Kyle Franklin, of Franklin's Flying Circus and Airshow, announced last night that his wife and team partner, Amanda, passed away at 10:10 pm Friday night. Amanda had been hospitalized at the Brooke Army Medical Center since the March 12th accident where the airplane she was wing-walking crashed and caught fire after an engine failure. Amanda suffered third degree burns to over 70% of her body along with multiple bone fractures. Kyle was also hospitalized and released March 28th to receive outpatient care and still faces a long rehabilitation. They have been performing their wing-walking act since the summer of 2009.
Through the difficult time, Kyle kept fans and friends updated with daily notes on the team's Facebook Page. On May 26th, Kyle made a post about having just made the difficult decision to remove Amanda from life-support and provide 'comfort care.' Doctor's had informed Kyle and the family that they did not believe that Amanda would survive the two weeks until her next skin graft surgery. Amanda was suffering from multiple infections of her burn injuries which were not responding to the antibiotic treatment, near complete failure of her kidneys and her liver was beginning to fail as well.
In the May 26th note, Kyle stated, 'I made the hardest decision of my life today and put her on Comfort Care. They have taken her off most everything with the exception of the ventilator, sedation meds and pain meds. They placed her in a more comfortable position and are doing everything to make her as comfortable as possible... Amanda my love, I love you with all my heart, soul and everything I am. Our life together here was supposed to be seventy years not seven, but I look forward to seeing you in my dreams every night my love.'
On May 27th, Kyle posted the update following update to the team's fans, 'It is with a broken heart that I tell you that my beautiful girl Amanda passed away at 10:10 central time this evening. Beside her was her adoring husband Kyle, her mother Jeanie, her brother Matt, her sister-in-law Michelle and her devoted mother-in-law Audean.'
Kyle and Amanda had been friends since childhood and were dating when both their fathers, Jimmy Franklin and Bobby Younkin, were killed during a 2005 air show. On July 10, 2005, while performing at the Saskatchewan Centennial Air Show in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, their planes were involved in a fatal mid-air collision. Kyle and Amanda were married a few months later, in October of 2005.
Two funds have been established to support the Franklin's with their mounting medical bills. To donate to the Franklins’ funds, you may do so via the Moonlight Fund, a nonprofit that provides assistance 24/7 to burn survivors and their family members in their time of need, by specifying the Kyle & Amanda Franklin Fund; or through the International Council of Air Shows Foundation, by specifying the Kyle & Amanda Fund during the donation process.
The Chairman of Air Fiesta, David Hughston, stated that a scheduled June 4 fundraiser for the Franklins will go ahead as planned. The fundraiser will be at the Commemorative Air Force RGV Wing headquarters at the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport. Air Fiesta was the air show during which the Franklin's tragic accident occurred.
The fundraiser will have a silent auction of over 50 items, live music, family activities. Some of the items in the silent auction range from appliances to fishing trips and even weekend getaways to South Padre Island. A mobile blood bank will also be on handfor anyone who wishes to donate blood in Amanda’s name.
The fundraiser will be from 3 to 9 p.m. and will have a $10 admission charge for everyone over the age of 12.
Even if not attending, tax-deductible donations can be made to AIR FIESTA, P.O. Box 8190, Brownsville, TX 78526. For more information visit www.AirFiesta.org or Air Fiesta’s Facebook page.
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