It is with a heavy heart that I write this. My dear sister Talia and brother in law Sean's home became one of the 7000 structures lost to the Eaton Fire in Altadena, CA. These are the times living 3000+ miles away become the most challenging.

They are lucky; they are safe, they listened to the warnings and got out with important paperwork, phones, computers, a couple of pieces of jewelry that had sentimental value, their vehicles, and 3 days’ worth of clothing. Not only have they lost their home and its contents, but the kids' schools, the park they played at, their friends' homes, the things that make Altadena special, are gone within a few hours. Imagine all the comforts that would offer a family some sense of peace during a tragedy, all up in flames.

Of course, they are now in survival mode, looking for housing (this has been "temporarily" secured), purchasing necessities (clothes, shoes, toiletries, medicines, food, towels, bedding), determining when they can even get back to their property to look through ash for even the smallest memento, filing insurance claims, making list upon list upon list. It is daunting, and what has become clear is this is not going to end fast; it will be years before the dust will have settled.

The worry is incredible: How do we help our children cope with all of this? How does our single-income family cover the expenses we are about to incur? How fast will insurance kick in, if it does at all? How do we navigate the amount of paperwork needed to obtain assistance from charities, etc.? How do we get it all done? How has our health been affected by being exposed to all of this smoke and soot?

As you can see they need to start all over, and this is a marathon, not a 5k. So, for Talia, Sean and their amazing children, the family that has supported us through so many ups and downs, I am compelled to ask for help for them. If you can find it in your heart to make a donation, no matter how small, I know it will be appreciated and enable them to tackle the already mounting expenses like rent, mortgage, clothing, and basic necessities.