By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
In a letter distributed to the media yesterday, the parents and siblings of ailing University of Hawai‘i football coach June Jones thanked well-wishers for their support.
"We would like to express our deep gratitude to the many friends of June and Diane and their family who have been wonderfully supportive of them during this difficult time," said the letter, which was signed by his parents, Marilyn and Sheldon Jones, brother Peter Jones and sisters Teri Jones Geist and Carolyn Jones Christoferson.
"That support has included prayers, flowers, cards, meals, a huge banner with hundreds of signatures, and extraordinary medical care from a skilled group of paramedics, nurses, physicians and hospital staff."
It was the first public statement from Jones’ family since he was critically injured in a one-car accident on the H-1 Freeway on Thursday. Jones has since been upgraded to guarded but stable condition at The Queen’s Medical Center’s critical-care unit.
Jones’ parents and siblings arrived from Portland last weekend.
"June developed a fondness for the state of Hawai‘i beginning 30 years ago (as a UH player)," the letter continued. "We all knew he desired to return to your glorious state one day. The tremendous outpouring of love and support given to him these past several days have helped us all realize the real reason behind his longing to return.
"Adequate words to express our appreciation and thanks are difficult to find. We feel very strongly that God’s healing will continue to touch June. God has given us a sense of peace that June’s recovery will continue."
Family spokesman Artie Wilson said Jones is in great discomfort, although his condition is improving. Test results have been encouraging, Wilson said, and no additional surgery is planned.
"It’s a matter of letting some time pass," Wilson said. "He’s had such a dramatic recovery the first few days, we expected it to continue at that rate. But that’s not realistic. If he has one less pain today, that’s improvement."
Wilson said family members, while appreciative of the support, are asking people to limit their visits.
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