Surviving Dorian - Bob, Christine & Yael Sawyer

Hurricane Dorian sat over the beautiful island of Abaco, and took everything we called home. 

It is hard to put into words how devastating this has been for me and my family.  Bob Sawyer (my father) is 70 years old and built our home over 30 years ago with the help of other family members, and has never known anything else. It hurts my heart to watch my father so emotionally distraught. He spent days preparing our home for what we thought would be any other hurricane that our strong home has always survived. He also spent a lot of time assisting and preparing family friends homes who were unable. Shutters & nails, four days straight.. 

Finally, the storm was near and we all assumed it was time for some rest. Wrong. 

Dorian shot a tree vertically into our roof within the first few hours. 
We thought this was the worst, little did we know this was only the beginning. Fortunately my father was able to secure the tree to the ceiling to prevent further damage, and once the eye approached, he climbed unto the roof and did his best to patch the hole. 

My dad spent the entire hurricane rebuilding our house as it was being destroyed. He saved our lives. 

Christine.. my dear mother. The role played by my mother can never be downplayed. Preparing meals, and keeping us all mentally intact was crucial to our survival. We all spent countless days and nights dumping buckets and buckets of water out of our house. It became emotionally draining to see them fill again so quickly. In what I consider the peak of hurricane Dorian, I began hyperventilating as I honestly began to feel like we were about to lose it all, including our lives. I remember looking at my parents begging for reassurance that we would be okay. It was the first time in my entire life that I could see the fear in their eyes and the helplessness they felt. During the eye, we considered leaving. My father insisted that my mother and I leave to a shelter. 

In the end, we decided against it. We stuck together, because that's what family does. Whatever was going to happen, it would happen to us together. 

And we made it. We lost windows, and suffered roof damage and most of our belongings were destroyed. 

It was such a blessing compared to homes which we completely wiped out. But, we lost our entire island.  After the storm, my mother immediately tried to salvage what we had left, and my father scavenged the island for any materials to try to repair what was left of our home. 

But in the end, it didn't matter what we had left because we couldn't stay. We left everything behind, including our dignity. 

It is hard for us all but it is tearing me apart watching my parents in this state. I have never seen it before. They have always protected me and gone to extreme lengths to provide for me. But now they have lost it all, and it is my time to take care of them. Unfortunately, we do not have the means to survive, and this is why I have decided to start this Go Fund me, to help us restart. We are still unsure where we will live, and how long it will be until we are able to return to our island. However, as of now, we still need so many basic necessities, as well as money for temporary housing. I am hoping that once the island has been cleared, we will be able to return and try to rebuild our home using these funds. 

I cannot express how every dollar counts. On behalf of me and my family, we sincerely appreciate any donation made. 

All the best, and I hope that together all of us of the islands of Abaco and Freeport will be able to move forward following this terrible tragedy.