Crash Survivor Conscious, Asks for Mother, Doll

ANN ARBOR, Mich. —  Cecilia Cichan, the 4-year-old girl who is the only survivor of Northwest Airlines Flight 225, regained consciousness and asked for her doll and her mother, who was killed in the crash, the girl’s grandfather said today.

Rescue workers say Paula Cichan saved her daughter’s life by shielding her in the crash. The child’s grandfather, Anthony Cichan of Willow Grove, Pa., said Cecilia has not been told her mother is dead.

“We’re seeking professional advice at this time to be able to handle it properly,” he said in an interview on “Good Morning America.”

Cichan said he also had good news.

“Last night--late last night--when (a doctor) asked little Cecilia what her name was, she told him,” he said. “She said, ‘My name is Cecilia Cichan.’ Later on she asked for her mother and she asked for her grandpop and then later on she demanded her doll. She didn’t ask for it--she demanded it. She said, ‘I want my doll,’ which to us was just tremendous, tremendous news.”

Father, Brother Died

Cecilia’s father and brother, David, 6, also were among at least 154 people killed near Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Sunday night.

The Tempe, Ariz., girl suffered burns on 30% of her body and multiple fractures and was listed in serious condition at C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital, where she began undergoing skin graft surgery today.

She was taken off a respirator and opened her eyes for the first time Wednesday, and Anthony Cichan said the prognosis for recovery is good.