PORTLAND, Ore. — The mother of a Portland woman who collapsed and died during the state’s historic 2021 heat dome event arrived in Oregon to mark what would have been her daughter's 40th birthday.
“As long as I have breath in my body, I will be here for her,” proclaimed Cheryl Hollins, at her daughter’s burial site in Northeast Portland.
Hollins said every time it gets hot outside she thinks of her daughter, Ashylyn Maddox, lying alone on a sidewalk in 116-degree heat.
“It makes me think of my baby in the hot sun,” she said. “I don't want this to happen to nobody… no woman, man, boy, girl, dog. I don't want it to happen because that heat is nothing to play with.”
In July of 2021, 36-year-old Maddox, with a history of strokes and epilepsy, collapsed outside her assisted care home. Earlier that day, she had taken a “Ride to Care” medical transport vehicle, operated by Health Share of Oregon, to and from her doctor.
In a statement, Health Share said the driver dropped off Maddox outside a neighbor’s home, about 50 feet from her assisted care home, after Maddox requested it from her driver. Health Share said, according to the driver, Maddox walked east, right past her assisted living home.
Maddox’s mother is not sure where her daughter went, but she does know she didn't return for nearly two hours.
A neighbor's ring camera recorded Maddox walking off and returning to view.
Neighbors discovered Maddox suffering from hyperthermia, which is over-heating, on the sidewalk and called 911. Her mother was able to make it to Portland from Las Vegas before Maddox died in the hospital.
Maddox's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Ride to Care service, accusing it of negligence.
In October, a Multnomah County court approved a settlement amounting to approximately $375,000 after debts are settled. Her mother said the money doesn’t bring back Maddox.
“She was perfectly fine when she went to her doctor’s appointment, and then when she came back, it was big lies told. It was ‘nowhere to park,’ it was ‘curb pickup and curb drop off,’” said Hollins, referring to reasons she was told for the driver not walking her daughter back to the care facility.
County and state investigations found the evidence inconclusive on whether someone was legally required to make sure Maddox got safely inside her assisted care home.
According to court documents, Maddox was warned not to go to the doctor in the heat and misled her caretaker on her expected return time to go shopping after the appointment.
Hollins said no matter where Maddox walked that day, she needed someone to watch over her.
“I love you so much, Ashlyn,” Hollins said over Maddox’s grave Monday. “I will for sure see you and Mama on the other side.”