On Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at approximately 8 pm, a fire broke out in the Astoria apartment building where Stavros and Austeja live.

Stavros and their cat Olive were home in their 3rd-floor apartment as the fire erupted on the 2nd floor, just beneath them. Austeja was returning home at the time when she saw the flames from the street below, and rushed to notify Stavros, their neighbors and call 911. Stavros immediately grabbed their cat and tried to escape down the staircase but there was too much smoke to exit safely. Sadly, Olive ran off and Stavros had to flee without her, sustaining significant injuries as he made his way down the fire escape. He is currently in the hospital and awaiting surgery for calcaneus fractures of both of his feet.

It will be a long road to recovery - Stavros is expected to be wheelchair-bound for months and unable to work for a year or more. The couple is now displaced from their home and has lost many cherished personal belongings. Olive was thankfully rescued by firefighters and has been taken to the vet to be treated for smoke inhalation.

This tragic event has been extremely difficult for Stavros and Austeja. The couple just got engaged earlier this month and were ready to start their lives together. They are a humble couple who wouldn’t feel comfortable asking for anything, but they really could use support. Any contribution is greatly appreciated. Even keeping these two in your thoughts and prayers is more than they could ask for. All funds raised will go towards medical bills, vet bills, housing, and other expenses to rebuild their life.

Please share this link if you can to spread awareness. For more information on this tragedy, here is an article from the New York post:

Six injured in Queens apartment fire people jump