Help Alyssa & Her Babies Find Their Way Home

Hello, I'm Charisse, writing on behalf of my sister, Alyssa DeCalongne. I'm here rallying support for Alyssa, who as we speak is fighting through unimaginable pain to be reunited with her children due to severe burn injuries.

Lucky to Be Alive

Three days after her 40th birthday, Alyssa's former domestic partner scalded her with boiling water as she lay sleeping in bed. The doctors estimate about 40% of her body has second and third degree burns, the worst being on her arms, breasts, and back.

Immediately afterward, her children, Jack, 11, and Yuna, 10, were taken from the family home. Despite the fast response by Denham Springs police, the kids were involved in a 75 MPH car crash about an hour later. Both Jack and Yuna were ejected from the vehicle before it went up in flames. They are blessed to be alive although they needed immediate surgeries to repair broken bones.

On the contrary Alyssa will be in the Burn ICU for an estimated 6 weeks. Her life will never be the same according to surgeons. She is 3 surgeries in and will require more, not to mention many weeks of physical therapy in hopes she will not lose mobility in her arms. I wish I could say modern medicine is making her comfortable; there has been so much damage to her nerves that the strongest IV medication available barely takes the edge off. Day and night she is holding on, many times shaking in pain. It is heartbreaking to see such a kind, loving soul in this condition. Alyssa is an incredible friend, mother, and human. She needs to know that she is not standing alone in this fight.

So I am asking anyone who is capable of giving something to do so. Help Alyssa see that she matters, that victims matter. An act of kindness, some contribution, will make a difference and relieve her anxiety about how she will get back on her feet to take care of her babies.

How Donations Will Be Used

Your donation will be used for day-to-day expenses like rent, electricity, food, and also to help pay for out of pocket medical expenses, co-pays, etc. Her burn surgeries are estimated to exceed $200,000 and we still don’t know her financial responsibility for treatment.

Alyssa is now the sole breadwinner of her family. She will be out of work for at least 3 months. Our goal is that she can focus on getting better and improving her family's mental and physical health, not money, so every dollar collected truly counts.

Donations will also help us make sure that Alyssa's daughter Yuna gets proper care once she is discharged from the hospital. Yuna's left femur was shattered in the accident, the tendon in her right leg was lacerated, and she has diffuse axonal brain injury. As of 10/10/2023, she cannot walk and is at Children's Hospital of New Orleans in rehab trying to find her way home, too.

One Day Can Change Everything

Sometimes it takes the help of a community to come forward to support a common goal. In one day my family's life was completely changed, however I have faith that this fundraiser will find its way in front of our giving friends and colleagues. With the right help Alyssa will see that she is among a caring village, that even though her days are long and difficult, she WILL overcome this trial. One day soon she will hold her children in her arms again, the start of a new chapter. We sincerely thank you in advance for helping us rebound and rebuild.

Sincerely,

The DeCalongne/Moody Family