Dear friends,

I am coming to you with a truly heartbreaking story. A terrible tragedy has befallen my dear great aunt Shirley and her son Matt.

My Aunt Shirley is a kind, elderly woman who lived a quiet life in her home with her son Matt for many years. Recently, all that has changed ever since the neighbor behind them was attempting to weld his fence and by accident sparked an enormous fire that engulfed my aunt's home. A neighbor ran into their home and pulled her from her bedroom. She escaped with just the clothes on their backs—no shoes, phone, anything! Unfortunately, her house was paid off, leaving them without the protection of insurance.

While I am grateful they survived, the devastation does not end there. Three of their beloved cat companions perished in the flames as well. The fire responders faced challenges as the closest fire hydrant was faulty. Precious moments were lost as they connected hoses from farther away, resulting in the near total loss of their home.

To further compound the anguish, the neighbor who started the fire didn't call 911 and instead fled the scene. Shirley and Matt now have no choice but to rely on the outcome of the fire investigation.

My heart truly aches. At 80 years old, starting completely over seems an insurmountable challenge. She and Matt now have absolutely nothing. I am hoping that through this GoFundMe, we can come together to offer them desperately needed support, as the future is uncertain. Please consider helping if you are able.