As a mother, there are moments in life that take your breath away. Yesterday was one of those moments.

On August 5, 2026, I received the phone call every parent fears. There had been a fire at the triplex where my daughter, Krysta, and my beautiful nine-year-old granddaughter, Aurora, lived. In an instant, everything they had worked so hard for was gone.

As terrifying as it was, there is one blessing that I will never stop being thankful for, Aurora was not home at the time and Krysta and her furbabies made it out safely. No possession could ever replace them, and for that, our family is incredibly grateful.

But now comes the heartbreaking reality. Sadly, almost everything they owned was lost. Krysta is a single mother who has dedicated her life to giving Aurora the loving, stable home every child deserves. She has always worked hard, sacrificed, and put her daughter first. She has never expected handouts and would never ask for help herself.

Like many families trying to make ends meet, renter's insurance was something Krysta simply had to cut from her budget, and today they are faced with the heartbreaking reality of starting over with almost nothing. Their beds are gone. Their furniture is gone. Their clothes, shoes, toys, school supplies, kitchen items, family photographs, treasured keepsakes; everything that made their house a home has been destroyed.

As Aurora's grandmother, it breaks my heart knowing that she no longer has the little things that brought her comfort each day. The bed where she slept, her favourite toys, all of her stuffed animals and craft supplies. The belongings that made her feel safe. At just nine years old, she is trying to understand how everything she knew disappeared overnight. And as a mother, it is incredibly difficult to watch my daughter carry the weight of trying to be strong for Aurora while facing the overwhelming task of rebuilding their lives from scratch.

I'm creating this fundraiser because they need help. The donations will go directly toward helping Krysta and Aurora:

• Find a safe place to call home.

• Replace beds, furniture, and household essentials.

• Purchase clothing, shoes, toiletries, and everyday necessities.

• Replace Aurora's school supplies and other items she needs to feel like a child again.

• Cover the unexpected expenses that come with losing everything in a fire.

If you know Krysta, you know she is one of the strongest, kindest, and most caring people you could ever meet. She would be the first person to help someone else in need, and now she finds herself in the unimaginable position of needing help herself. Today she and Aurora need the support of the community.

If you are able to donate, no matter the amount, our family will be forever grateful. If donating isn't possible, sharing this fundraiser with your family, friends, and social networks would mean just as much. Every share gives another person the opportunity to help.

I also want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the first responders who courageously responded to the fire, putting themselves in harm's way to ensure everyone made it to safety. We are equally thankful to the Canadian Red Cross for their immediate compassion and assistance during those first overwhelming hours.

To our family, friends, neighbours, and everyone who has reached out with a phone call, message, prayer, or kind word…from the bottom of my heart thank you. You have wrapped our family in love when we needed it most. You have helped my daughter and granddaughter find hope again after such an unimaginable loss. Your support will help remind Krysta and Aurora that even in the darkest moments, they are not alone.

Your compassion will help them rebuild not just a house, but a home.