Copeland Family Fire

Macey Jones (Pepper's aunt, Whitney's sister, 12:30pm EST, Friday, 1/28/22) I can remember Whitney running down the road from her and Kyle's apartment across the lake with a positive pregnancy test. We were all in shock and couldn't believe it was really happening. I remember laying on the floor before Kyle left to basic training and brainstorming with them names. I still remember us all saying Pepper over and over in practice for our sweet and spicy baby. How fitting her name is! I can remember for the last few months of Whitney's pregnancy while Kyle was in basic training Whitney and Kolby (their beloved dog) slept with me. I would as quietly as possible slip out of my bed at 4:30am for early morning seminary trying not to disturb the pregnant woman who was growing the family's princess. I remember on the weekends jumping out of bed and making a cup of hot cocoa and delivering it to Whitney so I could lay next to her and feel all the kicks Pepper had to offe

Whitney Copeland (6:45am PST, Wednesday, 1/26/22) We are so grateful to be celebrating our Krew today. You are a blessing in our lives and one of the greatest adventures we could ever enjoy. Love you big guy! Here’s to another wonderful year enjoying this beautiful life! Krew is 4 years old today!

 Julie Kerr (3:27am PST, Tuesday, 1/25/22) She's going to move mountains! Pepper Anne, you bring tears of joy to Mimi's eyes!

Pepper’s Uncle Skyler, (Whitney’s brother, 2:06 pm MST, Tuesday, 1/25/22)  Sorry if this picture is too much for some of you, but this is my niece, Pepper. Before this accident, her mother was one of the toughest people I'd ever known. Pepper Anne is all of her mama and a bit more! I look up to her strength and motivation, something we can all learn from, and be motivated from. When they ask Pepper to do 10 exercises, she does 12! When they ask her to raise her arm or her leg to a certain point, she pushes through and goes higher. She is pushing through the pain and pushing past the goals because she's a fighter! She's all heart right now. Her motivation is her family, many of whom she hasn't seen for a month. Look into those eyes and tell me this doesn't motivate you! I'm so proud to be her uncle and so proud of what this young lady has taught me in the past few weeks. We can do hard things; we can do impossible things. Pepper is my hero! I want to grow up and

Whitney Copeland (2:25am PST, Tuesday, 1/25/22) More progress! These two kids just keep amazing us.  Krew got out of his bed for the first time in a month. He enjoyed a ride around the unit in a wheelchair. If anyone knows Krew they know his love of wheels. He was so so happy! He even got a visit from daddy yesterday and they enjoyed part of Krew’s favorite movie, Cars. It was so good to see him smile, he bonded with daddy. Krew is still going through withdrawal symptoms and struggled last night, projectile vomiting resulting in his NG tube to come out, 2 times now. Days like today make those things bearable and help to keep us looking forward.  Pepper just keeps amazing us! She was asked to sit on the edge of her bed for 15 minutes. She denied the opportunity to lay down and stayed sitting (on her own, for the 1st time) for 30 minutes!! When she was asked to do 10 reps, she would do 12. When she was told go this high, she would go higher. I was so proud of her. She chose to do it and

Whitney Copeland (5:00 AM PST, Saturday, 1/22/22) Pepper did well with her shower yesterday, the Dr. was very pleased with how her wounds are looking. The cadaver skin on her arms, torso, and back are adhering well. They will take her in Monday for #14 to remove the cadaver skin and put a different synthetic skin down. This will be extensive and a long procedure, her legs and feet will have to wait until later next week. She still has a good appetite, and requests food like a pregnant lady would, we are so happy to oblige. Her pain is uncontrolled at times but they are working diligently to get it under control. 27 days, building tolerance to these medications are definitely an issue it’s a challenge these drs are willing to take on.  Krew had a chest x-ray this morning and his lung had significantly improved, prayers are working! He is also off the paralytic medication and I saw his eyes and smile for the first time in 8 days! It was glorious. Just what this mama heart needed after su

Whitney Copeland (10:50 pm PST, Friday, 1/21/22) 13 surgeries and 25 days in for this brave, strong, beautiful survivor.  Pepper asked me today, “mommy you know those nice people that got stuff off of our bus? Did they find my iPod?”  She found out today, that someone replaced her iPod touch that she received from Santa 2 days before the accident, it’s all she asked for this Christmas. She sobbed and sobbed. I asked her if she was ok.  “People are just so kind, mommy.”  I love your heart baby girl, I’m so proud of you, you are a beautiful soul. 💕  #Copelandstrong

Whitney Copeland  (Thursday, 1/20/22)  Pepper had #13 today, they snuck a quick one in on Wednesday. She has a synthetic graft on the right side of her face, and chin called Integra. (Made from shark cartilage) It is a synthetic graft that prepares her skin for a real skin graft, later. It is meticulously sewn into place. The plastic team also worked on her hands today. A synthetic layer was placed on her hands, that will stay most likely 1 week up to 2 weeks and then skin grafts. She was in a lot of pain when she came back, but it is controlled for now and she was able to nap. She was ready to eat dinner! She is off to the shower room today.  Kyle had #4 today. They made a small incision under each eye and took a graft from his collar bone and put it in the incision to add length to allow his eyelid to close fully. They also put Integra on his upper eyelids and on the bridge of his nose. He came back from recovery with his eyes sewn shut. They may be shut for up to a week, they will a

  Courtney Worthington (Kyle’s younger sister, Wednesday, 1/19/22)  On Friday, January 14th, my drill team (dance team) girls surprised me by telling me they each got the t-shirt that is being used to fundraise for my brother and his family. It was a shock, and I was so grateful that they would do that for me. I also found out that their parents and family members also got the t-shirt and all of them were planning to wear it to our competition the next day. Days after the accident happened, I had a practice with them, and it was the first time I had smiled that week. The drill team girls have seen me in the most raw positions. When my brother called me to talk to me, I was in the middle of a practice, and they saw the tears stream down my face and they each held on to me and told me it was going to be ok. Teenagers these days are pretty incredible. On Saturday, January 15th, I showed up to the school bus to travel going to our competition in my own special shirt to find all the girls i

  Whitney Copeland (8:25 pm, Tuesday, 1/1//22) I’ve just put a more itemized type update off for a while. You beautiful people just keep asking for specific things that can be prayed for. Things change so quickly around here we just hold our breaths and send up little prayers as the new information comes in. So here are some milestones to rejoice and some side steps we have encountered. Kyle’s grafts taken from his thigh have healed ever so nicely. One graft on his neck and one on the back of each of his hands. The staples have been completely removed from his neck and one hand. His right hand has a few staples left, the graft needed a little more time, they may come out Wednesday. I’ve had the opportunity to shower him 2 times this week helping him wrap his hands (to protect his bandages), assisting him to wash, and the tedious work of removing all scabs and dead tissue from his face, mainly around his eyes. His face is healing beautifully, the doctors are very impressed. His eyes and

An update on Kade, Emree & Hazel staying in Idaho with family. Aunt Amelia’s perspective (Monday, 1/17/22) The power was out so we all piled in the TV room to sleep together! Sweet sleeping babes🥰 Right after they all fell asleep the power came back on! Little Miss Hazel never leaves their side and has been such a blessing to these kids! Especially Emree. Unlimited puppy loves and snuggles. She loves her kids🤍 It has been so fun having Hazel for those of you who don't know she is our dog's Gus and Bella's baby! So it has been a fun little family reunion for them all! Hazel is so much like Mama Bella and Gus And has fit in perfectly at our house!

Whitney Copeland (6:30 PST, Monday, 1/17/22) I sit in a yellow scratchy isolation gown next to your bed, Krew. Just me and you. I can hear the soft whistling sounds of a breathing tube. The whoosh of the air that is keeping you alive. I watch the rise and fall of your chest. You’re sleeping, resting my dear little one. Out of pain, no real sense of time or place. I pray that the angels round about you lift you up in the sweetest of dreams. That you can have memories of better times. I also pray that the only three years of your life are memorable, they hold value. Remember your mom and dad, remember your siblings. When you do wake you speak often of your trucks, trains and our beloved home, the bus. My hope is that you remember those things and smile. I pray the nightmares stop, and that I’m always here to silence your fears and re-assure you. Take hope that one day our lives will be different  from where we are now. The beeping monitors, sterile surroundings and these hellish procedur

Whitney Copeland (6:41 pm PST, Saturday, 1/15/22) Pepper has enjoyed her Amazon Fire, watching movies & listening to music has really helped her spirits and helped her pass time. She prefers her hair to be braided, and I’m so happy to oblige!  Thank you to the families who have donated and those who have replaced our Christmas items. We are so grateful.  Pepper and Krew are both scheduled for surgery tomorrow. #copelandstrong

 Whitney Copeland (1:57am PST, Friday, 1/14/22) We are all getting well known, by name even, in the OR room. Although it makes us feel special it reminds me that we have frequented this part of the hospital all too often. We are forever grateful for the loving kind staff and feel their love deep within our hearts.  Pepper & Krew each had surgeries today.  Krew had surgery #6 as the plastic surgeons worked on healing his hands, the surgery went well. He's now lined up for surgery #7 tomorrow to work on his face once again by the amazing plastic surgeon team.  Pepper had surgery #7 today and worked on healing her back. They removed all synthetic material from her back, as it is not taking very well, and are allowing her body a little break, a few days, before reassessing and coming up with a new game plan. Please send extra prayers her way that her body will accept new treatments and begin to heal quickly. Kyle is healing. His hands and neck accepted the grafts taken from his thi

ABC Channel 4 Salt Lake City Utah State Fire Marshall’s Office report on SDC television station. Kyle Copeland called a hero after running into the fiery inferno of their burning RV.

 Tom Kerr, Jr. (1:00 PM, Tuesday, 1/11/22) I saw this video and had to share. Krew, with bundled hand and bandaged face finds, for a few minutes, the simple joy he's always loved; rolling a car and watching the wheels turn round and round. I should probably add a disclaimer here. Although I love seeing their progress, most of you are probably aware that there is a long and very difficult time ahead. Earlier, when I mentioned that Pepper had a shower, it was NOT the hot, exhilarating shower that you and I enjoy. It was an excruciatingly painful antiseptic shower. The doctor reported this morning that the kids are looking at many months in the hospital. So, don't allow my posts of happy moments and significant successes mislead you into thinking it's all behind them. 

 Tom Kerr, Jr. (9:09 am EST, Tuesday, 1/11/22) It has been approximately 335 hours since the fire. In that amount of time, we have gone from disbelief that it happened, to disbelief in the support and blessings, to now, a disbelief in how far they have come. It amazes me how the human body, these great gifts, are capable of healing themselves. All of the technology and medical advances are simply about helping the body do what only it can do; to fight for life and heal itself. Kyle has probably undergone his last surgery for his burns. He is looking amazing, and improvements are happening right before our eyes. Pepper was able to receive a full shower in the burn unit yesterday. Afterwards, they wrapped her up in new bandages and she was even able to sit on the edge of her bed for one minute. She hated all of it, but the advances she is making are mind boggling. Seeing her little face and being able to recognize her as Pepper is a wonderful thing. She is stunningly beautiful! Krew went

Tom Kerr, Jr. (4:56 pm EST, Sunday, 1/9/22) Within the amount of time it takes to drive from Ashton, Idaho to St. George Utah, during a winter storm, Emree and Kade's uncle Skyler (Whitney's older brother) arrived at Shay's home. He loaded Kade, Emree and their dog Hazel, who had been found the night before, and they headed off for Ashton Idaho that morning. I can't begin to tell you the feelings of relief and gratitude I felt when my son sent this picture of Emree, Kade and Hazel sleeping soundly in the back seat of his truck. It was a long drive back home, so they needed a pitstop. They were able to stop at a friendly home in Herriman, Utah, where they found a hot dinner, baths, beds, toothbrushes, pajamas and hugs from Bill and Diane Pappa.  They left the next morning and were able to make a stop to see their aunt Danielle and aunt Courtney and their cousins from Stansbury Park.  Then it was off to Ashton, where their Aunt Millie was waiting for them. They have beds,