Help My Family and Me Recover from a House Fire

We never think we are going to have to make GoFundMe's for ourselves, or at least I didn't think so, but here I am. I am Caillie, and my mother and I just lost our home and everything we own to a House Fire.

On Thursday November 9th, around 12AM, I was in bed unwinding and getting ready to go to sleep when the smoke detector went off in my hallway. At first I didn’t think much of it other than it needing a battery change. My mother lives on her own side of the house, but was also awoken by the sound of the smoke detector ringing throughout our Home. I opened the door to my bedroom expecting to just turn it off and go to sleep, but I smelled something burning. I saw faint light gray smoke hugging the ceiling and that's when I knew something was wrong. My mother and I quickly searched the area and discovered it was coming from my Studio. The door was cracked open and this light gray smoke was pouring out. I could barely see through it and it swiftly went from light gray to dark gray in seconds. I closed the door trying to contain it, called 911, grabbed a shirt, grabbed my cat (my 18 year old diabetic fur baby) and we escaped. I was injured while escaping and ended up having to go to the ER a day later for oxygen and assessment of my injury.

I watched from the outside as my recording studio and everything I worked so hard for over the years turn to embers. My guitars, pianos, microphones, recording equipment, my MacBook, all of my songbooks of finished and unfinished songs I had written and/or been working on, drums, etc. It left me with heavy heart, and a feeling of hopelessness.

In addition my bedroom stood on the other side of the wall from my studio which is now ash.

Some of you may know, I am a musician. I make a good portion of my living performing, recording and writing music. Given that the fire roared through my studio, I lost everything I own related to music. Not only that, I lost EVERYTHING in my bedroom being that it was located on the other side of my studio, hallway, and closets including: clothes, furniture, bruin's jerseys, patriot’s jerseys, my vinyl record player, my vinyl collection, awards from over the years, snowboarding gear, and much more.

Another thing about me, I have and always been a big supporter of Taylor Swift. She was my first concert and inspired me to follow my dream as a singer/songwriter and a musical artist. Due to the fire I lost ALL of the tour t-shirt’s from each of her tours I attended, the ticket stubs, the guitar pick Taylor Swift’s mother gave me at Gillette Stadium, the few bucks Taylor’s lead guitarist Paul Sidoti gave me while I was busking before her 1989 Tour, and my RED inspired T-shirt which was one of my most sentimental items my aunt (my hero) had given to me before she died. It was the only thing I had left of her.

My family and I are devastated yet extremely grateful to be alive, given such a close call. We are still processing what happened, and are figuring out next steps as we put the pieces back together. We appreciate all the love and support during this time.

The above photos are an accurate representation of what is left of my Home.

If you are in a place where you are capable of making a donation, big or small, we appreciate your generosity and support.

Thank you,

Caillie Hughes

@imcaillie