On November 22, 2025, my life changed in an instant. I was living in an income-based apartment for people with disabilities on the 5th floor, and my boyfriend lived on the 7th floor, though he spent most of his time with me. My little Maltese dog and my pet leopard gecko were always by my side. That afternoon, as I was getting my dog ready for the day, a sudden explosion shook the building. The force was so strong that it sent me flying in my wheelchair, and the ceiling fan crashed down on my head. Cabinets burst open, food and belongings scattered everywhere, and my air conditioning unit was ripped out of the wall, leaving a gaping hole. It felt like an earthquake, but it was a gas line explosion—right in my building, and I was at ground zero.

My boyfriend, who was watching football with a friend, rushed to my side as soon as he heard. Despite being told he couldn’t come up, he insisted and came to rescue me and our pets. Together, we made our way down five flights of stairs, since the elevators were already flooded. The fire department later told us that my apartment was so badly damaged, only they could enter. I lost everything but the clothes on my back—for the second time in five years. My dog lost his clothes and his little dog house, and my gecko lost her home and all her supplies. My boyfriend and I, along with our pets, have to start over from nothing.

We are in desperate need of help to rebuild our lives. Donations will help us get basic clothing, winter jackets, shoes, and hygiene products. We need a safe place to live, furniture, and a vehicle to get around. Our pets are currently with family, and we hope to bring them home soon with the supplies they need. We’re also hoping to cover first and last month’s rent so we can have a place of our own again. Any support you can give means the world to us as we try to recover from this disaster.