Mike and Laney Perdue.Photo: CaringBridge
An 11-year-old girl is on the road to recovery after survivinga horrific plane crashin Michigan thanks to the heroic actions of her father.
Her mom, Christie Perdue, told the outlet that while Laney suffered 11 broken bones in the crash, she is fortunate to be alive — and finally headed home from the hospital.
“We’ve gone from no walking to a wheelchair to a walker and now to crutches. Her goal was to go home on crutches,” Christie said ahead of her daughter’s release on Wednesday. “She’s Laney, she’s great and she’s our miracle.”
It’ll be a bittersweet return to their Gaylord home, as the family faces their new reality of life without their father and husband, Mike Perdue.
Mike Perdue.GoFundMe
Mike was one of four people who was killed in the plane crash, which unfolded around 1:30 p.m. local time on Beaver Island in northern Lake Michigan, PEOPLEpreviously reported.
“He cradled her in his arms,” Wojan told CNN. “She doesn’t remember anything, except for her daddy squeezing her so hard.”
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At the time, the young girl was said to be “alert and talking and was able to tell them her mom’s name and phone number,” the GoFundMe stated.
“I knew that my husband had died when I got to the hospital, but I didn’t know anything about [Laney],” she recalled. “So the fact that she’s here and the fact that she’s walking and talking and will make a full recovery … is a miracle.”
As they head home for the first time since the crash, Christie said their family is leaning into the support from their community, which includes letters and over $163,000 raised onthe GoFundMe.
The family also plans to honor Mike with a funeral service this month — and will one day return to Beaver Island, according to the outlet.
“When we’re all ready, we will definitely fly again,” said Christie, who is from the island and owns a cottage there. “We will go to Beaver Island. That’s our home and Mike will be buried there.”
source: people.com
