Mary Helms Status
Updated 31 Jul 2005
Navy News Pg E-mail me Mary's Directory Entry The NCP Directory
»»» REPORTS  «««

First Report
Second Report
Third Report


Our Mary Helms

Recent News on Mary

31 Jul --More good news, Mary is home and doing good. Phcon finds she has a friend staying with her in Reedville. She is moving around with her walker and had been out onto her porch yesterday. She has therapy three times a week at home and an aide comes in each morning to help her get the day started. She says, "... try something new each day." That attitude will get her through this.

Mary's Hm Ph: 804 453 5307
Reedville VA
Donna's Contact:: Cell Ph: 301 751 2613

Auto accident 13 June 2005 had Mary in Intensive Care with three ribs that are cracked/broken in four places, a punctured lung, a broken right wrist, her pelvic bone is broken in five places on left side and maybe 15 or right side, and three cracked vertebra.
First Report
13 June 2005

Hello Everyone,
As I'm sure you've heard by now, my Mother was in a terrible accident with my nephew, Patrick (her grandson) on Monday evening, 13 JUN 05. The accident occurred at the intersection (stop sign) on 653 as my Mom and nephew were returning from dinner and shopping. Mom stopped at the stop sign, looked both ways, and proceeded through the intersection. A 16 year-old girl with a provisional license who'd had the license for a week, and had nobody over the age of mandatory age in the car with her, was coming the other way at approximately 45 miles per hour, and hit my Mother's car broadside in my Mom's car door. The car is completely totaled. The frame is bent, The driver's side (Mom's side) is about 12 inches away from the passenger's door. They were both VERY LUCKY!!! Thank God!!!

My Mom and Patrick were rushed to the hospital. Patrick has banged up. And, Mom was banged up, complaining of her hip hurting her and she couldn't breathe properly. The ER doctor x-rayed and given pain medication, ice packs, and told to go home and rest. Later that evening, she was in so much pain, she could not even sit up in the bed.

The make a very long story short, she should have NEVER been sent home in the first place. Needless to say, this morning my Mother was rushed back to the hospital where she was FINALLY properly diagnosed by a competent doctor as having three broken ribs that are broken in four places, a punctured lung, a broken right wrist, her pelvic bone is broken in three places, and three broken vertebra.

She is in the Intensive Care Unit at Rappahanock Hospital in Kilmarnock, VA. The number for the ICU is 904 435 8523 or 804 435 8521. Her daytime nurse is Mary Ann, and her nighttime nurse is Beth. ICU Visiting Hours are from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.. No flowers are allowed in the ICU. But, she should be moved to a regular room in a few days. She will be in the hospital at least until next Monday, 20 JUN 05. After that, she will probably be taken to a rehab place like the place she went to after her knee surgery in 2003.

I hope this answers at least some of your questions. Mom is in pretty good spirits. She is on good drugs. And, the hospital personnel seem to be taking good care of her since they realized they really messed up by sending her home the night of the accident. She has a TV in her ICU room, so she lays there and watches that, and she has some magazines, and we bring her mail to her each day. There is no phone in the ICU room she is in, so you can not call her directly.

If you need to get in touch with me, I am staying at Mom's house in the evenings 804 453 5307, and, my cell phone number is 301 751 2613. The cellular reception down in this area isn't too good, so just leave a voicemail, and I can call you back...Make sure you leave your number. Also, if anyone can get a hold of Donna, the Preacher Lady at Mom's church, and ask her to call me, I'd really appreciate it.

Keep in touch,Donna

Second Report
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 00:42:48 EDT
Subject: Thursday, 16 JUN 05's Update on Mary Helms

Hi Everyone,
First of all, please let me apologize for having so many typos in last night's email. I am so exhausted, I can hardly think, not to mention type and make any sense. So, please forgive me.

Today, Mom was much better. She had jello and broth for lunch and dinner. She's in ICU for the next few days. Too add to the list of broken bones, they're going to x-ray her elbows tomorrow because they suspect both may be cracked as well. Her punctured lung seems to be healing and she is breathing a lot better. She still is not allowed out of bed at all.

Again, the phone number for the ICU is 804. 435 8523 or 804 435 8521. You can even ask the nurse to speak to Mom. They have a cordless phone in the ICU and they'll let you speak to her if she's not resting or getting testing done. Or, you can call my call at 301 751 2613, and if she's available, I can let you speak to her. Either way is fine. It's my understanding the nurses in the ICU won't let anyone except "family" visit, so if you're not family, say you are... haha...

We just got some pictures developed today of the car and the accident scene. I'll be sending them out shortly. If you don't want to see them, let me know. Ok?

I'm here all by myself for the next few days, so I'll be the only one who'll be watching over Mom except all of her wonderful friends who are like family to her... She loves you all so very, very much. And, I thank you all for taking such great care of her.

Well, I need to get to bed soon, I need to get up early because I have an early appointment to go see the Hospital Administrator about a Patient Neglect Problem he has in his Emergency Room.

You have my cell number. Call if you like, Donna

Third Report
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2005
Subject: Mary Helms' 30 JUN 05 Update

Hello Everyone,

Mom's doing better and better every day. She's been moved to a Rehabilitation Center near Richmond now. She will be in Rehab for at least 10 to 14 days. The information is [above].

Sheltering Arms is a Rehab Facility that has private rooms, each with its own bathroom and shower. Mom has three hours of upper-body therapy in the morning, breakfast, a bath, lunch, three hours of rehabilitation therapy in the afternoon, a nap or break time, dinner, and then bed time. She does have a schedule, however, it varies depending upon how she's feeling or how much effort she can exude towards a specific task or exercise.

She took 12 steps yesterday with her walker. And, she's so proud of herself. Dr. Oltermann says, "Her lung has healed." Her three pelvic fractures turned out to actually be "20 small fractures all bunched up together; 15 in the front, and 5 in the back." Her wrist is still in the splint. She is still taking Dilaudid orally for pain and is responding to the pain medication well. She is coherent, eating well, and seems to be in pretty good spirits. She's pleased to be walking a little bit now and actually picking up her foot vice dragging it. She's somewhat lonely in Richmond with not too many visitors. So, call her if you can.

That's about it for now. Let me know if you have any questions. Donna