Panoz DeltaWing Racing race engineer Catherine Crawford is fighting following emergency surgery for a brain tumor, her family confirmed via a statement.
The statement reads as follows:
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On Tuesday, March 29, 2016, our daughter Catherine, Engineering Manager at Crawford Composites and Lead Engineer at DeltaWing Racing, underwent emergency surgery in Rome, Italy for a brain tumor.
Catherine and her husband Russ were on a business-pleasure trip to Italy when she suffered a severe headache and more serious symptoms were immediately evident. The surgeons have praised Russ for his swift action in getting Catherine to hospital – something that positively affected the outcome.
Our family is here in Rome at present supporting Russ and Catherine. We acknowledge that the road to recovery will be a long one but the surgeons are encouraged by the progress Catherine has displayed already.
We want to thank all who have expressed their support and love and at this time we respectfully request privacy.
Sincerely,
Max and Jan Crawford
Crawford Composites
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DeltaWing team manager Tim Keene has also added the following statement: “It goes without saying that we were all devastated by the news, as we are a very tightknit family, just as everyone is in the entire racing community. Catherine is such a strong and feisty woman, and I have all the confidence in the world that she’ll overcome this and come back to us all stronger than ever. We will continue on in the upcoming races, but her presence will always be with us as she makes her recovery.”
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There have already been a number of well wishes extended to the veteran engineer from the racing community on social media, and these are but a sampling. See below:
Dear Catherine, you're in all of our minds.
— #IMSA (@IMSA) March 31, 2016
Please read the Crawford family's statement: https://t.co/A665LBeYeC pic.twitter.com/QVHqBm1eWO
One of the strongest people I know! Thank goodness Russ was there. She's going to fight this 🙏🏼 for my friend. https://t.co/oVcwQEAHlI
— Katherine Legge (@katherinelegge) March 31, 2016
Thinking of you, Kates, and hoping you are well very soon!! https://t.co/Pqn00lJmiY
— Beth Paretta (@BethParetta) March 31, 2016
Prayers are with my engineer Katie right now.She's an amazingly strong woman and we will get through this as a team! pic.twitter.com/d43ylxFxYf
— Sean Rayhall (@seanrayhall) March 31, 2016
— Sean Rayhall (@seanrayhall) March 31, 2016
Sending positive thoughts your way, Catherine 🙏🏼🙏🏼 https://t.co/zvbOLoLNiH
— Ashley Freiberg (@AshleyFreiberg) March 31, 2016
@marshallpruett @DeltaWingRace @IMSA @radiolemans get well soon Catherine . A wonderful lady from a great family of racers.
— Dario Franchitti (@dariofranchitti) March 31, 2016
@marshallpruett @DeltaWingRace @IMSA @radiolemans Spent an all-too-brief, but enjoyable time working with Catherine. Hoping for the best.
— Jeff Segal (@JeffSegal) March 31, 2016
Thoughts are with Catherine and Russ. Had the pleasure of working with them last year -- they're wonderful people! https://t.co/J8gF4yyMGP
— Mike Hedlund (@mike_hedlund) March 31, 2016
Stay strong Catherine, the whole racing family is thinking of you https://t.co/tSpA4vJkay
— Ricky Taylor (@RickyTaylorRace) March 31, 2016
Such awful news. Add me to the list of people pulling for her, and thinking of her + her family. https://t.co/rIeked0VX3
— Pippa Mann (@PippaMann) March 31, 2016
Wow thoughts with Catherine, her family and everyone on the @DeltaWingRace team. Hope she recovers quick and well! https://t.co/3OKo39Rhyt
— Dion von Moltke (@DionvmR) March 31, 2016
Everyone send positive thoughts for Catherine, she's one of the great ones in our paddock...get well soon, friend. https://t.co/wtYgYdghLD
— Shea Adam (@GearboxGirl) March 31, 2016
How sad! Pulling for Catherine! 🙏🏻 https://t.co/voyrkN67NP
— Erin Cechal (@ErinCechal) March 31, 2016
Oh no. Sending positive vibes to Italy. https://t.co/cbM585wpEa
— Steve Wittich (@stevewittich) March 31, 2016
OMG. Prayers for Katie, her husband and family, and everyone @DeltaWingRace. C'mon, girl, you can do this. https://t.co/dw0KpxWqKI
— Diane Swintal (@dswintal) March 31, 2016
IMSA: @DeltaWingRace engineer hospitalized with brain tumor https://t.co/PC7jXBGiXe Pulling for Catherine Crawford. @IMSA @radiolemans
— Marshall Pruett (@marshallpruett) March 31, 2016
@marshallpruett @DeltaWingRace @IMSA @radiolemans thoughts and prayer for one of the nicest genuine family's in the paddock
— Calvin Fish (@calvinfish) March 31, 2016
Thoughts and prayers for Catherine and the entire family. https://t.co/wKewOsRFOb
— Chris Neville (@chrisneville84) March 31, 2016
Everyone at Continental wishes Catherine all the best for a full recovery! https://t.co/GmRLwoOYmc
— Continental Tire (@continentaltire) March 31, 2016
Such horrid news and Mazda Motorsports wishes all the best for Catherine. https://t.co/4MnYQw8Bep
— Mazda Motorsports (@MazdaRacing) March 31, 2016
Our thoughts and prayers are with Catherine and the entire Crawford Family. #IMSA https://t.co/BJek3fQX7q https://t.co/L7zrJODPi0
— Action Express (@AX_Racing) March 31, 2016