Rebuild Hope for Johnnie Douglas and Her Family

I’m Julie Sena, a semi-retired speech-language pathologist who worked with a remarkable retired special education teacher named Johnnie Douglas. I recently relocated to UT and I’m horrified with the events that have taken place in Los Angeles County.

On January eighth of this new year, the Eaton fire completely destroyed the forty-year-old Altadena home of Johnnie Douglas. This apocalyptic experience of walking under a rain of glowing embers, leaving her home, and then being told that her home and possessions are gone has been catastrophic for her and her son.

As a retired special education teacher, she dedicated her life to her husband, three sons, her church community, and to her students in an elementary school district in San Gabriel Valley. For 35 years, she taught/tutored students in the Resource Specialist Program in areas such as reading, writing, math, or the academic subjects that were required to help them be successful in school.

Seven years ago, her husband of 45 years passed suddenly of a heart attack. She continued to teach until her retirement in June of that school year. Last April, her 44-year-old son passed due to a severe case of sepsis.

Johnnie is a woman of extraordinary character and strength! She continues to visit and provide regular transportation to those less fortunate 4 times per week. As you may feel inclined to donate, please consider helping to rebuild her life and home.