EVERYTHING HAPPENED SO QUICKLY: One day I noticed a hairline crack in the ceiling. Within a few days I had a contractor out to evaluate the problem ... the crack was a bit bigger by then.  The next day the crack had clearly expanded. I spoke with the contractor, approved his estimate, and we scheduled to start work right away. With a plan in place things seemed like they work work out fine. Twenty minutes after getting off the phone with the contractor everything fell apart ... Literally. There was a popping noise ... then another. We thought it was possible a small section of the plaster would break off. I moved to a corner of the kitchen - what felt like a safe distance - and began to record the affected section of ceiling. Over the course of about 30 seconds the ceiling continued to "pop" and all at once broke in half and collapsed above me. I ran ... I screamed ... and by the grace of God barely escaped hundreds of pounds of plaster coming down around me. WHY? To date we've yet to determine the exact cause of why the ceiling  cracked where it did and why it happened so quickly. Possibilities include any combination of expansion from heat & cold, improper workmanship when the room was opened up years ago, improper original construction to part of the home, excessive weight from too much plaster, or any number of unknowns. In the end my homeowner's insurance has determined it WILL NOT cover the loss.  WHAT NOW? Currently we (myself, three kids, and our German shepherd) are sharing our basement since the main level of the home is unsafe. We are incredibly grateful to our close friends who have reached out to help with meals and other items we have needed to get through the first week.  Due to the collapse the damages to the home and personal property are extensive. The other half of the ceiling that remained is showing signs that it too will soon collapse. The new scope of work to make the house habitable and safe is vastly more involved than the original plan, now including  electrical, HVAC, insulation, and framing repairs. We have resigned ourselves to the fact that we will likely not be able to afford repairing cosmetic damage to some areas such as counters, appliances, the flooring or replacing personal items that were not salvageable. Our main goal now is to have a safe home again.  HOW YOU CAN HELP: - DONATE to our campaign. Any amount you are able to donate is helpful and deeply appreciated. - SHARE our campaign so that we may reach more people who might support our efforts to rebuild our home. Share through social media, text, email, or word of mouth. Growing our community is essential to meeting our goal and getting back into our home. - WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT are always appreciated. We are a very close family but staying positive through this  ordeal can be challenging. Knowing we have a supportive community has helped me to remain strong for my children while trying to keep their lives as normal as possible.  - PRAY. Your prayers are very meaningful to us and without a doubt will comfort and aid us in this difficult time.  THANK YOU! Asking for help is hard for anyone. I am humbled by those who have reached out to us asking what they can do to help. Myself and my family are eternally grateful to all of you for your support.