Fair victim's family clings to faith, hope

PENDLETON, Ind. (WISH) - Andrea Vellinga is in for the fight of her life. Her skull was crushed when the stage rigging collapsed Aug. 13 at the Indiana State Fair.

Since then, the young mother from Pendleton underwent major brain surgery and spent weeks in intensive care.

If this were a marathon, doctors might say Vellinga is the underdog in this race to recovery. Her brother, Tyler Voss, says his litter sister is at mile two of 26.

“She is not responding to commands. The doctors are very clear that there is a difference between having your eyes open - which she does for a few minutes at a time - and being awake," he said.

But Voss knows about faith during hardship. A journal he keeps is now filled with notes from the doctors, scriptures and the fuel that keeps his family going. Most of what he has written in his journal has been posted on Facebook in the form of an update about his sister's progress.

Earlier in the week he wrote:

“Although it doesn’t happen often, when Andrea’s eyes do open, they are sometimes vague in their focus on a person or an object.

“Today they were much more ‘alive’ as she seemed to focus more on people in the room. There have been moments when we’ve been able to witness this before, but today seemed a little different. There was just a look she had in her eyes that seemed to say so much.

“In addition, she squeezed the family’s hands a little tighter today. She also rolled her right ankle around numerous times while she was in the bed, which seemed to signify a continuation of the early ongoing stages of waking up.

“Her heart rate and oxygen intake was very healthy today.

“And another tidbit I know all of you will love is related to a ‘command’ from Lydia that Andrea followed.

“Last night, Lydia said, ‘Wiggle your fingers, Mommy!’

“Immediately, Andrea wiggled her fingers just as Lydia had asked! There’s such power in the voice of a child, especially when it’s your own speaking to you.”

Voss believes prayer will give his sister the stamina and strength to win this race.

“I can’t wait for you to meet my sister,” he said. “She has got the most magnetic personality you've seen.”