The start of September was supposed to be exciting. One step closer to Fall and all the anticipation of colorful leaves. Just a couple short months from Ashlee, my sister-in-law’s wedding. My name is Lindsay Choman. I'm writing this on behalf of my husband's parents. My husband, Matt, called his parents to check on them when the rain started early in the morning knowing the forecast of what was to come. At the time they had a few inches of water in their basement which the sump pump kept up with. Maria, my mother-in-law, said she would call if needed. A half hour later we got the call – the pumps were starting to fail – we need to move the keepsakes to a higher level of the house. When we arrived my brother-in-law, Christian, was already in the basement trying everything he could to get the water out.

We sprung right into action – running five pumps at one point – but noticed the water was getting higher and higher. There was water pouring in through the walls and basement windows as Solomons Creek continued to inundate the house. The pumps were fighting a losing battle. We thought we needed more pumps to control the flow, so I put a post on Facebook in hope that someone, anyone, had an extra pump. While not realizing what was to come.

Matt and I went to get a sump pump from his Aunt and Uncle around the corner in South Wilkes-Barre. In a matter of the 10 minutes it took us to get the pump, the water around the house rose several inches. We quickly took it to the basement to set it up. I grabbed another box of keepsakes and started walking up the stairs to hear what sounded like a truck crashing into the front of the house. It just so happens at that time Matt, his mom Maria, his dad Matt Sr. and brother Christian were in the basement collecting items.

I heard them screaming, “Get out! Get out!” – as they scurried up the basement steps – running to get to higher ground. The best I can describe it is the scene from Titanic when water is rushing in and everyone is panicked not thinking clearly. Everyone safely got out of the basement. While we are upstairs trying to figure out what just happened – we ran outside and see the creek pouring into the basement – as if it was Niagara Falls – the basement was filled within minutes.

We quickly went from salvaging the basement to salvaging the house. Immediately shifting gears to grab everything of value on the first and second floor while still trying to comprehend what was happening. Matt, his brother, his parents, and myself, all agree it was the scariest moment of our lives. We thought we were going to die in that moment.We all hugged each other and cried. All I could think was “Why do bad things always happen to good people?” Matt’s Grandparents built the house, and it survived the Agnes Flood of 1972 with water levels reaching over five feet on the second floor. But this is different.

Today, we arrived at their house on Oxford Street to see the entire front lawn completely caved in. The brick on the right and left side of the house collapsed, just a small column of cinderblocks holding up the structure in the middle. While standing there assessing the damage, we look down to see all the keepsakes we could not save – baby pictures, Christmas decorations, Matt’s framed Bishop Hoban jersey, Ashlee’s favors for her upcoming bridal shower. Some items that simply cannot be replaced – gone in a matter of seconds.

Maria and Matt Choman are two of the most genuine, kindhearted people I know. Maria works three jobs and never complains once. Matt Sr. is a diabetic hoping to get a kidney transplant in the near future – which Maria is donating the kidney to him. They’ve raised five kids over the years and provided for them the best they could. They are are truly the kind of people that if you ever needed something, they would be there in a heartbeat. Matt Sr. and Maria have lived in the house since 2003, which Matt Sr’s. parents built right before the 1972 flood – and it is the pride of the family, where his Mother Theresa ran her floral shop, Oxford Floral for many years.

None of us know what is to come of the home or what the outcome will be until experts have an opportunity to assess the damaged foundation. What we do know is that this will be a large financial hardship on them. They are not the type of people that would ever ask for help, but I wanted to put this out there in hopes to raise some money for them to start over. They have helped us whenever we needed, now its our turn to try to give back. They have many expensive items they will need to replaced beyond the potential that the structure might not be salvageable. No matter the outcome, salvageable or not, this will not be an easy road for them. We are praying for them and everyone else during this time that suffered damage as well.