Weeks after a horrific incident in which a woman attacked an 82-year-old man with a hatchet after entering his home in north Hoquiam, the man’s family is working to help him recuperate and raise money to repair his damaged house.

Gerald Guile, the 82-year-old victim, spent several days in the hospital following the incident Jan. 4. He was treated for seven blows and gashes to the head and his arm, a skull fracture and a broken arm that required a plate insertion, according to his daughter Tammy Darrin.

The woman charged with assault is Alicia Marie Lamb, 29, who is currently awaiting trial. She told police she had consumed mushrooms prior to breaking into two houses, damaging property and attacking Guile. Police say she initially entered a nearby home, but those people were able to get her out of the house without being hurt. Police said she didn’t know any of the people in the two homes.

“The whole thing seems very unreal,” said Darrin. “It’s the type of thing that happens and you read about it online or hear about it and you think, ‘Oh my gosh, how terrible that someone went through that,’ and you feel devastated for them. This has hit way too close to home.”

Now recovering at Darrin’s house, Guile had his numerous stitches and staples removed on Monday, and is recovering slowly. Despite the attack, Darrin said her father hopes to return to his house on Dekay Road eventually, so she is trying to raise funds to repair it. Darrin and her husband started a GoFundMe campaign to pay for fixes, and currently has received $1,700 of the $5,000 in requested donations.

“The outpouring of love and support has been amazing,” said Darrin. “That is one thing I can say that we have been extremely blessed beyond measure.”

The money would go to replacing a sliding glass door Lamb broke through with burglar-proof glass, replacing furniture and items confiscated as evidence, and installing a security system. There’s also a few blood-covered areas that need to be covered over.

“Service Master is replacing the family room carpet and the bedroom carpet due to blood and glass exposure, and we need to paint over the blood on the walls,” said Darrin.

In describing the attack, Darrin said her father got up about 5:30 a.m., and heard a loud crash. He then went into the family room to see the Lamb standing there after breaking through a sliding glass door. According to Darrin, Lamb then said, “I need help, I’m going to kill you.” Guile retreated to his bedroom to retrieve his gun, Darrin said, but didn’t get the bullets inserted in time to defend himself from Lamb who had followed him there.

“He got his gun and checked to make sure the bullet was in there and he didn’t realize she was right behind him,” said Darrin. “The bullet didn’t go into the chamber all the way after he checked it or he would’ve turned and shot her.”

Lamb struck Guile multiple times, and then left the house, possibly because she had thought he was dead, Darrin said.

“He thinks that she thought he was dead and that’s why she left,” said Darrin. “He was somehow able to get up, even though he usually can’t get up if he falls, and he got to the phone to call 911.”

Darrin described her father as someone who is “pretty tough” and could hopefully recover mentally.

She said he’s known as a sweet and kind person to his local friends. “He has a group of long-time friends he’s met for years for coffee at the Aberdeen McDonald’s and he gets around really good for his age,” she said. “He’s very independent.”

Guile moved to Grays Harbor in 1947 from New York, working as a welder at Lamb-Grays Harbor for 31 years from 1965 to 1996. He lived in the house on Dekay Road for 50 years, and Darrin was dismayed that her childhood neighborhood has recently become an area with increased crime and drug usage.

“It’s really sad because it used to be such a safe neighborhood.”

There have been 33 people who have donated on the GoFundMe, which can be found under the page name “Giving Gerald a safe welcome home”.

“It’s his home and even though this tragic thing happened, his heart is there,” said Darrin. “There’s a lot of good memories there and those will outweigh the bad.”