Lets get this family back home together after a house fire.

Hi my name is Jan, and I am fundraising to help enable my eldest son, Callum Craddy, his wife Stacey, their 2 gorgeous girls Leia (7yo), and Bella (5 days old), to return to their fire damaged home as soon as possible, and to be re-united with their pet dog Dixie, and their 2 rabbits...

On the 14th August just gone, Callum and Stacey welcomed a new baby girl, into the world, a 2nd daughter, and a long awaited sister for Leia, their 7 yo child.

The pregnancy had been relatively straightforward, and Stacey and baby, were discharged from hospital the same day... the new addition making their family of 4 complete.

When Leia had been born 7 years previously, as a younger couple, they obtained everything a baby would need, without much idea as to what items they would find most suitable/most useful to them...

This time, more financially secure, they had planned everything to perfection, and had a completed nursery, and all equipment available, and ready to welcome Bella home...

Stacey works within a local family firm in Hartlepool, but was on maternity leave, Callum works hard as a lorry driver, but is taking a few weeks holiday, without pay, to help settle/organise their little family, before Leia returns to school in September...

The last week has been blissfully happy for them all, they are managing well, the baby is making good progress, and I am so proud of them all - as well as being a most doting nana...!

Everything unfortunately changed on Friday 22nd August.

Leia had asked if she was able to stay the night with me on the 21st, as I had not been particularly well for a few days, (I am disabled with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis)... We were just sorting breakfast, when I received a phone call from my son Callum, he was very upset, and struggling not to cry... he stammered out that his house was on fire, his door had been smashed in by fireman attempting to gain access, and that their much loved dog, Dixie, had escaped, and terrified, she had run away, but said they were all safe...

As any parent would I dressed quickly, along with Leia, and drove to their house, keeping a look out for Dixie, on the way...

We were met by a very upsetting scene... it was quite shocking, a neighbour had hold of the new baby, Stacey was on the phone to her mum, and Callum almost broke down when he saw me... "It's all gone mum, he said... the babies things, they're all ruined..." I just gave him a huge cuddle, and said at least you are all safe... even Dixie had been found, and returned home...

Apparently they had left their home to do some shopping whilst Leia was with myself... a neighbour had fortunately been woken by several loud fire alarms, and seeing nothing at the front of the house, had gone round the side, only to be greeted by 2 ft flames coming from the heating exhaust vent.. She had called the fire brigade, and then phoned him... (thank-you so much Sarah...! ).

Fortunately, Callum and Stacey had closed the kitchen door when they left, so although the rest of the house is badly smoke damaged, the firemen were able to limit the real devastation to the kitchen... but that meant most of the

equipment bought for Bella was burnt

too.. steriliser, bottles, water heater, storage flasks, teats, dummies, baby formula, all was lost, as well as most of the kitchen appliances, which had melted because of the heat...

It is impossible for anyone to live in the house at the moment, particularly a 7yo child and a 6 day old newborn...

Stacey has had to leave home with the children, to stay with relatives in Stockton. I remained with Callum to sort out what could be salvaged, or could at least be cleaned/laundered to allow their eventual reuse...

Their landlord has been good, and along with a friend has organised to make the house secure again, but everything else is in the hands of the buildings insurer.

Unfortunately Callum's house content, yearly insurance policy lapsed last week, and because of the arrival of the baby, he had forgotten to confirm the annual renewal, and now they will not honour

it.. He was due to return to work next week, but is not now able to do so, whilst things are at least set in motion... and again he does not get paid whilst off work...

Callum and Stacey have many, many good friends they have made over the years, and everybody who knows them will be aware that if they can do anything for anybody they will...

They now find themselves in need of help from others...

To be frank, I know they would not ask for anything, and I will probably get railroaded by them for even starting this; some of their friends have already offered help, and replacement items, and for that I know they are extremely

grateful, but is going to take quite a long while and a big effort to replace all that is lost, and the whole house needs re-decorating, and painting... Some soft furnishings, and other items cannot be reused, and we are trying our utmost to salvage, bedding, and personal clothing... all Leia's newly purchased school uniform is smokey and soot marked...

It is soul destroying... they have tried so hard to bring things together...

I am therefore asking on their behalf, if anyone can spare anything, even if only £1... to try and get this family all back together at the earliest opportunity... I know it is a very big ask, especially given the current cost of living crisis, but this fire could have happened to anyone, your family too...!

Please all check you have working fire alarms, they really do save homes and lives...!

If you cannot give, don't worry, bless you for reading this... but please share.

I am a very loving mum, and nana.

Thank you, Jan Waugh.