On the night of January 5th, 2026, our family was awakened from a deep sleep to discover that our home was on fire. The flames began outside near our front porch and, within minutes, reached up and shattered the glass of our front door, allowing the fire to enter our dining room and travel upward toward the attic. I immediately grabbed the children and ran to safety as our home quickly filled with thick smoke and ash. Meanwhile, Michael bravely worked to contain the fire—first with pots of water and then by running through the burning doorway to grab the garden hose. Emergency services arrived after we called our home security team, and by the time the fire trucks arrived, Michael had managed to extinguish the flames.

This has been an absolutely devastating event for our family. While the most visible damage is at the main entrance, inspectors have informed us that it will take 3–6 months of work before our home is livable again. Most of our belongings are now covered in soot and smell strongly of smoke and burned plastic. Many items will need to be discarded, including furniture, mattresses, our children’s stuffed animals and Christmas gifts, and thousands of dollars’ worth of beloved plants. Though we will do our best to save what we can, much of this has already been deemed a total loss by our insurance company. Unfortunately, the renter’s claim we will receive is far less than what will be needed. Deep cleaning, temporary housing, and food expenses will quickly exceed that amount. As a result, we are currently displaced.

Our insurance company has helped secure a temporary stay at a local hotel with two bedrooms, a living area, and a kitchen, where our cats, Ahava and Denali, can stay with us while we search for a longer-term solution. We are deeply grateful for any support you can offer. Your kindness and generosity mean the world to us as we work to rebuild and recover from this tragedy.