Dear friends and family, my name is Wendy Gutierrez, and our hearts are shattered as we try to process a tragedy that changed our lives in an instant. An explosion in our neighbor’s apartment caused a fire that rapidly spread to our home. In the midst of panic, smoke, and fear, my husband and I ran with our five children, along with my sister, Leslie, unsure if we would make it out. By God’s mercy, everyone in our apartment survived.

I want to clarify that our family did not live in the apartment where the main tragedy occurred. We were in the directly connected unit, which was also engulfed by the fire. In the neighboring apartment, a 13 year old child and his older brother tragically lost their lives. Our own apartment caught fire as well, and we lost nearly everything we owned.

We had lived in this apartment for over 10 years, it was not just a place we stayed, but the home where we raised our children, built memories, and felt safe. In a matter of moments, our home, our safe place, and everything we worked so hard for was gone.

I am a mother of five, and have a son that who depends on ongoing medication for asthma and epilepsy. Right now, our greatest fears are finding a safe place to live and making sure our children’s basic and medical needs are met.

The emotional weight of this loss is overwhelming. While we are deeply grateful to be alive, authorities have told us there is little to no chance of salvaging anything from our home. This means we have lost clothing, furniture, school items, important documents, and the everyday belongings that make a house a home.

Any funds raised will help us secure housing, replace basic necessities, and medication. Asking for help is incredibly difficult, but any support, whether through a donation or simply sharing our story, means more than words can express.

Thank you for your love, prayers, and compassion during this heartbreaking time. We are holding onto faith and hope that, with your help, we can begin to rebuild our lives.