Helma A., 19

Helma is a 19-year-old young mother living with her spouse and their two-month-old infant in a rural area, in a modest two-roomed semi-permanent house. The family faces persistent hardship, relying primarily on small-scale farming that produces just enough food for subsistence, with little to no surplus for income. Although her spouse is a trained plumber, employment opportunities are scarce in the rural setting, leaving the household without a stable source of income. On the day of the incident, Helma was carrying her baby securely on her back as she went about her daily activities. With no access to alternative childcare, she routinely kept her infant with her at all times. While walking along the roadside near her home, a passing vehicle suddenly lost control and struck both Helma and her baby, violently throwing them to the ground. The impact resulted in serious injuries. Helma sustained multiple visible abrasions on her face, hands, and legs, as well as a deep head wound that began bleeding profusely. Witnesses reported that she lost consciousness at the scene, lying helpless and bleeding while her baby cried in distress and was also injured and bleeding. The incident caused panic among bystanders, who quickly gathered and rushed to offer assistance. In her unconscious and heavily bleeding state, Helma depended entirely on the compassion of well-wishers who acted without delay. They organized her immediate transfer to the nearest hospital for urgent medical care, recognizing the life-threatening nature of her condition. Her spouse later arrived at the hospital and was able to identify both his wife and child. Upon learning that his wife and baby had survived the accident, Helma’s spouse expressed deep gratitude to the well-wishers and medical team for saving their lives. However, he also voiced grave concern about the family’s inability to meet the cost of hospital care. Overwhelmed by fear of accumulating medical bills, he requested that, if his wife and child were deemed stable, they be discharged as soon as possible. This request raised serious concern among the healthcare team, as Helma had only just begun to regain consciousness and remained in a fragile medical state, requiring continued close monitoring and treatment, including diagnostic laboratory and imaging tests. It was at this point that the Helpster Charity volunteer was contacted. She was later diagnosed with a concussion and a pelvic fracture

Helma was admitted to the hospital after a road traffic accident. She suffered pelvic fractures and head injuries. Her pelvis was stabilized using a pelvic binder while her head CT scan revealed she had no severe head trauma. She was also administered paracetamol, tramadol, and other drugs. She stayed in the ward for over three weeks until she was stable enough. She was later discharged on orals with follow clinic booked to monitor the progress of her bones.

Given the prompt hospital care and ongoing monitoring, Helma is expected to make a full recovery from the concussion, and with proper orthopedic management, her pelvic fracture should also heal without long-term disability. Her short-term care will focus on preventing complications such as bleeding, infection, or neurological deterioration, while her long-term care will involve rehabilitation to restore mobility and function.