Sometimes bad things happen to good people...

My name is James Deschaine, and my family has experienced a tremendous tragedy. My wife, Jessica, two year old daughter, and I have lost everything in an apartment fire in Tempe on June 14th.

I had just landed in Maine for my ex father-in-law's funeral earlier that morning. Approximately four hours after my arrival, I got a call from my wife telling me our home was on fire. With me across the country and our daughter at daycare, my wife was all alone when three lithiumion batteries spontaneously combusted in the spare bedroom. Within minutes, our entire unit was engulfed, leaving very little time for my wife to make it out. Luckily, our dog, Sadie Rose, was also able to escape. However, our cats were not as fortunate, left to perish along with everything else we owned.

Our daughter doesn't quite understand what's happened and keeps asking where her kitties and other favorite toys and comfort items are. We went from having everything to absolutely nothing in a matter of minutes. It is said that a forest grows back greener after it burns, and that's the thought that keeps us going.

We are reaching out for help - whether it be a donation or even just a share, we are grateful for any and all attempts to help us rebuild.

Thank you,

- The Deschaines