At 1 am, my family’s life changed forever. We woke to a fire that quickly engulfed our home. My elderly parents and one of our dogs made it out safely, but I suffered burns and smoke inhalation trying to save our second dog. Sadly, we lost her, and her cremains were found a day later. In less than ten minutes, everything we knew was gone.

Now, we’re facing the challenge of starting over. We need to replace essentials for my parents, myself, and our surviving dog, and help my parents get settled into temporary housing with what they need. The loss is overwhelming, but we’re grateful to be together and safe.

I’m not someone who accepts help easily, and I would usually try to plug through on my own. But so many people have asked, 'What can I do?'—and I realized this fundraiser is a way for those who want to help to truly make a difference. Your support will help us rebuild and find our new normal. Thank you for caring about our family.