Yvonne Smith's Recovery

Thank you for taking a moment to review this campaign. The following is a description of the impetus for this campaign, an overview of the financial need, and additional ways to show your support. 

THE REASON 

Yvonne Smith and her 17-year-old son, Jalen, lost their home to a house fire that ignited the kitchen and spread throughout the home on the evening of Friday, November 2nd, 2018. (LINK TO NEWS STORY )

On the evening of the fire, Jalen jumped out of his bedroom window, quickly grabbed his neighbors and with help pulled his mother out of the home. Yvonne was rushed to the burn unit at Temple University where she is currently in a medically induced coma while she recovers from  2nd-degree burns that cover the upper half of her body. Jalen escaped the fire with a few cuts and is currently recovering from smoke inhalation. 

While her friends and family are hopeful for a complete recovery, the journey will be long and arduous. The purpose of this Go Fund Me campaign is to collect donations, of any size, to help Yvonne and Jalen begin to rebuild. The following is a description of the expenses for which we are collecting donations.

THE NEED

Medical Expenses
Yvonne is a contract employee and does not have medical insurance. Due to the nature of Yvonne's burns, recovery and associated medical expenses are expected to be exorbitant. She will need pain management services, pharmacological intervention, rehabilitation, new glasses, and she may need surgery to restore some areas of her body that are particularly severe. Your donation will support Yvonne's journey to recovery. 

Home Rehabilitation
The entry level of Yvonne's home, including the kitchen dining and living room,  were consumed by the fire. The second level of the home is covered in ash. Yvonne is a culinary enthusiast. All of her cooking supplies were demolished in the fire and what was left was tossed out on to the front lawn by the Fire Department. Your donation will support the domestic rehabilitation of Jalen and Yvonne’s home.

Basic Needs
The family's basic needs include clothing, such as school clothing for Jalen and work clothes for Yvonne. Other items that will be needed include hygiene and personal care items. They will need all of those items that we typically take for granted. 


OTHER WAYS TO  SUPPORT

Lift up Jalen
Jalen is in his senior year of high school, he carries a 4.0 GPA, a passion for basketball and is excited about college. While supporting his mother's recovery, he will also be applying to college. All forms of support are welcomed to ensure Jalen knows he is supported while his number one cheerleader recovers. 

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Nourish the soul 
"I came...I saw...I cooked" is the tagline of Yvonne's catering business. She was devoted to creating culinary experiences for her clients. During her recovery, let's surround Yvonne and her son with "good for your soul food". All food donations are welcomed. 
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Lend your hands 
Shameka, Yvonne's sister, will be the primary caretaker while Yvonne recovers. Any words of encouragement or helping hands are welcomed.