Help Robin and Brenda Farabaugh Rebuild After a Devastating Thanksgiving House Fire
On Thanksgiving night, our family lived through one of the most terrifying moments of our lives. My elderly parents’ home—the place they had planned to spend the rest of their lives at—completely burned. While my mother's quick acting saved all of our lives, my parents have lost everything, and as I write this, my brother is still hospitalized from significant smoke inhalation and is now being transferred to Loyola University in Chicago.
I’m starting this GoFundMe because my parents are overwhelmed, heartbroken, and unsure how to begin again. They would never ask for help themselves, but they desperately need it right now.
What Happened
Around 11:30 PM on Thanksgiving, Brenda heard two loud pops coming from the basement. She went down to check and saw an orange glow under the storage room door. When she opened it, she found the room fully engulfed—her clothes and all their seasonal belongings that she kept there already on fire.
She raced upstairs, yelling, “Fire! Get out!”
The rest of us were sleeping.
Within seconds of her waking me, thick, black smoke filled my bedroom. It wasn’t normal smoke—it burned like chemicals. I dropped to my knees, pressed a blanket over my face to breathe, and got out as fast as I could. I barely had time to grab a pair of pants, but not quick enough to find a shirt, shoes, or a coat.
My brother didn’t make it out as quickly, and hearing him yelling from somewhere inside the house that he couldn’t find the way out was terrifying. Once outside, he collapsed on the ground and struggled to breathe. He was taken to the hospital and has been kept there on oxygen and IV fluids. He keeps describing what he coughs up as “wet ashtray ashes.”
What Was Lost
The house is completely gone. I don't think anything is really salvageable.
My parents Brenda and Robin lost all their clothing, furniture, and belongings.
Years of memories—photos, family keepsakes, everything….
The fire crews told us how close we came. The room I was staying in was engulfed in flames shortly after I escaped. We’re shaken, grieving, and exhausted—but grateful that everyone made it out alive.
Why We’re Asking for Help
My parents are in shock. They don’t know where to begin. For now, their immediate needs are:
- Temporary housing
- Clothing and basic essentials
- Medical costs for my brother's hospitalization
- Replacement of destroyed medications
- Daily living necessities
- Beginning steps toward rebuilding their home
Insurance will help some, but it won’t begin to cover the total cost of starting life over. They need support to bridge the gap between emergency survival and long-term recovery.
Anything you can give—no matter how big or small, or simply sharing this link—will help ease a burden that feels crushing right now.
Thank you for reading, for caring, for supporting us however you can. Every donation helps my parents take one small step toward rebuilding their lives from this devastating loss.