Hurricane Relief for Sam and Melina

This page has been difficult for us to make and share.  Many of you have asked about  ways to help and share with others who can help- we are so grateful for you!  Although family members have offered to create this page for us, we believe that we are better able to share the details about our situation. 

On October 10, 2018, hurricane Michael destroyed our home in Panama City.  We moved down there for my assigned site for my clinical rotations for medical school. Sam moved down there with me to begin our lives together as soon-to-be husband and wife.  

The hurricane allowed water to flood into our third floor apartment through the ceilings, light fixtures, and anywhere water was able to go. It completely soaked the place and collapsed parts of the ceiling. These pictures do not do the water damage justice. According to Sam, there was at least an inch of water on the floors. You can look and see a few dry spots on the wall in one of the pictures I posted to get an idea of the degree of wetness in the apartment. The damage is even worse now due to the mold. Almost all of our belongings are ruined: our clothes, electronics, furniture, linens, and more are done for. Our only vehicle was totaled due to being almost completely under water. 

My medical school will require me to complete my remaining clinical rotations in Tallahassee.  Sam will fortunately be able to transfer his current job with the department of children and families to our new location. We may not have a home until I graduate and we move for residency. However, we will absolutely be looking, and our renter’s insurance will be able to provide us shelter on a month-to-month basis until we find a place. 

I have filed claims with our insurance companies. Our car insurance will definitely help us replace the cost of our vehicle. However, our property insurance only covered $2,500 of our belongings. Sam and I reviewed the pictures I had taken last year of all of our property in the apartment, and decided we had $35,000 worth of belongings that have been destroyed. At this point, we applied for all of the aid we can currently apply for, received generous donations from friends and family, and have even canceled our wedding to get back any money we could from the deposits. With all current donations, insurance money, and aid we have/will receive, we are still $15,000 away from replacing what we lost. It is very hard for me to put $15,000 as a fundraising goal because that is a daunting number. The money will absolutely only be used for replacing all that we have lost and helping us get on our feet with other expenses we were not anticipating (rental car until we get another vehicle, security deposit for a new place, utilities deposit, registering a new vehicle, etc.).  If the situation changes and we receive any additional outside aid, I will make sure the fundraising goal reflects that. 

You may also help us by purchasing any basic household items from our wedding registries. Our family is generously willing to keep any items for us until we find a home in which to place them. Please contact me directly for wedding registry information or if you wish to give a non-monetary donation. I will count these items towards the grand total on this page. 

We appreciate any and all help you are able to give. If you wish to give a large donation, please contact me directly for another means of doing so in order to avoid the 3% processing fee. We are also accepting donations via PayPal  and Venmo, for which you can contact me directly. 

Thank you for all the love, support, thoughts, and prayers during such a difficult time. We love and appreciate you!