Help the LaCavas Rebuild from Colorado Wildfires

 

The La Cavas (Gibranna, Frank, Sasha and Frankie) are outdoor adventurers, everyday neighbors, good-hearted family friends and now survivors of the worst wildlife disaster in Colorado history.

 

 

They are my friends and I am grateful to have watched their kids grow up alongside mine. Channing and Sasha met in pre-k when they were two. We have maintained our friendship for the past 13 years and have loved having them in Colorado for the past two years by way of Naples where we met.

 

They are not giving up on their Colorado dream and need some immediate support in rebuilding Frank's tool supply and purchasing a trailer so he can get back to his flooring business.

 

I could say much more on how important it is to me to help this family rebuild, but I will let you read some of the impact of this shocking disaster in Gibranna's words:

 

 

 

Jan 1, 2021

"Words cannot express my state of shock. 2 days ago our lives changed forever. We woke up just like any other day, went to the gym, came home to billows of smoke just 1 mile from our home.

11:30 am

Just like most I trusted the authorities would take care of us and we had nothing to worry about.

My neighbors, being more experienced Coloradoans than I, stood outside glaring in horror at what they new was way too close to our neighborhood. Winds were 80 mph gusts.

Later I came to find out a power line blew down in open space grass and started a grass fire.

12:30 pm

I told the kids to start packing for the weekend in the mountains so we would have stuff ready just in case. I called Frank to let him know what I planned to do in case we had problems. Work essentials, computer, trailers and tools are the priority. He shrugged it off and said I was being a worry wart.

1:20 pm

Flames jumped to the field across the street from my house. Frankie saw them first and said, “Mommy, it’s time to go.” Colorado is so dry the homes fences and yards are like tinder and wind was relentless. I knew it could be a min or an hour but our house would go.

Grabbed important documents, computers, kids, dog and pair of pajamas. That’s it. Literally that’s it. That’s all we could take. By the time we got to the road, traffic was backed up right to the flames on our right. It was so terrifying and I could get out of there fast enough. My hand shook at the wheel while I told Frank to get out of Boulder and head North with us.

He insisted going to the house. He could not wrap him mind around the fact there were flames that close.

1:45 pm

Frank left his truck on the side of road and ran at least a mile to the house. He wanted so badly to save his tool collection, and grab his medicine. He barely made it out of Louisville. He dodged traffic and sat on road for 2 hours trying to get out, while kids and I sat at Starbucks watching his life 360 in horror, yelling at him to get out of there.

2:30 we saw Facebook posts of homes at corner 1 block from our neighborhood up in flames. Jumping house to house. When I saw that photo, my heart knew, our home, our beloved life in Louisville was gone.

5:30 I found photos of our home and neighbors completely engulfed in flames.

Frank could not and would not believe it until he saw nothing but a pile of ashes at 8 am the next day.

 

 

 

Long story short, no matter what your problems are, sick loved ones, financial, career, there’s always something to be grateful for.

 

Live each day as if it were your last, as life can change at the blink of an eye, and no matter how much you strive to have your shit together, your entire life can be swept away in minutes.

 

The LaCava’s are survivors, and we will not give up on our dream of living and adventurous life and better schools and sports for our kids.

 

We thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and generosity.

Humbly Yours, Gibranna & Frank"

Drone footage the next morning video