Tuesday morning around 4am, my stove caught on fire while I was cooking. I tried putting the fire out myself, but in just a few seconds, I realized it was too much for me to do and we just needed to get out. I ran to the bedroom, screaming my 7-year-old son's name, Justin, along the way. Startled from his sleep, he jumped up and was standing on the bed staring at me. I said, "There's a fire, we need to go outside" and he just screamed. 5 days later, I still keep seeing his scared little face and hearing his scream in my mind. I tried to calm him and told him, "It's okay, but we just need to go outside."

We went into the yard where I started banging on the door to the camper where my aunt, uncle, their son and dog were because they're in the process of moving in with us so they wouldn't be homeless. My uncle ran inside and started putting out the fire, while my aunt called the fire department. My uncle, Larry, managed to put out the fire on his own and the fire department sprayed the kitchen, took the stove into the yard and banged holes into the ceiling and walls to make sure there was no smoldering that would restart the fire. I was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and was released late morning.

Thankfully, everyone was safe and it wasn't as bad as it could have been, thanks to Larry putting out the fire, but my kitchen did take a bit of damage. The house was built in 1952 by my great grandfather and the layout is a bit weird with the stove, fridge and dryer all being right next to each other. We will need 3 windows to be replaced, new appliances, cleaning and repair of the ceiling and wall. As far as I know, the wiring was not damaged, but I need to get a $75 permit from the town hall to do a $150 inspection (I think that's what they said the cost is) before the power can be turned back on. I'll also need to hire someone to repair the ceiling, walls and floor, and clean up the mess of the water and insulation being strewn over everything because I'm disabled and it's difficult for me to do some things.

Being disabled, I only get about $977 a month for my son and I to live off of. We're both autistic and I also have PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, back and heart problems along with several other things. I couldn't afford homeowner's insurance so I have to come up with the money myself somehow. I had also just spent the last of our food benefits on a large grocery order the day before and we ended up losing almost all of that and are now finding out we probably won't get November's food benefits because of the government shut down. The Salvation Army did send us to a hotel for 7 days, but we will need to leave Tuesday morning (today is Sunday) and I don't know where we will go from here.

I'm just at a loss and so overwhelmed right now. I've never done a gofundme and really don't know many people, especially people who would be in a position to help when so many are struggling to get by right now. But if anyone is able to contribute, even a little, it will be a massive help to us and be very appreciated. Thank you!