On August 22nd, our family suffered an unimaginable loss. Bonnie Pierce, just 38 years old, passed away following a devastating house fire that left her family forever changed.

When the fire broke out, Bonnie and two of her daughters, Aurora and Grace, were inside the home. Aurora bravely escaped by kicking out her air conditioning unit and climbing through the window. Bonnie initially made it out safely, but when she realized that Grace was still inside, she made the selfless decision to go back into the burning home to find her daughter. Firefighters later found Bonnie and Grace inside the home.

When firefighters entered the home, they found Bonnie shielding Grace with her own body. Bonnie was protecting her daughter until the very end, making the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to save her child.

Bonnie was found unresponsive, and CPR was immediately performed. She had been without oxygen for approximately 15 minutes and sustained burns covering 48% of her body. Despite the incredible efforts of the first responders and medical team who fought to save her, Bonnie ultimately succumbed to her injuries and passed away on August 24th.

Grace survived the fire and remains hospitalized as she continues to recover from her injuries. Thankfully, she is expected to make a full recovery.

Bonnie’s daughters, Alaynah, Aurora, Jemma, and Grace, and her grandson, Atlas, are now facing a heartbreaking reality no one should ever have to endure—the loss of their mother and grandmother and the uncertainty that follows such a devastating tragedy. Donations will help provide for Grace’s ongoing medical and recovery needs, immediate living expenses, and the many unexpected costs the family is now facing.