Aiding Our Family After Storm Damage

On Monday March 3rd major structural damage was caused to my family’s and I, Mobile home. Due to the pocket of powerful high mph+ winds in our area, HILLSBORO, Tx. All the sheet metals were torn and blown down. This was expected as they were already very old and damaged but were still in a decent condition to have before this.

All this began around 2 a.m. This terrible and very frightening sound woke up everyone in the home, including, my younger sister (11 yrs old) and my daughter (4yrs old). My dad immediately went outside and noticed a big branch broke off our tree and landed on top of our vehicle. He then noticed the roof of our mobile home was gone. He quickly called my uncles to help him try to save the rest of the metal sheets that were broken and bent, but were able to be nailed back down. He wanted to prevent further damage as he panicked and thought what would we do if it were to completely fly away. As soon as they all fixed it, another gust came by but this time accompanied by rain and snatched it off as easily as if it were a piece of paper. At this time it was worse, as it caused a hole in our living room and in my room.

Water was every where inside our living room and inside my room. My bed was soaking wet. We immediately looked for buckets to place them right where the leaks were.

I could notice the sadness in my father’s and mother’s eyes as they saw all of us freaked out and the babies crying and panicking because of the strong winds. He then waited for the winds to calm a bit down and climbed up and with the help of my uncles strapped down the metal sheets after nailing it on again.

Although we knew our house was old and not luxurious at all, we were thankful to have a roof. Where we stayed warm and safe but most importantly HAPPY as a family because we were all together.

This is a very being toll on my family as we were already struggling with several difficulties. As many of you may know, my mother had breast cancer in 2018. After undergoing a double mastectomy and several rounds of chemo, we are all blessed she is here with us. However, she is still dealing with all of the side effects of all the treatments she underwent along with having to deal with the difficulties of DM2. Her condition making her unable to currently work.

My father had a full time job that he had to leave as he is currently sick and struggling with an ongoing headache that is still currently not diagnosed as to what it could be. Along with this headache he presents all over weakness. He doesn’t let this stop him as he knows somehow he has to still provide for his family as he has always done so. He works small jobs that our offered by neighbors and friends doing yard work/ranch maintenance work. Although some days are long for him, we all know these kinds of jobs do not offer the best salary with this economy now a day.

This is where I come in. I am the oldest of 3 sister. I am blessed to be able to have a a job. My checks might not be big enough either, but I am able to also contribute & provide help to my parents with food/ helping them complete the money left needed to pay the total amount for bills. We all put in our cents together and make it work.

Although we have been sad/down all these months because life has been very rough with us on throwing my family all kinds of sickness and struggles, we didn’t have to worry about NOT having a home. Because we did. We were often looked down by many because we lived in an “old mobile home” and often criticized/made fun of because it was the only “old” mobile home in our neighborhood. We didn’t care because despite all that we had dreams that one day life would get better. My sisters and I, had faith, the faith that our mother raised us always with, that one day our dream would come true of knowing what it is like to live in a house. But in the mean time we were going to keep living in what has always been our home. That our parents with many sacrifices provided for us.

Unfortunately, now it’s all broken down & strapped with bands from the roof for the high winds to not blow them away.

My friends have seen me cry of desperation asking what I’m going to do now to help my family. Explaining to them that to be able to obtain the money needed to fix our home, will be a long process and time. I am completely devastated and desperate during these times and they have all shown their support by giving me hope. The same hope that my mother reminds me of daily and that is , that God will never leave our side or leave us alone in this struggle. If HE KNEW we were ALREADY struggling with so many down falls and still chose US to be one of the FEW people TO BE affected by this in our small town, HE KNOWS WHY.

For many people who see us in this condition it’s easy to suggest to “get rid of that old trailer and just get a new house, it’s so old anyway” but if it were only that easy. They don’t know that those comments are no help during these times but instead just push down on our pain, to know that, that dream of having an ACTUAL HOUSE IS just being pushed down even more.

I am not a person to ask for help because I have always felt bad to even ask for anything. But this time it’s not only for me. But for whom I love the most in this world, MY FAMILY.

I come home every day and see my parents faces full of worry and uncertainty. I don’t want them to continue to worry. I want to continue to work hard for them. But I’m the mean time while I do it, our “torn up” house cannot wait because what will we do if this type of weather continues? What are we going to do if it rains soon.

Many people have been asking how they can help. My friends suggested this idea, of creating a GoFund Me account. I explained to them that we do not have much friends/neighbors to support this kind of account. But they continuously support me by giving me hope & explaining to me that I do not lose nothing in trying it out.

From the bottom of my heart and my almighty God knows, that I appreciate any and each of you who donate or send up above a prayer for us. Sometimes life throws everything at once, but I know that with prayer we will overcome this downfall too. Thank you all so much for any donation & any prayer, both will benefit us more than you might/could possibly think!