On October 11th at approximately 2:30 pm, my family received the most devastating call: my mother's home was on fire. In the home were our family pets, all of my mom and brother's belongings, and a multitude of family belongings from our childhood. Luckily for us, no one was home. Unfortunately, all of our family pets were lost.

Upon entering the home, we discovered how bad things truly were. Everything is covered in smoke, if not burned. The home is missing an entire wall. My mom had been living in the home for over 7 years; we had lived the later years of our childhood there. All of that is covered in ash now. So much is ruined, but there's so much that's salvageable. We'll be spending weeks, if not months, trying to clean everything that can be saved. This will be costly as we must buy the supplies, and the cost of doing all the laundry will be large.

That's not even including that, unfortunately, my mom and brother have lost their home. It may take up to a year, if not longer—6 months at a minimum—until the home may be livable again. My mom raised me my whole life, was a single mom for most of it. Even as an adult with my own kids, my mom has done nothing but be giving. Even though we're all adults, my mom would do anything for her kids. My mom is such a giving person. She didn't deserve this; no one does.

I don't know how to help, but I am trying to do what I can. It's the least I can do to help someone who has done so much that I could never repay. I may never be able to replace the memories, some of the items, and our lost fur family members, but I want to try and help where I am able to in the ways I can. Thank you.