Help Christina, John, and Landyn Recover After a Devastating Lightning Strike

On Saturday, August 22, Christina, John, and their 4-year-old son, Landyn, were out to dinner when they received a call from their neighbor telling them that lightning had struck a large tree near their home and that the tree had come crashing down onto their trailer.

They immediately headed home, not knowing exactly what they were about to find.

A large tree had been violently split by the lightning strike, with a significant portion coming down across their home. The impact caused substantial damage to the trailer, including a broken bathroom window, damage to the exterior door for their water heater, and damage to the roof. While assessing the damage, they also discovered rotting in part of the roof that will need to be addressed as the repairs are made

The pictures show just how significant the damage is. A massive amount of tree came down across and around the home, leaving the family facing extensive cleanup, roof repairs, and potentially additional structural repairs as the full extent of the damage is determined.

Thankfully, Christina, John, and Landyn were not home when the tree came down. They had been out to dinner when their neighbor called them. Their pets were home at the time, but thankfully none of them were injured.

That same night, friends and family immediately came together to help. A group of us went over and worked until after dark, removing the fallen tree from the trailer and doing everything we could to protect the home from further damage. We were able to get the tree off the home and cover the damaged roof and broken window with tarps before leaving for the night.

It wasn't a permanent repair, but it gave the family some protection while they figure out what comes next.

Unfortunately, the family does not have insurance coverage for their trailer. Because of the age of the home, they had been unable to find an insurance company willing to provide coverage. This means they are facing the cost of these unexpected repairs without an insurance policy to help cover the damage.

Christina and John are doing everything they can to keep their family safe and remain in their home while they figure out exactly what needs to be repaired. Depending on the extent of the damage, they may also face temporary housing, storage, and other unexpected expenses while the work is completed.

Landyn is autistic, and the stability and familiarity of his home are especially important to him and his family. The uncertainty surrounding their home adds another challenge as they try to navigate everything that has happened so suddenly.

I am starting this fundraiser because Christina and John are personal friends of mine. I've also seen firsthand how quickly their friends and family came together when they needed help. The night this happened, nobody stood around waiting to see what would happen—we came together, worked until after dark, and did everything we could to protect their home.

Now we're hoping to extend that same support a little further.

We are setting a goal of $20,000 to help with the expenses associated with getting Christina, John, and Landyn and their home back on their feet, including:

Tree removal and cleanup

Roof repairs or replacement

Repairing damage caused by the fallen tree

Replacing the broken bathroom window

Repairing or replacing the damaged exterior door

Addressing damaged or rotting portions of the roof and underlying materials

Any additional damage discovered during the repair process

Temporary housing or storage if needed

Other unexpected expenses directly related to this incident

We don't yet know the final cost of the repairs, and the full extent of the damage is still being determined. The goal of this fundraiser is to give Christina, John, and Landyn some financial breathing room while they work through the repairs and figure out what comes next.

Any amount you can contribute will help. If you're unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser with your friends, family, coworkers, and community can make just as much of a difference.

Christina, John, Landyn, and their pets were incredibly fortunate that no one was physically injured when the tree came down. And while the damage to their home is overwhelming, they've already been reminded that they don't have to face it completely alone.

Their friends and family showed up that night. Now we're asking the community to show up for them too.

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read their story, donate, or share this fundraiser. Every bit of support means more than you know.