On the night of December 8, 2025, my sister’s life changed forever. She is a 32-year-old single mother to her daughter Nyla (13) and son Raymond (5). In a matter of minutes, a devastating fire tore through their home, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs. At the time, my sister was being transported by paramedics to the hospital for issues related to her chronic illness when she received the call that her house was on fire and her son was trapped inside. As flames spread and smoke filled the house, Raymond suffered from smoke inhalation and passed out. He had to be rescued by the Sacramento Fire Department, to whom we are very grateful. Thankfully, Nyla acted quickly and got out to seek help from neighbors. Raymond is now out of the hospital and recovering, but the trauma of that night will stay with them for a long time.


While losing their home and all their belongings and trying to keep it together—especially now during the Christmas holiday season—my sister is also facing her own major health challenges. She is on dialysis several times a week, which makes it nearly impossible to work, rebuild, or even manage daily tasks on her own. Despite everything, she is doing her best to stay strong for her children and to start over from nothing. The road ahead is long, but with support, she can begin to rebuild a safe and stable life for Nyla and Raymond.


Any support, no matter how small, will help them find shelter, food, and other necessities as they work to recover from this tragedy. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for reading their story and for any help you are willing or able to give. Your kindness will make a world of difference as they try to heal and start anew. Happy Holidays.