Help our family and families in Fort Myers Beach

My family has lived in Fort Myers Beach since 08/2021 Prior we lived most of our lives in Ohio.

Its so hard to find the right words to put in this description because all I want to do is scream and yell and ask why my family and all the other families in South West Florida had to go through this.

I’ve decided the best way to do it is to put things I was posting on social media etc while the hurricane destroyed our entire community.

When we were rescued; we walked out of our home with nothing more than the clothes we were wearing. We sat in surge water, sewage, dirt and all of our belongings up to our collar bone for hours and hours.

“When the water was rising to our collar bones I came to terms with the end. My boys in Ohio were on the phone with my husband and hysterically crying. I told everyone I loved them and it was going to be ok. I told them I was at peace with our end. I also called 911 but I didn’t call for help. I knew it wasn’t available. I told the dispatcher Derrick all I wanted from him was a couple minutes of conversation that I knew we were going to die. I wish I could thank him for talking to me. “

“When the hurricane had passed, later that night, we laid down on a completely soaked bed and fell asleep. I pray no one ever had to go through that.”

“When the water finally started receding I’ll be honest… I thought we had died and it was receding into the after life. I really couldn’t believe it. Sitting here right now while typing this, I still don’t believe it. There are thousands of people just like us that have lost literally everything (some even their lives) but the shirt on their backs. My heart goes out to every single person effected by this. The amount of people that have lost their lives is uncountable right now. I will make it my mission to find out who as many as possible were. I won’t forget them. Even if it’s just writing their name in a journal so they aren’t forgotten.”

We have absolutely nothing left but we have our lives. For that I will find ways to pay it forward for the rest of my life. I now have started the day with a simple thank you to God for letting me wake up another day.

My husband is living in Walmart parking lot for now. He is our only source of income and we’ll never recover without him working.

My youngest son and I are in Ohio with my oldest son. I miss my husband more than words can say. We’ve been married 27 years and are never apart.

One year ago my family was homeless. We worked hard for seven months and crawled out of that. We had a beautiful home to rent 2 miles from Fort Myers Beach. We were rebuilding and it felt amazing. In less than 12 hours all of that was taken from us and we are homeless again.

Our history shows we will find a way and rebuild. With all my new family; I know I have an emotional support system I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Thank you everyone and from me and my family.. we LOVE you.