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Terminally ill woman loses home in fire

By Bobby Shuttleworth - bio | email

MOULTON, AL (WAFF) - Sirens screeched and engines roared on Saturday as the Moulton Fire Department raced to Helen Holland's home on Market Street.

"When our first engine company arrived on the scene, the passerby that called it in and the son of the victim notified our units that the occupant was still in the home," said Fire Chief Ryan Jolly.

"She got some bad news Thursday that she has Lou Gehrig's Disease," explained her son, Jerry Don Brown.

Jolly said Holland appeared to be physically OK.

"When I arrived on the scene, she was seated and she had refused medical attention," he said.

She wasn't physically hurt in the fire, but Brown said she is mentally and emotionally devastated.

"She wanted just to spend her last days in the only home she had, and it's been really hard on her, so she's just been really upset. Distraught and scared, I guess," said Brown.

Both Brown, who was recently laid off, and his brother are in a tough financial spot. Both take care of their mom who lives on a fixed income.

"The Red Cross came out Sunday morning and they put Mama in a motel room for a night. They gave her a debit card to help with clothes and personal items," he said.

"They gave her a $25 card for Kroger to help with groceries," Brown continued.

Brown is worried about the future.

"We're still kinda sitting dead in the water as to what we're going to do and how we are going to do it," he said.

Redstone Federal Credit Union in Decatur is taking donations for Holland.

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