Hollis update: She’s home!

The Guardian continues to follow the condition of local dancer and activist Hollis Hawthorne, who was in a serious motorcycle accident in India and is in a coma.

As friends began to realize Hollis has started to become a symbol of hope, and her name a rallying cry, they began to joke she was the “new Obama.”

Our golden girl is back on American soil! Words can’t express the elation, relief, and – in anticipation of facing the reality of her situation live – trepidation we’re all feeling as we imagine her on the way to world-class care at Stanford. In my community, Facebook and Gmail status updates are full of exclamation points. I imagine everyone’s going to start getting a bit more sleep too … for now.

But first, the details: As of 4pm today, Hollis Hawthorne’s family blog reports that Hollis, her mom, and Harrison (as well as the attendants to accompanied them) have landed safely in San Francisco. Rick Lamark, from the San Mateo division of American Medical Response, has donated an ambulance to take Hollis directly to Stanford.

Details are still a bit spotty – everyone’s too busy helping her get home or celebrating her arrival – but it seems her family secured a large loan sometime late last week and were able to transport Hollis on a commercial flight with medical equipment and medical attendants. Though she still isn’t responding to commands, she continues to open her eyes and squeeze the hands of her mom and Harrison. She also was put into a wheelchair for the first time before boarding the plane, which doctors say she tolerated well.

So what of the fundraising efforts? The money that’s been raised?

Does this mean the work is over? Hardly.

Harrison singing to Hollis in India.