I am so happy to tell you that John has awakened from the coma. He isn't able to talk yet as he still has tubes in his mouth and throat, but he is very responsive to instructions and stimulation now. His eyes follow you around the room now. He's trying to communicate. He's smiling. He's progressing well. They're hoping to take him off traction and take his casts off next week so that he'll be able to sit up and move around a little more. The road to his recovery will still be very long and hard but he is steadfastly heading in the right direction.
 
If anyone wants to know what they can do to help, go to www.JohnandJanine.com. Although John has excellent health insurance, the costs to his family will be great. This Christmas, let's show his family that it's not just blood that ties a family together. If all you can send is $1, you've helped. If all you can send is good energy, you've helped. No gift is too small. The Slammer is sending free T-shirts to the first 100 people that make $25 contributions to John's recovery fund. Please check their website for more details and where to send your contributions. At the bottom of their page are some more updates on his condition as well.
 
If you will be in or near Z-hills New Year's weekend, you should make sure you don't miss the Saturday night auction at The Sunshine Factory to benefit John's recovery. ALL proceeds will go to John's family to help cover his medical costs. They will have all kinds of gear and accessories at some of the lowest prices anywhere. Hope to see you there! Also! Your prayers are obviously working so please keep them coming as well.
 
Blue Skies to all and Merry Christmas,
Kathleen

British skydiver Dave Clements survived a 2,000 foot jump when he got his parachute to open just two seconds before impact. Clements broke his arm on the tail fin as he leapt out of a Dakota DC3. Then he spun head-first out of control at 160 mph before managing to pull his ripcord 250 feet above the ground. He crashed on to a corrugated iron roof and was saved by his reserve chute, which had refused to open and cushioned his back. Miraculously, his only other injuries were three broken ribs. Now Clements faces an investigation into the jump by the British Parachute Association and the Civil Aviation Authority.
 
Read the whole story at www.dzsports.net/news2.html.

On December 3, 2000, at Paradise Skypark near Chico, California, Jim Abrahams, 44 and a Paradise pilot, nosed over during landing. Abrahams reportedly was in fair condition after crashing his single-engine plane into a muddy slope just short of the runway. The pilot had just taken skydivers up in a Cessna 152 and was on final approach to land back at the airport around 3:20 p.m.
 
As reported by witnesses, the plane's engine was making strange noises when suddenly it nose-dived into the slope and flipped on its back where it came to rest about 30 feet from the start of the runway. When emergency crews arrived, Abrahams was hanging upside down in the cockpit still secured by a safety belt. A few moments later, Abrahams was pulled from the plane and helicoptered to Enloe Medical Center in Chico.
 
From the moment of the crash, the airport was closed because the plane was in the flight path for landing aircraft. Officials did not speculate on the cause of the crash except to say pilot error and lack of fuel are among two possibilities.

On Saturday, 25. November, 23-years old Colin Graham fell to his death at Brunton Airfield in Northumbria in Great Britain. Graham was a skydiving student and was undergoing training at the Border Parachute Centre when his parachute failed to open. He died on impact. Now further details are available. Authorities are investigating the accident.