On Monday, May 19, 2025, our lives changed forever when receiving the news that the home filled with so many memories was burning to the ground. The type of news that everyone says “that won’t happen to me” or “couldn’t be me”. The grief and frustration we are experiencing is not comparable to any previous loss. Having to dig through debris to find even the smallest salvageable item to looking at all that was lost has left us heartbroken. It is something I would never wish upon anyone. Fred nor his dog were hurt during the fire, but his sweet cat was unable to escape and lost her life. We cannot thank the first responders from Carmi Fire, Crossville Fire, Norris City Fire Protection District and New Haven Volunteer Fire Department enough for everything they did during those five hours.