Carey and Lumi's New Home

Here are Carey and Lumi.

Carey and Lumi live in the tiny rural community of Hope, Alaska. They love it!

Hope gets a lot of snow.

It also gets some mud.

And occasionally, nice summer days.

There are also indoor activities when all that gets old.

(Incidentally, hot cocoa powder is not very easy to clean up. Also, the dogs preferred Cheerios day.)

There's really no end to the fun in Hope!

So, they decided to stay.

Since Hope loves them, too, a neighbor gave them a house! (summer 2023)

It just needed a little work.

They've been laboring for months to turn that old house into their new home!

Things were close to wrapping up. They were so excited to move in!

But last night (January 17), while everyone was away, something terrible happened to their home.

Anyone who knows Carey knows that she is the strongest, most generous, optimistic, adventurous, hard-working, and kind person you might ever hope to meet. She has raised her daughter Lumi since she was born to parents who couldn't take care of themselves. Carey's happiest day was just before Lumi's second birthday, when she and Lumi were allowed to officially become family. Anyone who knows Lumi knows how much she shares her mother's enthusiasm for life's experiences. ALL of them.

Raising a young child in rural Alaska as a single mother is no easy task. Especially when one lives in a dry cabin. Far from family, grocery stores, and medical care. Carey has worked as a nurse until complications from her Parkinson's disease - diagnosed 20 years earlier than most cases - forced her early retirement. The bar for disability funding for those with Parkinson's, however, requires her symptoms to become much worse. Far from complacent, Carey has been able to support herself and her daughter since by housesitting, pet sitting, cleaning, working at Hope's only store, and living frugally. Lumi has been thriving in their outdoor-loving close-knit community.

Carey put everything she had into their home.

Which was not insured.

And now there is nothing.

We are asking for your financial support in helping Carey and Lumi rebuild. If you have ideas or skills you'd like to contribute, please let us know.

Carey does have a place to stay for the time being and we are grateful that none of their warm clothes or photos were lost.

Thank you