Damage to Home Restoration (Dmg photos in Story)

Hi, my name is Ashton. I'll start off by saying, thank you for taking time to read about this cause. If you can't donate, please feel free to share. This is a fundraiser to help 2 very important people in my life who have gone through something traumatic and devastating in a short amount of time.

These two start with their own story, but in the end, come together with one goal in mind. That goal is to be able to help change our future by instilling love, acceptance, guidance, and support into the children they ever have care of. The goal for them is to be able to raise a family of their own.

Where do I start with Shiana? Oh, that's right! We didn't agree with each other when our paths first crossed. Mutually connected by my wife and boy, did we have it out for each other. I can't even recall over what. Since then, we have been inseparable and have become the best of friends! She was in my wedding, cried by my side when any negatives entered my life. I have watched her help her single mother raise her young sister. Oh, trust me. Shiana has all the love to give to give children in the world. She has crossed many paths with children. All while giving love, advice, and guidance. There is nothing she wouldn't do to be a mother or a mother-like figure in a child's life.

Now to start with Hailey. I think Hailey and I never really knew each other during our teenage years. We knew of each other because her and my wife would hang out from time to time. I just never knew about her too much. We reconnected and got extremely close these past few years and have definitely created a relationship strong enough to laugh about inside jokes. We've opened up to each other and it's been a fun journey. Hailey comes from a background where it was about survival. A trial she never thought she would actually survive, but she did. That is what made her grow stronger, more knowledgeable, and now she holds that desire to be a parent to a child.

Let's talk about them as a couple! It's funny how time works, isn't it? You go to school with someone, you split apart because of life's reasoning. Then somehow, you manage to waltz back into each other's life and it's like that flame never faded or dimmed. Steadily for about 2 years, they've managed to hold a strong relationship. Shiana proposed to Hailey in November 2022.

They started to build a life together in July of 2022. With that life, came building a home. A home that was filled with memories, love, and compassion. Their home is something they take pride in. It has been a safe space for anyone who walks through their door.

They began their journey of fostering in August of 2022. They excelled in their classes, met wonderful people along the way, learned the ins and outs of providing safety within their home. Finally, December of 2022, they were certified with foster care. Added with that came CPR certification, medication regulation, etc.

They received a call the last of January. Their dream had come true! A child needed a placement and without hesitation, Hailey and Shiana screamed yes! They were ready to show this child the way of what it meant to be in a home filled with love, memories, compassion, guidance, and stability. They were ready to saddle up and become what most humans desire...a family.

Months were great. They were rocky, but they both knew it was great. A child looked to them with the need for self-reassurance of guidance and love. They poured their heart into long talks, walks, appointments, late nights of being sick.

I mean let's face it. Every child comes with a little attitude, right? If they didn't, would we ever seem them as a child. Children of the system deserve an attitude for all the things they experience along the way. Shiana and Hailey were ready though. They just weren't ready for that night...

How many times can you assure a child to hold on a little while longer? Everything is going to work out just fine? I'm here for you? I love you? I'll feed you? I'll cloth you? The answer is not enough! Not enough when the system can't provide enough. Not enough when the system never experiences it and has to find a placement at the drop of the hat.

That night was a dark night. For all involved. Take it from me, I lived it. Remember? I told you they were my best friends. Cops had to be called to remove the diefiant child from fhr home. EMS had to be on site to note any injuries. The fear hit every single one of us when that child threw the first glass. The look of defeat crossed Shiana and Hailey's face after the damage was done. A child of the system had the ability to cause 6 to 8k of damages. From dishes, pots and pans, food, shattered makeup pallets, broken picture frames, smashed televisions, bleach doused all over their clothes, bleach all over their bed.

How did this happen? You may ask. Here's the answer...we don't know. There are many questions that come to mind with all of this. One thing we do know is that child had to be removed from the home and placed in a detention center. Their future has been darkened with their history. Something that the 2 people I look up to for going down the road of foster care were prepared to help this angst teen rewrite.

The most heart wrenching part is the system has never even had a case like this happen where we live. They don't even know how to handle it. That terrifies me for Hailey and Shiana. Where and when is the system going to start implementing the training for these foster parents when they have children who become defiant because they have had so much uncertainty in their life?

Hailey and Shiana lost memories. They have lost that feeling of calling that place their home because of the terror that happened. I've walked down their halls, stepped on shattered glass, seen the walls with holes in them, smelled the food that lay on their flooring. I have gone through their bleach filled room and pilfered through their closet to see they have no clothes.

I know this isn't going to break their spirit of helping children and being able to provide a safe space for these kids that are too scared to lay their head down at night. Of course, it has taken a toll on the two of them mentally, but once the recovery starts, they will be back on the path of foster care.

Things they have lost:

Dishes

Pots and Pans

Drinkware

Incense diffusers

Picture frames

Makeup

Perfumes

Clothes

Hair products

Can openers

Knives

Food

Bedding

Televisions

(There has been damage done to every room of their home. The pictures below don't do it justice.)

Now it's up to them to see where they stand on getting state funded help to do the cleanup on their home. A home where they are bound under a lease. I know they're strong, but how much more uncertainty are they going to have to go through?

Thank you again for reading this. They will have to tell their stories to others when the time is right. I know they will prevail as they have a huge group of support standing behind them. Every dollar counts. Even if you cannot donate, just sharing the word will make a big difference.

I will be setting up a PO Box next week for anyone who thinks of them and would just like to send them a card. All money received will be used in effort of cleaning their home, clothing them, and putting food back into the pantry. Stay on the lookout for updates and the PO Box information!