Updated, Monday, Dec. 8, 12 pm.
A fall of 20 feet ends in a little less than one second. Anyone who has experienced such a fall will tell you it’s an instant in which a person can process a lot of thoughts — fear, survival, certainly. For most, thoughts of family and loved ones also flash through our consciousness.
We don’t yet know what Enrico Holley’s thoughts were as he fell 20 feet off a roof in October. We know he was painting a house when he fell, and that he landed on a concrete patio, considered the least desirable surface on which to end a long fall.
Mr. Holley, 48, is a 10-year volunteer member of the Oak Bluffs fire department and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with the Oak Bluffs Emergency Medical Squad (EMS). The extensive injuries he suffered from his fall led to transport to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) for treatment.
Last week, more than a month after his fall, Mr. Holley was transferred to nearby Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital for what is expected to be a long and intensive period of rehab. That’s his job now.
His colleagues and friends are doing their jobs — attempting to ease the devastating emotional and financial effects on his family. Mr. Holley and his partner, Kyra, have three kids between them, EmmaJean, Matthew, and Aleeya ranging in age from four to 20 years. The Island community is invited to attend a dinner and silent auction fundraiser on December 12 (details below).
On the day before Thanksgiving, Chief John Rose of the Oak Bluffs fire department spoke with The Times about relief efforts on behalf of the Mr. Holley and his family.
“Rico sustained multi-system trauma, including head bone fractures, lung contusion and extensive back injuries,” Mr. Rose said. “Finally, for the most part, he’s out of the woods and has been transferred from MGH to Spaulding Rehab. Rico’s a dedicated family man, a hard-working Islander.
“Rico has significant back injuries and his work future is uncertain. He’s self-employed so there is no income. Insurance has covered most of the medical bills but family travel (to Boston) and normal household expenses – food, heat, housing – are not.”
Mr. Holley’s colleagues and friends have been working hard. “We did a dine to donate event at Sharky’s Cantina,” Mr. Rose said. Friends cooked and dropped off a Thanksgiving-day dinner for the family.
“We’re asking the community to come out and support this dinner and auction and help someone who really needs it,” he said. Auction items are coming in, including Bruins tickets, Cape Air flights, Boston hotel accommodations, fuel packages and Island retail store gift certificates.
“Things like this don’t happen often and it’s harder around the holidays,” said Mr. Rose. “It’s difficult for everyone, but this is where you see the firefighting and EMS brotherhood help. The Oak Bluffs Fireman’s Civic Association and individual firefighters have donated money, gas cards, and the like. The other fire departments on Island have donated, and off-Island departments have contacted us to help.
“It’s humbling to see everyone, who have so much going on in their lives stop and make sure Rico has what he needs, to pull together and stand behind him. Rico is not going to be home soon, but Christmas is taken care of. Santa will be riding in a fire truck to his house on Christmas Eve,” Mr. Rose said.
Enrico Holly Fundraiser, December 12, 5–8 pm, at the Portuguese-American Club in Oak Bluffs. Tickets, $10, are available at the Oak Bluffs fire department. Contributions to aid Mr. Holley and his family may be mailed directly to YGAF, Inc. c/o Enrico Holley P.O. Box 1317, West Tisbury, MA 02575. Checks should be made out to “YGAF.” Donations are managed by You’ve Got A Friend (YGAF), Inc. YGAF is a local §501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization, established 15 years ago, to aid Islanders including those suffering from a catastrophic illness or event. The law office of George B. Brush, West Tisbury, administers YGAF at no cost while providing pro bono legal counsel. As a result, YGAF is able to apply donations to YGAF beneficiaries or chosen causes without deducting for administrative or professional costs.
An earlier version of this story stated that Mr. Holley makes his home with his partner Kyra and three kids, including Emma Jean. EmmaJean was misspelled in our original story, and she is 20, not 21. Although she is Mr. Holley’s daughter, she does not live at home with him.