Help My Mother Restart After the Devastating LA fires

In 2023, my 71-year-old mother, Lorraine Howell and her husband, Mark Nellis, made an incredible leap of faith. Leaving behind a lifetime of memories in England, they moved to Los Angeles to be closer to their daughter, (my sister) Lynette and their three beloved grandchildren, Avery, Atticus and Millie. It was a brave and emotional decision, as they said goodbye to lifelong friends, family, and the familiarity of the home they’d known for decades. They brought with them their cherished possessions—photos, keepsakes, and pieces of their past that made the journey to a new life less daunting.

Their courage was met with challenges, but they embraced this new chapter with open hearts and the hope of building a future surrounded by family.

Then, on January 7, 2025, their world was turned upside down. The wildfires tore through the Pacific Palisades with unrelenting force, fueled by the fierce Santa Ana winds. Their home—the place they had just begun to settle into—was completely destroyed. Everything they had brought with them, every piece of their history and comfort, was reduced to ash.

My mother and her husband are safe, but they’ve lost everything. The transition to life in a new country is hard enough, but to face such a heartbreaking loss so soon after uprooting their lives is almost unbearable.

Now, they’re left with nothing but the clothes they escaped in and the resilience they’ve carried with them throughout this journey. They are starting from scratch—trying to create a homely environment, find a sense of stability, and rebuild their lives.

I am reaching out to ask for your support in helping my mother and her husband recover from this devastating loss. The funds raised will go toward finding them a new place to live, replacing essential items, and helping them begin to rebuild their lives. Every contribution, no matter the size, will mean the world to our family.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading their story and for any help you can provide. Your kindness will help them find hope in the face of this unimaginable tragedy.

With warm gratitude,

Linzi Howell Prytz

page information:

1. Who you are

Linzi Howell Prytz. Concerned daughter of Lorraine Howell.

2. Where you're from

Born in England, living in Norway.

3. Your relationship to the parties you're raising funds for

Raising funds for my mother, Lorraine Howell and her husband, Mark Nellis.

4. How the funds will be spent (be specific as possible)

The funds will be used towards finding a new place to live and all items necessary to rebuild a home.