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Rob, Tabby, Dominik, Temperance and Devon’s Story

Site created on February 9, 2023

On February 8th, around 8:15 pm, my parents’, Paul and Nancy Stanina’s, house had a propane leak, which lead to an explosion and structural fire.

My parents were not home at the time. They had to be in Rochester for my mom’s chemo treatment at the Mayo early that morning. My mom had told my brother, Rob, and his family to eat up the food in the fridge so it didn’t go to waste while they were gone. Inside the house at that time of the explosion was Rob, Tabby and their three children, Dominik (14), Temperance (12) and Devon (4). Everyone was able to make it out of the house except Temperance. Rob went back in to get her. She had run the wrong way and was in my parents’ closet. They were all able to get into a car, and drive to the neighbors’, Sherri and Shane Renskers’, house where 911 was called.

The girls were transported by ambulance to the Grand Rapids hospital. Rob and the two boys were transported to the Hibbing hospital. At the hospital, it was determined that Temperance had no burns and didn’t require hospitalization, so she ended up staying with her cousin for a few days. Tabby was severely burned about 65-70% of her body. She was ambulanced to the Grand Rapids Airport to be airlifted to the Minneapolis Airport and ambulanced to Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC). Dominik was burned 13-18 per cent of his body and was ambulanced to the Hibbing Airport and airlifted the Minneapolis Airport and ambulanced to HCMC. I didn’t get a per cent burned for Devon, but it was thought to be a little more than his brother. He was also airlifted via the Hibbing and Minneapolis Airports and then to HCMC. Rob was severely burned, about 65-70% of his body, and was also airlifted the same way to HCMC.

When HCMC was first contracted, they didn’t have room for all four, but they had decided that they could not split up the family. They did what they could to shuffle people around to make room for them. HCMC only has eight beds in their Burn ICU area. Our family would take up half of their beds.

All four of our family that were burned came into HCMC separately about an hour and a half between each one. Dominik was the last one to arrive there about 5:30 am. My parents were at HCMC before any of them had arrived. They were able to see each one of them when they came in. All four were heavily sedated and had breathing tubes placed before they were airlifted.

After arriving at HCMC, all of their burns were cleaned and bandaged up. The doctors explained that Rob and Tabby were extremely critical plus would need several surgeries and could be in the hospital for months if they survived. The boys have 2nd and 3rd degree burns and the doctors are hopeful that they won’t need surgeries. That was subject to change. The next few days will be critical for all four of them.

My parents’ dog, Sadie, was believed to be in the garage when the explosion happened. We think that she ran away at the sound of the explosion. Their neighbor, Shane, was able to locate her late in the morning of the 9th. He and Sherri are now fostering her. She didn’t suffer any burns or injuries.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Franki Stanina — Sep 4, 2023

We are almost 30 weeks out since the fire.

Temperance came up north with my dad a few weeks ago to start volleyball. She was eager to start since she missed the opportunity to be on the team in the spring.

Dominik came last up last night, with my dad. In preparation for the first day of school tomorrow!

Devon doesn’t start school until next week so his is staying in the cities with his parents, until then.

I‘m not sure the kids know how many little projects grandpa has planned for them, but I’m sure they will find out soon. I haven't heard what the request was for the first day of school dinner is yet. A standing tradition grandpa has always done.

Rob has been flying to Hibbing to spend time when he doesn’t have PT and OT. Tabby and her mom came up north for a visit over the last weekend as well. It’s good to see everyone out and about regaining independence and some kind of normalcy.

It’s been just over 6 weeks since my mother Nancy passed away. We are learning to navigate daily life without her. We think of her often, and we are thankful for our time with her. She still lives on through each of us. In Rob is a will to never give up, and a love to try new things. In Shane is storytelling and need to win an argument (even if he’s wrong and knows it).

I want to take a moment to say thank to everyone, for all of the support! It been a long journey.

Read More of the journal titled "September 04, 2023"

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