If you have read about the Dapper Barber Shop in Davison having a total fire loss, early Friday Morning 3-13-26, my Daughter Adriauna and I are the two girls who made it out at the last minute, from the house that is both connected and directly over top of the Barber Shop. Although, the house thankfully did not catch fire, all of the toxic smoke and black soot, was trapped inside of our home and still is. If Adriauna wouldn’t have been awake with her bedroom door open, to wake me up and get us out, we could’ve been trapped upstairs in our bedrooms. I ran back inside and upstairs to try finding our cats who were hiding until I realized the smoke I was inhaling was going to make me pass out. We both were blowing the black soot out of our noses for two days. Every breath felt like my chest was being crushed and throat was bleeding. We’re better today but, I still can’t sleep much or stop choking/coughing when I’m laying down. It was torture watching the Barber Shop engulfed in flames from across the street, waiting for the Firetrucks and thinking about our cats being trapped. I left the door closed because, I didn’t want any oxygen feeding the fire and the house blowing up. But, I was tormenting myself, not knowing if I did the best thing or not. Our cats were both found, hours later and are okay! We’re all alive!

Every last single thing in our home is covered in black powdery, sticky, oily soot and absolutely reeks. It doesn’t matter if it was in a cupboard or dresser drawer. It was forced inside of everything. And, we ran out in our pajamas, barefoot and without coats. Our renter’s insurance will only reimburse us after we show receipts for the things we’ve replaced. So, no immediate emergency funds, no funds for shelter or necessities, nothing! The house has been airing out since, the fire. We’ve been staying in hotel rooms, which we cannot keep affording.

There is no good timing for anyone, when these things happen but, we have already been seriously struggling with nonstop chronic illnesses and endless medical conditions since, the beginning of the pandemic. I couldn’t possibly even explain, how much more pressure and chaos this has created. We aren’t even sure, due to the high risk of our medical conditions, if we would ever be able to safely live in the house again, after clean up is completed. I know there are many people struggling right now, absolutely anything will help lighten this massive load so, we can work through this. If you made it through all of these words, thank you!