My son Shane, who is extremely ADHD and on the lower part of the spectrum, was cooking tacos when the oil got too hot and a flash fire started. I heard all the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms going off. When I opened my door, the whole apartment was filled with black smoke. I ran down and found Shane in the kitchen, choking from the smoke. I quickly took him outside and applied a wet towel to his face and head—thankfully, he was not burned. I managed to get the fire out and contain it to the kitchen, but the smoke damage left black residue covering the entire living room. The stove, cupboards, walls, and ceiling all need to be replaced, and the whole apartment needs repainting and the kitchen rebuilt.

Unfortunately, I did not have renters insurance. Shane is okay after a trip to the emergency room for smoke inhalation, and we are both physically alright, but as you can imagine, we could really use help both financially and emotionally. The funds raised will help us repair and repaint our apartment, replace damaged appliances and furniture, and cover hospital bills.

Any support would mean the world to us as we try to recover from this traumatic event. We are so grateful for any help you can give. Thank you for reading our story and considering a donation.