<div>On July 15th, my sister Rachel and her partner Bijan woke up at 2am to the smell of smoke and a house fire spreading rapidly. In the eight minutes between their 911 call and the fire department's arrival, the house was fully engulfed in flames, and the roof collapsed shortly after.
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<div>In those few frantic minutes, Rachel and Bijan's only focus was finding their three beloved cats. Despite their best efforts, the smoke and heat overwhelmed them, and they were only able to save one of them.
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<div>Like most pet owners, Rachel and Bijan considered their cats family, and losing two of them is the most painful loss they've sustained in this tragedy, among many. The house itself was originally our grandparents' home for 31 years and has stayed in the family for the seven years since. When Rachel and Bijan moved to the Portland area two years ago for work, they decided to rent it.
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<div>They fell in love with that house in an entirely new way, making it their own alongside the many childhood memories that lived in every corner. Rachel's home office sat right next to the spot where we spent hours on end playing Duck Hunt and Bubble Bobble on an original Nintendo with our cousins as kids.
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<div>One of the pictures included here is a side by side of Rachel in the backyard at two years old, and then sitting in that exact same spot just a month ago. Watching a house that held so much of our history burn down around you adds another layer of grief that will never fully go away.
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<div>Beyond the shock and emotional devastation, Rachel and Bijan now face the financial burden of sudden displacement and the overwhelming task of rebuilding their lives after losing everything they owned.
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<div>Nothing can lessen the trauma of an event like this or the grief of losing the fur babies they loved more than anything. But we hope to ease the immense financial pressure of scrambling to land on their feet, so they can begin the process of starting over and eventually find a new normal.
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<div>We're asking for help to support Rachel and Bijan as they navigate this incredibly difficult time and the many challenges that follow losing everything in a fire. Funds raised will go toward temporary housing, essential items, clothing, household goods, long-term recovery costs, and any other unforeseen expenses that come at them along the way.
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<div>Any amount will make a meaningful difference, no matter how small. If you're able to give, thank you. If you're not, sharing this page would mean just as much. On behalf of Rachel, Bijan, and everyone who loves them, thank you for your kindness and generosity. It truly means the world to us.
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Support for Rachel and Bijan After Devastating House Fire

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