Hurricane Helene Landslide Recovery from Losing Everything.

On Sept 27th at 9:30 am Everything I owned was destroyed, I was packing some stuff to go to the Garren Creek fire station Located on Flat Creek Rd across the street from where I was living. I heard a very loud boom. As I looked out my back window of my camper, I saw a landslide I estimate to be at least 21 feet tall. I froze in panic.

My camper, my car and everything I owned was completely destroyed. Everything in my camper began to crumble. My camper began to spin and some of the 2x4's that were holding the structure together made there way to my face. I thought my head was going to explode from all the pressure.

I heard a voice say " that is close enough." And everything stoped moving.

I thought I was dead. I opened my eyes, I saw daylight. I started to try to yell for help, it came out like a soft moan. I heard the same voice say "Christopher you have to save yourself, no one is coming to save you." Soaking wet, covered in mud and exhausted I was unable to move my head or shoulders.

I could move my arms and hands, I started moving pieces of wood from around my body's so I could move my hips and legs. I pushed upward on the roof that had collapsed in on top of me to get my shoulders and head free . I pulled myself out of the pile of wood and rubble that was once my home. My camper was moved about 100 yards from where it was located by earth, wood and water.

Power lines were down and rain was falling, looking back I am not sure how I was not electrocuted. I saw my elder neighbor Sam, most of his clothes were ripped off of him.

My neighbor Kevin yelled for me to go under his carport. I thought to myself I will do what ever you want just please stop yelling, as soon as I got there and laid down in the gravel of his carport , I heard a youthful fireman yell in fear, "Holy S***, here comes another landslide."

So I ran to the fire department by myself. I was so badly injured I didn't have the energy to help anyone and thought there are two unharmed fire fighters that could provide the help to my elder neighbor, if I help myself that is one less thing they have to worry about.

There were 3 landslides total. Had I not listened to that voice I heard I believe I would have drowned. The reports say the land slide went for 17 miles.

In excruciating pain I took a shower at the fire station and did the best I could to clean myself up. I know most of the fire fighters by a first name basis and I asked them for an oxygen tank because I knew it would at least calm me down. It took about 10 hours for an ambulance to get close enough for the Sheriff's side-by-side to transport me and my neighbor Sam to the ambulance, which was located just beyond the Echo Lake Mountain entrance.

I've lived in the area for about 17 years; it was completely unrecognizable. I knew the area so well I use to travel the mountain roads in my mind as a child to fall a sleep at night.

I have been very independent for the past 4 years. I don't enjoy asking for help, but right now I have to humble myself and ask for help. I learned that I was 1 of 4 survivors that were injured during this landslide. I have had two surgeries and anesthesia twice.

The first surgery I woke up on a breathing tube down my throat and had to pass a breathing test before they could remove the tube, the second surgery went so well I woke up with out the tube down my throat.

Because of the swelling I could not open my mouth so I was eating through a small tube they placed in my nose during the second surgery. I am still battling and infection. I am an Insulin dependant diabetic which makes infections much worse.

At one point I had 12 Iv's for fluids and antibiotics. Most of the swelling has gone down and I am now taking very strong antibiotics through a mid line which is similar to an IV, although it is placed in an artery which flow directly to my heart. Progress is being made on my healing journey but I am not out of the woods just yet. We all deal with trauma differently.

When I first began to speak again I sounded like I had a South African accent. I understand now that it was partially because of the swelling but mainly to put my story in the third person rather than replaying the trauma over again in my mind.

I am writhing this from my hospital bed. It is Monday Oct 14th. I am confident I can get back everything I lost through hard work and determination. Although I am asking for help with my medical and dental bills because I do not have medical insurance. I assume I will need another surgery to align my jaw correctly.

Clarification for Use of Funds

***I will use the funds for my basic needs, such as shelter, food, clothing, transportation, fuel for transportation, diabetic supplies, medication, bills, medical bills and dental bills, until I can work again. I enjoy working hard to earn my living, although right now I have a fractured; rib, nose, left front temporal lobe and jaw and will need some time to heal before I am able to start working again.

Right now I am very lucky and very fortunate to be alive. I am open to sharing my story of inspiration with large or small groups, how faith and that voice inside of you is always pointing you towards safety health and harmony. A Share Means Just As Much To Me As A Donation, Thank You For Your Support. Love, Christopher.