I received a phone call at 1AM informing me that my cousin Raquel’s apartment caught on fire. She was asleep in her room and the smoke woke her up; the fire alarm never went off. In a panic, she ran past the fire happening in her living room and was able to make it out only suffering a few burns on her hands. Barely being able to see or breath she cried out for her dog Ivory, while banging on the neighbor’s door to alert them of the fire. The fire marshals came and evacuated everyone outside. While sitting in the ambulance, she was told her apartment was completely incinerated and her dog Ivory and 2 turtles, Lux and Lever didn’t make it. This left her devastated because her pets were her emotional support.

Raquel is the most selfless, caring person I know. Despite losing her mother, having an absentee father and growing up in a low-income household, she persevered through it all. She was the first to graduate college in her family and is currently pursuing a second degree to be a veterinarian technician. She was just starting to get on her feet. She put all of her savings into her new apartment, but has nothing to show for it now. Our family is coming together to help her, but we can only do so much. We ask you to find it in your heart to donate what you can to help her get back on her feet.

We thank you for your help in this difficult time.