ROAD TO RECOVERY
Family helping Reserve Mines woman following accident
Reserve Mines accident victim released from Halifax hospital.
A Reserve Mines woman is getting a dose of family love as she continues her long road to recovery following a motor vehicle accident.
Michele Oliver, 56, has been moved from the Halifax Infirmary to the home of her daughter Renee Oliver in Halifax, while her injuries continue to heal.
“My mother is doing great, she’s had great care at the hospital but is happy to be out of there,” said Renee Oliver, 21. “It’s just time that’s needed right now, time to heal.”
Oliver said her mother is now using a walker and a wheelchair which have improved her mobility.
On July 20, Oliver was on her way to Glace Bay when she was hit head-on by a truck. She was airlifted to a Halifax hospital suffering from fractures in her neck, back, ribs, wrist, femur, knee and lower leg. She also had a punctured lung and a concussion with bleeding on the brain.
Oliver is still in a neck brace, leg brace and cast.
Personal care workers are now providing assistance and an ambulance takes her to the hospital for followup care.
In three or four months, when her leg has healed, she will begin rehab in Halifax.
Has her mother heals, Renee Oliver says they are enjoying their time together.
“We just talk, she reads sometimes, we have tea and watch TV,” she said. “She talks a lot with all her friends.”
Renee Oliver said there has been a lot of public support.
“People have sent cards and flowers, which has been really nice.”
A benefit was held recently at the Reserve Mines fire hall. Donations are still being calculated.
Renee Oliver and her sister Danielle McPhee, who also lives in Halifax, attended the benefit. A third sister, Larissa Oliver, lives in Reserve Mines.
Renee Oliver said they were overwhelmed by the crowd at the benefit and along with financial donations, there were also some meaningful gifts for her mother.
“There was an angel pin, a cross, a few little things there I brought back.”
Marsha Robinson of Halifax, Michele’s stepsister, said Oliver is continuing to amaze everyone with her strength as she deals with the aftermath of the accident.
Robinson said her father Wilfred Doucette is a longtime member of the Reserve Mines Volunteer Fire Department and he was amazed by the turnout as well as the kindness and generosity shown at the benefit.
Oliver has been employed by Vogue Optical for 20 years but is not expected to return to work for some time.
A GoFundMe campaign has been organized and can be accessed at www. GoFundMe.com/micheleoliver?member=496766m.