Holding on: 3 cling to faith, each other

Tuesday was Clarissa Ceran's 19th birthday. She should have celebrated at home with her mother, father, siblings and friends.

Instead, Clarissa spent her birthday sitting up in her hospital bed for the first time since early Sunday. She also took two small steps forward and back and was able to wiggle her toes. Many would consider those steps a miracle.

"We were absolutely thrilled to see that," her father, Gary Ceran, said. "It's absolutely astonishing to me not just she lived, but I really thought her legs would be lost. When you look at the vehicle and her door and how the car is pushed from the passenger side to the middle of the car, it's absolutely amazing she's alive. It's nothing short of miraculous she even has legs."

Shortly before 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Clarissa, her 15-year-old brother, Ian, 12-year-old brother Caleb, 7-year-old sister Julianna and her parents, Gary and Cheryl, were driving home from a Christmas party when they were struck by an allegedly drunken driver who police say ran a red light at the intersection of 5400 South and 700 West. The impact killed Cheryl and Ian instantly. Julianna was flown to Primary Children's Medical Center but also died from her injuries a short time later.

Carlos R. Prieto, 24, who was not seriously injured, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of three counts of vehicular homicide, all third-degree felonies.

Police could smell a strong odor of alcohol on Prieto, according to a report from the Salt Lake County Jail, and noticed "bloodshot and glassy eyes."

"Prior to the arrest of defendant, Prieto admitted to drinking five beers," the report stated.

Officers also administered a nystagmus test, a field sobriety test used by checking a driver's eyes, which he failed. Prieto was driving on an expired license. This was his third DUI arrest, according to jail records.

Gary Ceran has now lost seven of his nine children, his wife, his brother and his mother in recent years. Five of his children died as infants due to cancer or premature births. His mother, who lived in the basement of his house for 14 years, also died a couple of years ago, the same year his brother died.

But rather than deep grief — or even anger — Ceran and his two surviving children, even at their young ages, exhibit the kind of strength that very few others may never experience.

"To think of a 19-year-old to bury seven of her siblings plus her mother ... " said Ceran, his voice trailing off as he stopped to think of the right words. "Death and adversity are something these guys have an absolutely stunning ability to deal with."