The Story:

Betsy is a single mother in her 30’s raising a 5 year old boy named Benny. They live in Frederick, Maryland in the house where Betsy grew up, which is owned by her father. On Tuesday, September 2, while Betsy was away to pick up Benny at after-kindergarten day care, the home’s kitchen caught fire.

Beyond what is shown in the photo is toxic smoke damage that affected the entire house. So much so that all but a few rooms will need gutted and rebuilt, and the roof and framing need replaced. All material items—furniture, appliances, personal belongings, household essentials—were contaminated and will need to be junked. Bottom line: Betsy and Benny lost everything and they have been displaced.

This includes Betsy losing her livelihood. A talented part-time cake decorator working from home (see sample photos below) the loss of her equipment, supplies and a place to work, has limited her ability to supplement income.

A bigger concern is Benny, a boy always smiling and happy. He is on the autistic spectrum and has learning disabilities for which an IEP has been set up to guide him through the school year that had just started the week prior to the fire. The disruptions to patterns, routines and familiar places have left him confused and increase the risk of regression. A stable routine/environment going forward is uncertain.

A priority is keeping his schooling/teachers consistent. There is limited extended family in the area, none of whom are in Frederick county. Temporary workarounds are in place. Red Cross, churches, friends and other donation sources have stepped up with clothing and other living essentials. To ensure Benny’s schooling continues, a boyfriend has helped with a hotel room and car rental (a whole other unrelated budget-busting issue is Betsy’s car, which has been in the shop for a month and remains, awaiting parts. When it rains, it pours.)

Ongoing financial support from family will hit a ceiling. A long term solution needs to be found. So we turn to GoFundMe.

What is needed:

The restoration specialist estimates a year to rebuild the house. Insurance will cover all fire and smoke damage, but questions remain if additional out of pocket money will be needed for a complete recovery, or if the family can return to the home at all. Insurance for lost possessions was set on the low end, allowing for minimal furniture replacements. Several people have volunteered furniture and other household items, but, of course, there is no place to put them.

So here is how financial aid will go to re-establish a household:

Rent money for a place to live (a house or apartment, depending on the amount raised); keep groceries and living essentials stocked; buy clothing, furniture, and (if necessary) appliances; professional cake decorating materials for Betsy; educational and developmental items for Benny—basically any and everything to get mother and son’s life back to normal. At the most optimistic level this fundraiser will generate enough to reduce the expenses for her ongoing car problems. And finally, to reimburse those individuals, such as her boyfriend, who have already selflessly stepped in with financial help that threaten to deplete their own resources.

Like any of us who are presented with a completely new experience, we don’t know how much is needed. But GoFundMe requires we set a goal. Researching similar fundraisers suggest $50,000 is reasonable. We’d be grateful to collect any total over or under, donated in any denomination.

Whether you can donate or not, please share the link to this fundraiser through social media, emails, word of mouth, etc. In short, any way to cast as wide of a net as possible.

I am Betsy’s father/Benny’s grandfather. My daughter asked me to write this and control the donated funds to ensure the spending is disciplined and prioritized on essentials.

I am new to fundraisers. I understand there are ways a donor can verify that things are legitimate. Please do. We will update this page with progress. In advance, saying “thank you so much,” seems not enough. As the chaos clears, perhaps we’ll find a better way to give back.

Now, about the photo of the angel at the fire site:

My daughter asked that this be included.

It was just this past year that Betsy embraced a faith-based life. She began studying the Bible, attending services, immersing herself in church support groups, and hung on the walls positive affirmations of spiritual guidance.

In the wake of the fire, an imprint of an angel was “stamped” in smoke on the wall in the living room. This is the natural outline of the decoration that my daughter had placed there. It was the only item in this particular room that was disturbed by the fire, falling to the floor, revealing this ethereal image. Why did it alone fall? Who knows? Is it a sign?

Signs are for how we chose to interpret them. Here’s how we interpret this:

Keep your eyes open for what the angels who protect you are telling you. Losing the place where you have been for a long time may, in fact, be the very blessing you have been praying for. Perhaps now is the time to let go of the past, wipe the slate clean and start all over. What happens next is unknown. That can be scary but it doesn’t need to be so long as guardian angels travel with you. Trust that God is leading you to a better path. With that faith your fear can turn into fearless confidence.

That, we think, is what the guardian angel that appeared as result of this fire is telling us.