Help Patty Rebuild After Devastating Fire

On Monday, May 26, 2025 - Memorial Day - just after eight O'clock, AM my life-long friend Patty Vegella smelled smoke in her kitchen and saw a small fire in her trash container. While trying to contain the flames, they spread to her stove. Within a brief time, Patty knew she couldn’t contain the fire and while fearing for her pets and her life, was forced to flee her home with her dog Domino.

In a matter of minutes Patty’s world turned upside down. While standing outside she watched her whole house turn into a flaming nightmare. What was once her cottage of 36 years and now her retirement home; quickly became an unlivable, dangerous charred ruin.

The local fire department was quick to arrive, and did what they could to save the remaining structure, but all of Patty’s house contents including her food, furniture, clothing, medical supplies, medication, personal photos - everything that made up her life, was destroyed.

FURTHER HARDSHIP:

Worst of all, while Domino made it out of the house, Patty’s other two pets her puppy Paladin and her cat Dezi were lost in the disaster... While Patty tried to coax Paladin out of the house, the dog was too afraid to run past the flames, and ran further into the burning house. As Patty began re-entering the burning house to save her loving pet, she was stopped by her neighbor from doing so - which may have saved Patty’s life!

To make matters worse and prove a further hardship, Patty’s Home Insurance was cancelled and will not cover this damage!

PATTY’S HOPE:

Patty’s initial hope is to repair the damage done to the once cottage - turned into a permanent house that was build by hand by her father, grandfather and uncle in 1950. She is looking for help to fund this effort. While staying temporally with a friend, Patty is now homeless! She is in immediate need of money for clothing, food, shelter and medication for her and her dog Domino day-to-day living.

ABOUT PATTY VEGELLA:

• Raised in Redford Township Michigan and a graduate of Lee M. Thurston High School and University Of Detroit Mercy (U of D), (now U of D M)

• She worked as a Writer for ‘TV Guide Magazine’ and ‘The Detroit News’ newspaper before moving into a career as a Realtor until her retirement.

• Just days before the fire she was released from the hospital where she was treated for a heart condition.

• She is on a limited fixed income.

• Her Home Insurance was cancelled just prior to the fire, and the insurance will not pay for any replacement costs or damage to her house.

• She is an animal lover, and would do whatever she could to help an animal - even running into a burning building to save her dog Domino...

Please give what you can to help Patty through this horrific and devastating disaster!

Thank You!