Hi, my name is Mia Hernandez, and I’m reaching out with a heavy heart.

On July 24th, our world was turned upside down when a fire broke out in our apartment. My father and I were away at work and school, and our beloved dog Blue, our best friend and part of our family, was home alone.

By the time the fire department arrived, Blue was still inside. Instead of trying to rescue her, they locked her in the bathroom, afraid she might bite. She died alone, unable to breathe through the thick smoke. Blue was the sweetest, most loving dog; gentle, friendly, and loyal. She didn’t deserve this. We’re heartbroken and absolutely devastated. Genuinely it feels like a piece of me and my dad are forever missing. She was more than a dog, I genuinely felt she was my best friend and a sister to me and I’ll forever feel a hole in my heart. She was my baby girl and we miss her everyday. 

Our apartment is now unlivable due to intense smoke damage and NYFD trashing it up, and on top of losing Blue and our home, our landlords are trying to unlawfully evict us, giving us no compassion or support during this crisis. We are a low-income family with no savings for an emergency like this.

We’re asking for $10,000 to help us cover the cost of:

• First and last month’s rent

• Security deposit

• Broker’s fee

This would give us a chance to start fresh and find a safe place to live, away from the trauma we’ve just experienced.

We never thought we’d be in a position to ask for help, but we’re truly out of options. Any amount, no matter how small, would mean the world to us. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this with others.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

— Mia and David Hernandez, and in memory of Blue