Help Vonda After House Fire

On May 7th, 2023, our 96-year-old grandmother, Vonda Thompson, fell at home and broke her hip, requiring a partial hip replacement and hospitalization. A week later, on May 14th, 2023, she was recovering in the hospital when lightning struck her house and ignited a fire that local firefighters could not contain; nothing could be saved. Our Gran's house - the house where she was born, raised her own children, and lived most of her life in —burned to the ground.

Our grandmother's house has always been like a lighthouse for our family, its soft-white porch light cutting through the night, beckoning us to safety, and guiding us home. Our Gran is the lightkeeper, offering comfort and reassurance to all who enter. We have gathered around her table for fellowship, sustenance, guidance, and support for years. Our memories are saturated with our time spent in the rooms of the white farmhouse, primarily because of the love we were shown within its walls.

As a family, we are heartbroken to lose the tangible space that signified our safe harbor. However, in its loss, we are reminded that this house was not the guardian of our memories or the beacon of light that beckoned us to safety - it was, and always has been, our Gran. We are so thankful that she is safe and recovering from her surgery.

But for our Gran, that house WAS her safe harbor. And now it is gone, along with all of the items that represented her memories of a life well-lived and well-loved. She lost everything; her sole possessions are now the clothes she wore to the hospital after she fell and the things in her purse. Once discharged from the hospital, she could not return to the only home she had ever known.

Our Gran is currently living with my aunt and uncle, who have worked hard to modify their home and work schedules to accommodate the support she needs. However, we could use some assistance to offset expenses while the family works with Gran to determine the next steps. At the very least, we would like to help rebuild her wardrobe, cover the unexpected medical bills resulting from her hip fracture, and ensure she has the best care while she grieves this loss and starts to look to the future. Our Gran has always been our safe harbor; now it is our turn to be hers.

Many of you have been blessed to know and love our Gran - maybe you sat at her table in southern Illinois, visited with her on Aunt Linda and Uncle Rex's back porch, sat next to her at church, or met her at one of the many events she attended for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. If she has known you for years, I'm sure she has regaled you with intricate tales of your childhood or family that even you had forgotten. Regardless of where or how you met, I can almost guarantee you have felt surrounded by love in her presence - because that is our Gran's specialty.

Thank you for your consideration and the love and friendship you have shown our family through the years. We are grateful for any help you can give to help surround our Gran with the love and support she has provided so many of us through the years.