Fortunately and unfortunately, this is a very true story that happened on Wednesday (11/30/2022) between 4:40 & 4:45 pm at the Hampton Inn By Hilton in Brookhaven, MS, to Paul Kelly as he traveled from Colorado, Arkansas, Florida.

The Kellys had stopped for the night after Jeanette made a reservation from the road. Paul had gone in, registered, gotten room keys, and parked truck by backing into the handicap spot as authorized by his permit. When Paul attempted to walk from the parking lot on the walkway to the hotel side entrance door, he fell.

Jeanette heard Paul say, “Oh, no!” She turned to see Paul lying on the concrete. Dropping bags and rushing to his side, she realized that he was not breathing and blood was all over the concrete beneath his head. She immediately called 911 and indicated that Paul was bleeding and unresponsive.

Two EMTs (Amy Allen & Craig Pecue) and a Brookhaven Police Officer (Officer Benjamin Hux) responded. EMTs were both professional yet empathetic to both Paul & Jeanette. Officer Benjamin Hux offered Jeanette an escort to the King’s Daughters Medical Center and ensured that she found Admissions & ER. 

Immediately ALL hospital staff showed the utmost caring professionalism. Both EMTs assured Jeanette that nursing staff would call “The Station” when Paul was released and an escort would be provided back to the hotel. Morgan did a wonderful job of stitching up Paul’s eye. Staff found him food (even ice cream) and settled him in the ER (no rooms were available in the general hospital) for observation overnight.

Next day around noon at release, Valerie & Alton showed up with big hugs and an escort to the hotel. Amy Allen came in room early Friday (along with a bunch of other folks just checking on how Paul was doing) to “check on the little old man” and even offered both financial assistance and food.

THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE ER STAFF (Drs. Lambert, Gaines, Brown, RN T’Jwana Melton, Cheri Brooks, Carly and a whole bunch more caring professionals who went above and beyond the expectations of Emergency Room treatment.

Words cannot properly express the appreciation that both of the Kellys have for the town of Brookhaven, MS, folks.

We solemnly wish the world would treat folks the way Brookhaven, MS, does.

Jeanette Kelly, Leesburg, Florida