The Howard Family Assistance Fund

Hello friends and family,

While I wish I was able to greet everyone with good news, I need to beg favor instead... On Father's day, while we were away having dinner with our kids and grandkids, our kitchen caught fire. Even though we hadn't use the stove top or oven for two days, our garbage cans melted on our stove top, leaking down to a laundry basket containing all of our under clothes and socks. This became a small but extremely smoky and toxic fire. My poor, amazingly wonderful dogs were home alone.

We are utterly in shock and disbelief right now, and can not figure out how this tragedy happened. The only thing we can possibly theorize is that Hoho, always a jumper and angry for being left home, got up on the shoe rack and jumped to the stove, somehow turning on a burner and knocking the trashcans down. The shoe rack was in front of the kitchen door way when I threw the cooler of water on it.

Despite the heroic efforts of Torren, who found Hoho through thick haze, and Xander who scooped up JJ right behind him, we were unable to save our fur babies. Unbeknownst to me the fire had already been going for a while and the modified CPR I tried was unsuccessful. I did not want to stop because I couldn't say goodbye to two of the best girls in the whole world. We had to bury them the same night.

Our kitchen is a complete loss. All of our furniture is a complete loss. A very large portion of our books, Star Wars collectables, Pez, my Lego Home Alone House, Lego Harry Potter toys and music memorabilia are also gone. The Howard Hall of fame, which contained the best of our pictures and achievements no longer exists.

Upon asking our landlord when we might be able to move back in we were told, "that wont be possible'. As of right now we are blessed to be staying with our oldest son, Eric, who has been unbelievably accommodating during the insanity the fire has caused. We are hoping to have help from the American Red Cross to find housing as soon as possible.

We hate to ask for help, but we need help for our children, if not ourselves. All help is appreciated, including: prayers, good wishes, kind and healing thoughts. All our love and hug your loved ones tight! -Holly, Dewayne, Eric, James, Xander, Max, and Torren