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EMERGENCY 10-days & they uproot for 3rd time.

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(verified wild fire victims) EMERGENCY SITUATION! These youngens are going to be uprooted for the 3rd time at no fault of their own. PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME GET A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD! They need an RV of their own so they don't have to vacate yet again!! Or an apartment/house!! If you are not familiar with the disaster go to this link. https://youtu.be/gxt7L4x_NQo ***This family really needs help!! Mom (Leann Wechselberger) feels embarrassed asking for money.  Since this is desperately needed I am stepping forward and doing it for the sake of the kids!!  This is my adopted family but their needs are beyond what I can do alone!  I have grown to love my adopted family because they are so selfless, humble, and kind.  This family means everything to me! (Tears in my eyes) Here is mom's (Leann's) story... My story ....I haven’t been able to talk about or be ok with what happened on November 8th . I don’t want fame or to take advantage of what happened that day like some but just like everyone one else I have a story to tell . I got up as usual that Thursday morning heard my oldest Tyler (20) leave at 5 like every-other day.. his boots scuffing along the floor. (I miss that sound) I had to get my youngest boy Zander (10) ready for school and get ready for what I thought would be just another day . Maddie (18) had the day off so she was sleeping . I dropped off Zander I told him I loved him and to have a great day.  I was going on with my normal day not even knowing of the fIre and where exactly it was located . I got to work at 8:00 like usual ..... there was talk of a fire and it was serious my work peeps said Leann don’t you live by Dean I said yes they said well they are evacuating. I called my daughter and told her we had to evacuate she said, "mom I know!!" The fear in her voice was something I don’t ever want to experience again. I tried to console her staying as strong as I could,  " Maddie I would be there soon"  I pulled up to the house the kids were running around scared and frantically throwing stuff into the vehicles. The fear on their face Is something I will never forget . I am suppose to protect these kids I felt helpless. I had rushed home thinking I had time to pack and left my youngest at school thinking we had time to pick him up on the way. I had no idea how quickly this fire would change everything. We frantically packed up what we could including some important paperwork and my moms pets as she was out of town. We got all pets in my car and some clothes . My son yelled, " I will be right behind you" I said NO! leave now" he said "mom go" I figured he’d be right behind me and Maddie. We turne left onto pentz and traffic was crazy; Traffic was bumper to bumper with spot fires starting all around us we were not moving . I kept frantically yelling "I need to get Zander Maddie, I need to get Zander!!" Maddie said "I know mom but we can’t go this way".in my time of crisis she was calm and directed me to turn around and take some back roads . While the traffic was still bumper to bumper we slowly made progress . The sky continued to grow darker and there were fires starting up all around us everywhere you looked you saw red . Every time I saw a new one I hysterically started crying and yelling.  My sweet Maddie  just reassured me “mom just look ahead we are gonna be ok” it should of been me reassuring her not the other way around .... we were calling friends and family to make sure everyone was safe and there nightmares were just like ours surrounded in fire trying to get out. We had made it to Clark finally.... after more than an hour ... we were trying to make it so we could pick up Zander from his school at Paradise Elementary . The traffic was bumper to bumper we aren’t going anywhere I yelled to Maddie and the fires just continued to grow on every side of us . I had since lost track of my oldest calling him frantically over and over he finally picked up and calmly said " I am held up in traffic.  Mom it doesnt look good  for me." (My Son! My heart felt like it stopped beating and I couldn't catch my breath!)  He was surrounded by fire and propane tanks were exploding all around him and the cars were not moving!!   I frantically said  "SON  if you need to get out of your truck and run just run and hide!" He said "I’m not sure I’m gonna make it mom."  (My thought My son, please please not my son) My son Tyler is a big guy and not one to be helpless but the sound of his voice I will never forget my baby truly thought he was gonna die and this was gonna be our last conversation all he said was "I love you mom" (Me: No No please don't let those be’ our last words PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!)  I am hysterical at this point thinking about my son burning to death!!  Still trying to get to Zander the traffic was crazy on our end and all the while fire was surrounding Tyler and he was scared for his life!!!   I was worrying about him and just getting Zander .I cried to Maddie and said "I can’t do this I need Zander and Tyler here but I can’t get to them!!" as a mom this is the worst feeling in the world. We where stuck in traffic around the Taco Bell area. I could no longer get ahold of Tyler, and at the point I knew it was bad.  Zander’s school was still two blocks away it was pitch dark....we were making no progress with the traffic. I was crying hysterically worrying about Zander and Tyler’s safety. My daughter looked at me .........(she had been so strong through all of this in truth she became the parent and calmed me down constantly telling me it was gonna be ok) I said "ITS NOT OKAY!!" My Maddie looked at me and said "mom I’m getting Zander" I said "no it’s to dangerous!!' she said "I’ll be fine"  That selfless girl literally jumped out of my car fire burning around here hot burning embers everywhere!!   I couldn’t stop her from getting her brother.!!  She was still in her pajamas and ran many blocks to him in the middle of that firestorm the smoke choking her!!  I sat there thinking I'm going to lose all 3 of my children!!   ALL of them!!  It was the longest 45 minutes!!  I was not moving!! No closer to the school and my Zander, my Maddie out in it, and it just got darker and fires all around me!!  It felt like the end of life for all of us!!   Suddenly I saw Maddie walking /half running with her brother in hand .....words can’t explain how amazing and selfless this girl is!!  Putting her life on the line to save her brother!!  Maddie would have given her life for Zander. We were still not safe it took five hours in traffic and the fire escalating all around us for us to make it out. I still hadn’t heard from my son Tyler. It was not until several hours after Maddie, Zander, and me made it to safety that we had heard Tyler had made it out alive!!  We sat at the bottom of the hill for hours like so many others waiting to hear or see-our friends , family, drive out safe and ok. I finally saw Tyler’s truck than his face; the tough guy just waved his hand and gave me a head nod. Like mom I’m ok I will never forget what it felt to hug him that day. I could now breathe... all my babies were safe. I think all 3 of them got me through this more than I did for them. We may have made it but the scars are deep... no parent should ever have to feel that helplessness but I am so proud of my kids and so thankful for you Maddie Rose Dame Tyler Dame we will be ok we have each other I love you. They are living in a very small older toy hauler trailer on somebody's property.  Mom worked at the healthcare clinic for 15- years and now out of a job due to the wildfire.  She was relentless looking for any type of work and did get a PT position minimal pay which is a blessing!  But it is just not enough.. She like everyone else more likely than not is feeling PTSD symptoms.  She feels she is not providing adequately for her kids!! She wreeked with guilt.. She has been on the giving end with others in same circumstances, but now it's her turn.  She needs to see the good KARMA from her giving and helping ways.  So I come to you that have not been affected by the fire to come together to uplift this family.  Money donation is not possible for everyone, but you can become a team member and get this fundraiser out there to others that are able to!!  That is just as important! 
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Donations 

  • Todd Richardson
    • $25 
    • 4 yrs
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Fundraising team (2)

Zina Sattler
Organizer
Raised $1,875 from 38 donations
Paradise, CA
Kathie Kolasa Rossitto
Team member
This team raised $655 from 19 other donations.

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