Together for Donna: Rebuilding a Life in Maui

On August 8th, 2023, wildfires broke out in Lahaina, Maui destroying over 1000 homes and leading to injury and loss of life.. I was fortunate enough to visit Maui on a medical disaster relief trip, where I had the opportunity to give patients in the area free medical care as a current medical student of the University of Toledo. I learned much about the disaster from these patients' perspectives, some of whom were directly affected. Donna Wright, a 63-year-old lady who visited our clinic, shared her story of the devastating wildfires in her neighborhood - It was a horror, with so many lives lost and her own trauma continuing to haunt her.

It all began with a frantic phone call from her friend, unable to access her home due to the damages of the fire. As Donna and her partner fought their way through chaotic traffic to reach their home, they were shaken by deafening explosions. They couldn't help but wonder, "Were those the propane tanks? It can't be! Our house isn't burnt down; there's no way…" Little did they know those explosions weren’t just propane tanks, they were boats exploding right in front of their homes where they were parked.

When they finally arrived, they were devastated to find they couldn't get inside their house. They tried to reassure their cats - who were stuck inside – but for a compassionate cat owner like herself, it was a realization that cut deep.

Donna went on to describe the moment when a massive piece of rooftop nearly decapitated her, had she not ducked in time. People told her to seek shelter indoors. But as she witnessed the wildfire steadily advancing towards her neighbors homes, with nobody coming to save them, she urged everyone around her to evacuate.

Amid the chaos, Donna heard a police officer's siren – one that no longer signaled help, that instead signaled a desperate plea for the officer's own survival. She faced a stark reality: either head for the ocean or try to follow the police officer to safety

They chose the latter, navigating through a landscape that seemed straight out of a nightmare.

She described the sky as a horrifying blend of black and red, with the sky above and the world around them engulfed in flames. People were desperately pounding on car windows, begging for help, but the intense heat made it impossible to offer aid. Donna, who dared to lower her windows, ended up with painful facial burns.

It was a perilous journey. By the time they finally reached safety, other officers tried to block their exit, but they rightfully refused to be stopped. They sped onto an empty highway, contrasting starkly with the blocked streets behind them.

She had a neighbor, an ordinary person like anyone else, recently delighted to be riding his new Camaro and whatnot. Finding himself in a situation of wildfires closing in on his home, he couldn't accept his reality. He refused to leave his home; he clung to the symbol of his normal life amidst the chaos. He did so until he was eventually left with no choice but to swim a 6 hour battle throughout the ocean to make it out alive.

She knew of a group of children with no parents who had to jump into the water, relying on the help of brave adults who took turns assisting them. Similarly, it took the group an eight hour swim to finally find safety.

Donna's heartache extended to her best friend of 40 years, who returned to help others but was fatally struck by a burning piece of wooden roof in the process. It extended to the young ones in her neighborhood who couldn’t make it, like Tony - an innocent 6-year-old who loved playing with their pets. Tragically, the fire took away the future he should have had.

Donna believed the official death toll of at least 115 to likely be an underestimate, given the number of bodies she witnessed in her neighborhood:

She recounted seeing several people unsuccessfully attempt to climb gates to escape the fires, only to be consumed by the flames.

She shared a chilling account of a man who snuck back into the evacuated area and discovered not only his safe box of cash but also five lifeless bodies in his backyard.

She spoke of a group of men who initially thought they could bypass the police barricade. Although the police officer, likely still in shock himself, did not stop them, they quickly retreated in fear upon witnessing the multitude of dead bodies surrounding them.

I paused my work at the clinic to listen to Donna's story, understanding that sometimes the most crucial part of the healing journey is having someone to share the pain with. Donna is grappling with the invisible wounds left behind - she carries the heavy burdens of trauma as well as the overwhelming guilt of having survived where many others she has known for the past 40 years did not. These invisible scars haunt her every day and night, especially when she closes her eyes.

Your contribution will provide the means to rebuild the life she once had—the kind of normal life that you and I take for granted every day. More than that, it will provide essential resources for recovering from her trauma. Currently without a home, and having lost many of the people she held dear over the past 40 years of her life in Maui, Donna needs our help.

I'm John Najjar, currently based in Ohio, USA, and I have initiated a fundraiser to assist Donna in getting back on her feet. I would deeply appreciate your contribution as I'm pleading not for money, but for your humanity. Know that any contribution, no matter its size, will link with others to make a significant difference in Donna's life. Together, we can help a surviving couple who has lost so very much to regain their footing. 100% of these donations will be sent from here to them. Please join us in supporting their journey to recovery. ✊❤️