Family of motorcycle-injured son receives donation

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A family in the metro is feeling an outpouring of support since their son's story ran on NEWS 9. After a terrible motorcycle wreck that nearly took a life, the family still has hope that good things are to come.

A good fortune came this week as well. Not necessarily with the recovery of their son, but because of the goodwill of the community when a much needed household appliance was donated.

Dustin Hollis was in a motorcycle wreck a few months ago as he suffered a traumatic brain injury, and was in the hospital for months.

"Dr. Gumerlock came to us and came to my wife and gave us the real bad news that he would be a vegetable," Dustin's father, Rick Hollis, said.

Since then, there's been a miraculous recovery; a recovery that's cost a lot of money, and the Hollis' have none left to replace their worn out air conditioner.

With the unit constantly breaking down, Dustin's condition has been a concern.

"It would be humid and hot, 81 degrees and then you begin to worry about him being able to properly breathe," Dustin's mother, Tamie Hollis, said.

The Hollis' won't have to worry about the heat anymore. After the NEWS 9 video was passed along to family and friends, a number of companies got together, and are now installing a brand new heat and air system.

"Rheem Air Conditioning Company and AMSCO Supply have donated the air conditioning and we're donating the labor," Pete Dahl with Dahl Heating and Air Conditioning said. "Oklahoma Duct Cleaning is going to clean all their duct work for them."

The help is allowing the Hollis' to move on with their goals for Dustin, something they said they wouldn't have otherwise been able to do.

"Thank you very, very much," Hollis said. "We don't have to worry about air conditioning or next summer. It's a blessing."

The Hollis' said the air conditioning unit went out four times last summer, and this summer hasn't been much different. They said each time it has cost hundreds of dollars to fix.

The Hollis' said their next goal is to help Dustin take some steps.