoughts are with your entire family; i do pray for a speedy recovery and grace and peace to all of you.
what an amazing idea.
many prayers,
the dunns
What is the Email address to send the Balloon Pics too..We are all still praying!
Uno...
Another blog fan here (of both Nie and cjane). Your family will remain in my prayers. Our baby was stillborn last September and I wanted to honor him with a new family tradition and I remembered Nie's blog and her family tradition of releasing balloons with special thoughts and wishes on birthday's. So, our little family released white balloons with attached messages of love up to heaven at our son's funeral with the intention of returning to his grave, ballons in hand, every year on his "birth"day. So, I thank Stephanie for sharing this tradition with the blogworld and giving our family some cheerful inspiration during a very difficult time. I will absolutely be releasing some balloons for Stephanie and Christian on Saturday - even if it is illegal! Who'da thought...?
Courtney:
I am sending this message to you for your sister, her husband and especially your sweet parents - our friends Steve & Cindy. We just learned of the accident and have been praying for them and for their little family, and all of you as well. Luckily I work with Carina Wytaiz and she gave me your blog address so we could at least let you know our thoughts and prayers are with you. Please give your parents a big hug for us. We were so sorry to hear about the plane crash. We will stay in touch.
Love & Blessings,
James Oneil & Tamera Miner
I am putting together a balloon release in Pleasant Grove email me for details kkresser85@gmail.com
Thanks!
i'm going to release a balloon on saturday and send all of my good thoughts and prayers to this family.
Hello. My name is Melissa and my husband Ben is Christian's 1st cousin. We live in Snowflake and it is so disturbing that we cannot be close at such a needful time. We have fasted and are praying for them endlessly. Up until now, that is all we have been able to do. We will send the balloons with pride on Saturday. Won't it be so Awesome? Thank you for posting an address to send letters to. You sound like an excellent sister. If you are anything like Stephanie, you are AMAZING! Thank you for taking the time to keep us updated. We haven't wanted to be a neusance by calling every day. We look forward to the time they can both walk out of the hospital. Love to ALL!
I'd love to participate in this! Thanks for extending the invitation, still praying for the Nielsen and Clark families!
I've been lurking on Nie's site for awhile, but now I'm coming out of hiding to send my thoughts and prayers to your family.
And I say all girls wear your prettiest dresses in honor of Nie that day :) and maybe some red lipstick.
Thank you for the contact info. It will be used.
I am saddened by the news - my friends still in Arizona let me know right away. I hired Christian to Boeing and really enjoyed working with him - he is so SHARP and brought many great ideas to the group. I left for California a year ago and have relocated here permanently for Boeing. I was also disappointed when I had heard Christian left Boeing to move on to other opportunities. It was a loss. I will continue to pray and release balloons on Saturday! Thank you so much for this website - it helps to read this and I will continue to send all the positive energy to ARIZONA that I have! God Bless! Julie
Denae, I love your idea to meet at Kiwanis Park. I will be there, and I hope all Provo friends will come and show their love and support to Stephanie and Christian.
Courtney please tell Steve and Cindy that our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Frank and I recognize very well the power of prayers and that miracles happen both large and small. We will do our part anyway that we can to help. Steve knows that Frank and I have volunteered to help with the campaign, which is the last thing on his mind at the moment, but please mention to him we would be happy to pick up the slack while he is attending to family. We send our love to you all - Frank and DeeDee Rose
cjane,
hi this is frances ho, i used to work with christian during his time in new jersey. i've also had the pleasure of spending time with stephanie and the kids. everyone on the east coast is thinking of them and wishing them well. i will start a collection at work and will be in touch. our hearts are with you and your family.
I put their names on the prayer roll of the Salt Lake Temple tonight. We will join in these other efforts as well!
So glad for something we can do. On my run tonight, I found it was all I could think about, and I was going to send an email when I got on tonight to ask you if there was something that I could do.
We will be participating on all accounts. Can't wait to see all the balloon photos.
I'd love to get some of the balloon photos developed so they could go up in her hospital room.
And aside from these things, we will not stop praying.
xoxoxo
I also just wanted to say thank you for the updates.
I am sure it's maybe one of the last things on the priority list, but it's nice to feel connected in some small way.
I have been aching over this news and I only know Stephanie because of her blog, I have never met her. Her cheerful personality, positive outlook, and strong faith helped me through some of my own challenges in the past year. When I want to feel happy and motivated I always come to NieNie. I am praying for her, Christian, and the children. I have been so upset since sunday, and I think of you all constantly. I hope to send up a balloon and also donate- I am a college girl, I don't have much, but I want to donate what I can. Best wishes to you all.
~Lindsay
nienie reader sending good thoughts from philly! doing my best to spread the word, i hope for red balloon sightings all around the world on saturday! best wishes & many prayers for Nie, Christian and their babes!!
xoxo
www.hayliebird.blogspot.com
Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family, especially their children.
I can't believe that on top of everything else it'll cost your family in the millions just to see to their recovery! That's awful! Did they not have any health insurance that could bear the financial burden even a tiny bit?
It just dawned on me that Steph is the one and the same from the Oak Hills ward that I belonged to ever so long ago. My heart goes out to your and all those around you (trauma's tentacles spread ever so wide).
You will be in our prayers.
Sorrel Jakins
Provo, UT UT
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