Auburn burn victim making steady progress

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BY JOE DUGGAN / Lincoln Journal Star

Gene Hammer didn’t get to mourn his wife when she died in February in an Auburn apartment fire.

The 45-year-old was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life.

With help from Lincoln medical professionals and support from family, Hammer continues to make strides in his recovery.

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The scene of a fatal Auburn fire Feb. 21 is taped off as the fire marshal's office investigates. (LJS file)

The scene of a fatal Auburn fire Feb. 21 is taped off as the fire marshal's office investigates. (LJS file)

He suffered third-degree burns over 35 percent of his body and was unconscious for two weeks at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln.

The Feb. 21 fire took the life of his 45-year-old wife, Shawnee Hammer.

Last week, Hammer left the burn unit for Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, where he started physical therapy, said his daughter, Amanda Hammer of Auburn.

“He’s got high spirits. He’s had a positive attitude,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s had his rough days, but it’s not going to get you anywhere thinking negative.”

The fire at South Glen apartments destroyed an eight-unit building and displaced 10 people who lived there.

Early on, fire investigators believed the fire was related to cigarette smoking in the Hammer apartment.

But the final Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s report listed the cause as undetermined, said Randy Bennett, chief of the Auburn Volunteer Fire Department.

Amanda Hammer said her father remembered very little about the fire, but he thought perhaps a TV or laptop computer might have been to blame.

Shawnee Hammer died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by smoke inhalation, according to autopsy findings.

Hammer spent nine weeks at St. Elizabeth, where he underwent about 10 surgeries, many of them skin-grafting procedures, his daughter said. The worst burns were to his hands, arms, back and face. It’s possible he won’t regain full use of his left hand and arm.

Hammer worked for 21 years at the Auburn Consolidated Industries plant, rising to supervisor of the shipping department. He was laid off when the plant closed last fall but hoped to get hired on by the new owner, Ariens Company.

In the meantime, he worked odd jobs, which gave him time to help his ailing wife. Shawnee Hammer suffered from COPD, a lung disease that most often combines emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

The couple married in 2004. He has three adult children from a previous marriage and his late wife also had three grown children from her first marriage.

The couple’s toy poodle, Cookie, also died in the fire.

Gene Hammer did not have health insurance, so most of his medical expenses will be paid by Medicaid. But the federal health care program doesn’t cover other related expenses, and Hammer will likely have to stay in Lincoln for an extended period to undergo outpatient treatment, his daughter said.

She described her father as good-natured with an ornery streak. He enjoys people, is fun to be around and always is willing to lend a hand.

“He’s an awesome guy,” she said. “He tries to help anyone.”

Amanda, 22, and her brothers, Justin, 26, and Bobby, 18, have all spent as much time as possible in Lincoln at their father’s side.

She said he’s received lots of cards and well-wishes from friends, which he’s appreciated. He’s also thankful for the kindness of strangers who gave to a relief fund to help people displaced by the fire.

The fund received about $4,000 in contributions, said the Rev. John Henderson, a Methodist pastor and member of the Nemaha County Ministerial Association. The group distributed the money to the displaced residents.

Area churches, relief agencies and students at Peru State College also held drives for furniture, clothing and household items. Those efforts helped displaced residents make a fresh start in different housing, he said.

“It went really good,” Henderson said. “Everyone who lost stuff got more stuff and better stuff than they lost.”

He wasn’t sure how many of the residents stayed in town, but believes a couple of them have left.

The owner of the apartment building, Dan Kubr of Lincoln, has already started constructing a new eight-unit building where the former one stood, said Glen Hogue, Auburn’s building inspector.

“They’ve already got the first-floor rough-in done,” he said.

Reach Joe Duggan at 473-7239 or jduggan@journalstar.com.