On February 11, our family experienced a house fire that has changed our lives in ways we are still trying to process.

As we were settling in for bed, an unexpected accident caused a fire that quickly spread through part of our home the entire primary bedroom and up into the attic. In those moments, nothing mattered more than making sure everyone got out safely. We are incredibly grateful to say that everyone made it out of the house. That is something we will never take for granted. Sadly, we lost our beloved family cat in the fire, which has been heartbreaking for our family.

Firefighters responded quickly and worked tirelessly to stop the fire from destroying our entire home. In order to fully extinguish the fire, they had to cut into ceilings, break through walls, and use large amounts of water. We stood outside watching, not knowing if we would ever be able to walk back into our home again.

While we have been told the structure is not a total loss, the damage from fire, smoke, and water is severe. Right now, we do not have a timeline for when we will be able to return home. Many of our personal belongings and household items were destroyed or are no longer safe to use.

In a single night, we lost most of our clothing, shoes, medications, medical equipment, personal care items, furniture, appliances, and basic daily necessities. Our youngest lost all of his toys, clothes, and comfort items. We also lost keepsakes, photographs, and memories that we can never replace.

Right now, our family is separated, with some of us staying in a hotel and others staying with family members while we try to figure out next steps.

Our home has always meant so much more to us than just a place to live. It has been where we built our lives together and where we welcomed others in. During holidays and special occasions, our home was where family and close friends gathered. We always tried to make sure everyone felt welcome, cared for, and like they had a place to belong. Losing that space has been incredibly difficult.

We have always tried to live by showing up for others, whether that meant opening our home, helping loved ones during difficult times, or serving our community through our work and daily lives. Asking for help is not easy for us, but right now we are facing the reality of rebuilding our lives piece by piece.

We are deeply grateful for the support, prayers, messages, and kindness we have already received. Every call, message, and offer of help has reminded us that we are not alone.

Support from this fundraiser will go toward helping us secure temporary housing, replace essential items, cover basic daily needs, and help us begin the process of rebuilding while we work through insurance and long-term plans for our home.

More than anything, we are thankful to be together and safe. Everything else, we will rebuild one step at a time.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for taking the time to read our story, share it, and support our family during this time. Your kindness and support mean more to us than we can fully express.