Patrons to the FV Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream store on Newhope Street near the Costco Center in Fountain Valley can enjoy a fun and flavorful treat while they help a local family recover from the results of a serious automobile accident. A portion of the sale of products this Wednesday from noon until 8 p.m., will help offset medical and other expenses.
Life changed for Jamie Maddux on May 24, when she became involved in a car accident that left the vivacious young woman with serious injuries. Jamie left her home looking forward to having lunch with some friends when disaster struck. As she was leaving her neighborhood on Rose Street, she attempted to cross Bushard where she collided with a car heading north. The impact of the collision caused Jamie's Ford Focus coupe to spin and roll, before landing back on its tires.
When the car stopped, Jamie was slumped over and not breathing, said her mother, Cindy Maddux. But someone was watching over Jamie that day, and miraculously, FVPD Officer Rick Nilos responded to the accident within a few seconds. He could tell that Jamie was not breathing, and he lost no time reaching her. In order to reach her as quickly as possible, Nilos crawled through the back window of her car and adjusted Jamie’s seat position. This allowed her to lie flat, and it cleared the breathing passageways, saving her life.
Responders to the incident stabilized her and rushed her to the UCI trauma center for treatment. Among her most significant injuries are broken bones and a bleed in her brain, for which Jamie was initially placed in a medically induced coma to allow her to rest and to maximize healing.
Today Jamie can eat a few soft foods, and she has uttered her first words since the accident. Her rehabilitation will be a long process, and everyone is hoping for a full recovery for Jamie. But as she works to gain strength and recover abilities, others are working on her behalf. “We are really excited about the progress Jamie has made, but I can’t help thinking that this isn’t the way we planned our summer,” says Jamie’s sister and best friend, Chanda. “Jamie and I were supposed to go up to Big Bear for a vacation, and my parents had some travels planned too,” she says.
Jamie is a well-known and well-liked figure in the Fountain Valley community. A 2010 graduate of Fountain Valley High School, she served on the FVHS pep squad for four years, and she is accustomed to cheering for others. Her generous spirit and outrageous smile won her friends and admirers in the student body, faculty and booster groups. Now, the throngs of people who care about Jamie are searching for ways to give back.
Jamie’s friends have stood by her since that fateful moment when sirens blared in Fountain Valley. Recognizing the extreme toll an incident like this puts on a family, friends have organized fund raisers to help with the overwhelming expenses associated with her recovery. In addition to hospital deductibles, special needs and incidentals, lost wages for all of the family members create extreme shortages in any family’s budget. Previous efforts raise funds have included a root beer float sale at Sam’s Club, and events are planned for the future. Community members wishing to contribute directly to Jamie’s fund can do so at helpforjamie.blogspot.com
