Rally for Linda: A Long Road to Recovery After Explosion

Donate to Support Linda Gelinas in Her Long Road to Recovery and Give Back to the Person Who Has Always Given

On Friday, June 27th, something shocking happened to our family that we never would have expected. We were notified that there had been some sort of explosion at mom’s house. We later learned that while trying to shock her pool (a normal process of the pool opening stages and something she had done countless times), a chemical reaction happened causing a chlorine explosion - leaving her with serious chemical burns to her face and arms, and life-threatening damage to her lungs. As if that wasn’t enough, her ambulance on the way to the hospital was in a major car accident, which only delayed her ability to receive care. She is currently in the ICU at CMMC.

Mom is a fighter and we can see her working hard every day to breathe and make it through this process. She is very motivated to avoid intubation at the moment, and her hard work appears to be paying off as doctors are hopeful she is taking steps in the right direction.

To make matters worse, the explosion happened inside her home and we still do not know the full extent of the damages. The explosion left behind toxic chemical residue, and the property is currently considered a biohazard. Until specialists can safely assess and decontaminate the area, we are unable to enter or even begin to understand what’s been lost. From what we have heard so far, the kitchen (at the very least) is going to need to be completely gutted and rebuilt.

If you know my mom, you know she is the first person to drop everything for anyone in need. She gives endlessly without expecting anything in return. She’s spent her life working hard, caring for others, and showing up in big and small ways — whether it’s sewing for a friend, baking desserts for fundraisers and birthdays, sending flowers after a loss, using her nursing degree to advise to those overwhelmed by the healthcare system, or simply donating her last few dollars to help someone in need. My mom is truly the definition of what it means to be selfless, compassionate, faithful, and caring. And she does it all with love and without hesitation.

If only you could have seen her worrying about everyone else except herself when she arrived at the emergency; fighting through the oxygen mask to ask about others.

Linda Gelinas is someone who can’t leave her front door without running into someone she has cared for a loved one of, altered a wedding dress for, or positively impacted in some other way. But right now, she needs our help…

We are hoping to raise funds to help with:

• Ongoing ICU and medical expenses

• Potential home restoration and cleanup

• Basic living costs during this long road to recovery

If you are able to donate, we would be deeply grateful. If you can’t, please share this with others and keep her in your prayers. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for loving her, standing with us, and helping us carry her through this incredibly difficult time.