Our Home. Our Hero. Our Road Back. On Friday, April 10, 2026, my son Zachary's 11th birthday, our lives changed in seconds. Zachary and my husband were outside when Zachary saw flames through the sunroom window. He didn't freeze. He ran inside, yelling for everyone to get out. My daughter Zoe and I were in rooms right next to the fire. We had no idea. Because of Zachary's quick thinking, we all made it out safely. He's 11 years old, and he saved us. 
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 The fire stayed in one room, but the smoke didn't. It moved through every corner of our home. Every closet, every drawer, every surface. We've been told we can't live there for 6 to 8 months. There's no guarantee we'll be home by Christmas. Right now, we're in a hotel. We're searching for a rental that can hold us through this. We're inventorying everything we own. Furniture destroyed, clothes ruined, my handbag gone, electronics lost. We're starting over. 
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 We need help with temporary housing, deposits, rental furniture, and the basics we didn't realize we'd lost until we reached for them. Clothes, shoes, toiletries. Our kids have a few stuffed animals left. We're doing everything we can to help them heal. We never imagined being here. We're taking it day by day. Your kindness, your gifts, your support, no matter the size, means more than we can put into words. Thank you for helping us rebuild, one step at a time, because of our village and the people now walking into our lives.

Melissa Valadez

Still Standing: Help Our Family Rebuild After the Fire

Still $2,500 to go. Help us build momentum.