Frida's Family Fire Fundraiser
Donation protected
I've never felt so helpless being so far away from my family. I live in Salt Lake City, more than 1,500 miles from my home in Detroit (Livonia), Michigan. This morning I got a call from home that put me in tears. My mother's condo went up in flames overnight while my little brother Ricardo was home alone. Ricardo mistakenly left the gas stove on when he went to bed. By the grace of our almighty God, he woke up to get a drink of water around 5 a.m. and smelled smoke. He went downstairs to see the entire kitchen in flames. He frantically grabbed his phone and ran outside to call the 911. Thankfully firefighters were there fast and were able to get there in time to get his two dogs, Titan and Axle , out of the house. This all happened while my mother was at work, working yet another overtime shift at the DTW airport for TSA to provide for her family as a single-mother. My mom dropped everything and rushed home, grateful above all her family was safe, but heartbroken to see her home she worked so hard to build was ruined by smoke and flames. "In the end it's just stuff, stuff can be replaced -- lives cannot," My mom told me over the phone this morning. I truly believe the Lord was watching over my family when this happened. I can't begin to let my mind drift into the negative "what if's." My brother is grateful to be alive and happy his dogs are too.
During my tear-filled conversation with my Mother this morning, I felt so helpless. I know I can't be there to help her pick up the smoke-filled pieces, to give her or my brother a hug and tell them how much I love them, or kiss them and tell them I'm glad they're alive. If you don't know my mother, let me tell you what kind of woman she is. During my conversation with her this morning, as I was asking her, "What can I do?" over and over, she changed the subject. She wanted to know how my day was going. She didn't seem to care that all of her belongings were charred, or her family home was ruined. THIS IS MY MOTHER. She's never selfish. She's always thinking about others. As a matter of fact, I don't think she has ever put herself first her entire life. She lives to serve those she loves. Even in a time where she needs help the most, she would never let her troubles burden me or anyone else. She's not asking for this financial help, I am asking for her. Other than pray, it's all I know how to do from so far away.
My mother and brother are currently staying with my mom's sister, my aunt Basima. If you know my aunt and her current situation - that means she has a full house. My aunt Basima not only takes care of my frail, aging grandmother and her two grandchildren, one of whom has extreme special needs and needs round-the-clock care - but now she has my mother, brother and two dogs she, without hesitation, welcomed into her already packed home in a time of crisis. This fundraiser is also for my aunt Basima, to help her out while my family stays at her home.
My mother doesn't yet know the extent of the damage, she's awaiting her homeowners insurance adjustors to tell her that. But anything, even if it's $1, you can donate to help my family would mean so much to me, and to them. I feel like this is the only tangible way I can help right now since I'm so far. I know this could have been much worse, I'm eternally grateful to God that it wasn't. It really puts things into perpective, just how vauleable life is. I ask that if a donation isn't feasible for you or your family right now, prayers are more than enough. I thank you all in advance for your support during this time. I also ask that you hug your loves ones, and tell them you love them while you can.
Proverbs 3:5 - 3:6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Thank you,
Nicole Vowell
Frida's daughter, Ricardo's big sister, Jesus' follower
During my tear-filled conversation with my Mother this morning, I felt so helpless. I know I can't be there to help her pick up the smoke-filled pieces, to give her or my brother a hug and tell them how much I love them, or kiss them and tell them I'm glad they're alive. If you don't know my mother, let me tell you what kind of woman she is. During my conversation with her this morning, as I was asking her, "What can I do?" over and over, she changed the subject. She wanted to know how my day was going. She didn't seem to care that all of her belongings were charred, or her family home was ruined. THIS IS MY MOTHER. She's never selfish. She's always thinking about others. As a matter of fact, I don't think she has ever put herself first her entire life. She lives to serve those she loves. Even in a time where she needs help the most, she would never let her troubles burden me or anyone else. She's not asking for this financial help, I am asking for her. Other than pray, it's all I know how to do from so far away.
My mother and brother are currently staying with my mom's sister, my aunt Basima. If you know my aunt and her current situation - that means she has a full house. My aunt Basima not only takes care of my frail, aging grandmother and her two grandchildren, one of whom has extreme special needs and needs round-the-clock care - but now she has my mother, brother and two dogs she, without hesitation, welcomed into her already packed home in a time of crisis. This fundraiser is also for my aunt Basima, to help her out while my family stays at her home.
My mother doesn't yet know the extent of the damage, she's awaiting her homeowners insurance adjustors to tell her that. But anything, even if it's $1, you can donate to help my family would mean so much to me, and to them. I feel like this is the only tangible way I can help right now since I'm so far. I know this could have been much worse, I'm eternally grateful to God that it wasn't. It really puts things into perpective, just how vauleable life is. I ask that if a donation isn't feasible for you or your family right now, prayers are more than enough. I thank you all in advance for your support during this time. I also ask that you hug your loves ones, and tell them you love them while you can.
Proverbs 3:5 - 3:6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Thank you,
Nicole Vowell
Frida's daughter, Ricardo's big sister, Jesus' follower
Organizer and beneficiary
Nicole Vowell
Organizer
Livonia, MI
Frida Barron
Beneficiary