Dear friends, family, and caring humans,

Candy, Daz, and our fur baby, Myla, here. First, thank you for the loving social media messages, phone calls, and text messages. Your care has meant more to us than we can say.

We’re here to humbly ask for help after something we never expected to happen — happened. I’m still in disbelief, but I’m working hard to ground myself in gratitude that we are still here, safe and warm. Many others are not.

During the recent Nashville ice storm, we lost power on Sunday, January 25. We made it through one night without electricity and, by Monday afternoon, decided to pack ourselves into my mom’s one-bedroom apartment about 15 minutes away.

On Wednesday, January 28, I returned home to grab medications and extra clothes. When I opened the front door, water was gushing into our dining room. A neighbor helped shut off the main water valve, but the damage had already been done.

According to the fire squad, a pipe connected to the water heater in the attic ruptured, and ice buildup on the roof had also begun leaking into the attic. The ceilings in both the dining room and living room collapsed. Standing water covered the hardwood floors throughout the house and ran down the walls.

Thankfully, we were able to recover our work electronics, which were elevated and located in the farthest areas from the water damage. We grabbed what we could and checked into a hotel that same day, where we are still staying now.

As many of you know, Myla is 14 years old and both blind and deaf. Daz (the calm one in our relationship) has been incredible at keeping her steady, and Myla continues to show us so much courage — especially as she bravely navigates elevator rides for frequent potty breaks. We expect to remain here for at least another week while we try to secure a short-term housing option (a home rather than continuing in the hotel).

We’ve been renting our home for 7.5 years. We love our house and our landlord. Our fur baby Bella passed away in this home, and we always hoped that — when the time comes — Myla would pass here too. We intended to stay as long as possible. Now, we simply don’t know what comes next.

We are currently covering what we can out of pocket — the hotel, a passenger van to move salvageable items into storage, food, and cleaning supplies — while also working with our renter’s insurance to cover damaged personal property. Our most urgent concern is finding a new place to live while repairs are assessed and scheduled.

At this point, timelines are unclear. The homeowner’s insurance adjuster cannot visit until February 7, and we cannot begin moving larger items until power is restored, which is currently estimated for February 8.

What We’re Raising Funds For:

Emergency Housing & Living Costs — $7650 total

• Emergency Hotel Stay

$198/day × 12 days (starting 1/28/26): $2,376

• Car Rental (Passenger Van)

Needed for transportation and to immediately move items from the house

• Jan 28 – Feb 2: $416

• Additional week: $538

• Moving Van

2-day rental + mileage + fees: $295

• Storage Unit

$175/month × 3 months: $525

• New Home Costs (Estimate)

Security deposit (we will have the first month's rent): $3500

Total Goal: $7650

These funds will help us stay housed, keep our belongings safe, and secure a new place to live while we rebuild and recover.

We’re doing everything we can to handle this responsibly and thoughtfully, but sudden displacement is expensive, exhausting (I feel like I’m managing a work project), and emotionally overwhelming (I cry twice a day). Any support — whether donating, sharing, or simply checking in — truly means more than we can express.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for being part of our cypher during a really, really difficult moment. We are deeply grateful for every bit of kindness and support, and we promise we will pay every ounce of support, prayer, and positive thoughts forward.

With love and appreciation,

Candy, Daz & Myla