Three old ladies after the CA fire

UPDATE AT BOTTOM:

Okay, so they aren't OLD LADIES and they are going to kill me for saying that! But they are far too old in my opinion to have to completely start over after losing everything -- everything -- this past week in the aftermath of the wildfire that ravaged, and continues to burn northern California. My mom and Wendi's mom, Kathy Willett, and her sisters age in the 60s and 70s, and their homes and every material possession have been reduced to ash. See further below for details on that, but first some insight into this campaign.

As word of what happened has begun to slowly spread, so many dear loved ones from our youngest years in Indiana and Kentucky through to the present, family, friends from every corner of our worlds, coworkers, neighbors and acquaintances have been asking how they can help. We are so lucky to have you all in our village. It has taken us these days since to scratch the surface of the enormity of what has occurred. And the result, the honest truth, is that contributing to this fund is the very best thing you can do to help with the many and pressing needs of our mom and aunts whose lives were forever changed in the course of only a handful of hours last Thursday.

In the immediate short term, the funds we hope to raise will go for immediate needs: meals, clothing, health and beauty supplies, gasoline, medications, pet boarding and health needs, replacing lost medications and things like contact lenses, replacing documents needed to travel, and lost wages.

Next, the funds could also go a very, very long way towards protecting the feeling of hope and the fighting spirit of our mom, Aunt Peggy and Aunt Judi as they all consider what the future looks like for them now. Longer term, the funds you contribute will help them all to get back on their feet, wherever it is that those feet eventually land. Towards long- or short-term shelter, housing deposits or down payments. Towards plane tickets or long distance auto travel to find refuge with their kids living in other states. Towards shipping automobiles to those new locations. Towards utilities and living expenses when they are finally able to rest and get settled into new homes and new surroundings. Towards furniture and the necessities of home, since every bed, chair, pan and fork will need to be purchased again. Currently, everything is just a bit overwhelming for these women. But while life in general may not have always been easy for some of my family, they've been happy lives which have always been cherished and appreciated. It's our hope that we, and all of us together, can help make the transition to this next unfamiliar phase of life a bit easier.

So, a little bit more about the experience of last Thursday in the Paradise/Chico area of northern California. My family lives/lived in the outer edges of Chico on a piece of beautiful land owned by my aunt and uncle. Thursday started as any other weekday might. With awesomely inane early morning text messages between mom, Wendi and I. But within a few hours, the tone shifted.






They knew a fire had broken out that morning. But it was a distance away. And also, this is California, at the end of fire season. As crazy as it may seem to some, this wasn't necessarily a new kind of threat for them. There had been evacuations before, and the threat of evacuation many times before. By the time the evacuation orders began, our mom and some members of our family were already at work. They had no way to know that morning would be the last time they walked out their front doors. Not long after, the roads were blocked off and canyon residents could get out, but no one could get back in. My other aunts and a cousin who were still in the canyon evacuated their homes.


The canyon where they lived is just over the ridge from Paradise, CA. As you've likely heard from news, much of the entire town of Paradise was destroyed, flattened, burned. The fire was incredibly fast-moving and had taken a turn earlier. Propelled by 40-50 mph winds things changed quickly, leaving little time for reaction. Flames crept over the ridge from Paradise and barreled down towards their property, causing the propane tanks to explode. My uncle, who built his and my aunt's beautiful home with his own hands, had stayed behind to try everything possible to save their home and memories. But watching the encroaching flames, he conceded that there was nothing more able to be done, and he drove away one last time. He was truly lucky to make it out of the smoke-filled canyon. We are all so grateful that he made his way to safety and reunited with everyone else. Here is what is what remains of the homes they left last Thursday morning.




Even today, days later the fire is still burning uncertainly in the area, so they are all still waiting to be able to return to the sites to see for themselves and to take it all in. They're a bit anxious to see if anything at all survived the destruction. An heirloom here, a photo or other memory there. I think after that point they will then be ready to focus on the future and the "what's next".

Whatever you are able to contribute to this fund is appreciated with the entirety of our hearts, and those of our family. Please share with others who may know our family or wish to contribute. Thank you for helping the "next" for mom and for our aunts be a little less unknown.

Our love and gratitude,

Jamie (Willett) DeBrosse & Wendi (Willett) Kamis

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UPDATE FROM FACEBOOK ON 11/14/18

Hello, everyone/contributors/angels in people clothing,

I just wanted to reach out to say a massive THANK YOU for all of you who have taken the time so far to read our mom’s and aunt’s story, and then to donate or share. Or, in the case of many, you’ve done both. I’ve never led a GoFundMe campaign before, and I am so struck with the power of social sharing. The positive impact of those I know is amazing on it’s own, but it ripples and surges with each click of that share button. Yes, that’s the one… down there…bottom right.

Wendi Willett Kamis and I are in contact with mom multiple times each day. Our family members in northern California are tired but they are all hanging in. Because of the unpredictable fire they still cannot get back up to the property, nearly a week later. What I can report is that Mom is physically overwhelmed with gratitude for each of you, for those she has known and loved throughout the story of her life, and for those she has never met. She was a bit hesitant to allow the campaign at all, but eventually the strongest woman I know admitted that it was her turn to let others do the helping. She's a little bit embarrassed by it (the humble, gracious kind), but above all she thanks you. And in true mom fashion her primary concern is how to thank you all personally and individually. Wendi and I will be reaching out to you to express our family’s gratitude. Mom will be so proud to witness that all those years of insisting we write thank you notes is deeply ingrained (thaaanks, mooom).

The support in these early days for our mom, Aunt Judi and Aunt Peggy has been beautiful. Let’s keep it going! I know that’s a mighty big number on the campaign goal. But it’s a mighty big fire and it will take many years to recover from it. I also realize that the news coming from California is overwhelming, but if you've been waiting to peek at my GoFundMe campaign please help us keep our momentum going by 1) reading, 2) donating, and 3) sharing or sharing again, for the other half of your friends the FB algorithm missed the first time around (arrow button…bottom right on Facebook!)

Jamie & Wendi