Dvorak Family Support Fund

This is for my dear friend and his family, Jude Dvorak. Here is their story through his words: I don’t know where to begin. I have suffered such great loss in my life. And Christmas night I suffered another. At 1 am December 26 our lives were forever changed. A fire broke out on our front porch. I was awoken by the RING doorbell from a neighbor who saw the fire and our hero dog Bailey barking. My brother in law was also yelling from downstairs that there was a fire outside. I got Sherry up and ran downstairs. Ava and Bailey were able to quickly get outside. I called 911. Then as the windows started popping the fire entered our beautiful home. I tried to swat it out with a blanket. But it was really too late. We had to exit. I ran out and somehow found the keys to the car and backed it out of the garage. Luckily Jimmy -Sherrys brother was there to help guide Sherry and her mother to find the door out since the house was engulfed in smoke and darkness. I had thought they were already out. Thank God we made out alive. Within minutes the entire house was in flames and proceeded to burn to the ground.

My heart is heavy and we are so devastated by this incredibly horrific loss. It’s not the stuff inside. It’s the memories and mementos we lost. Ava’s drawings from when she was a kid. Family heirlooms that we had just received. That is the loss.

But now I am even more overwhelmed by the tremendous support and love from our wonderful neighborhood, close friends, family and our whole town. Who all immediately sprang into action to help my family. I am forever indebted to them all. We are so incredibly lucky and blessed. We are alive and have each other. I will never take anything for granted. Nor should you. Love your family friends and neighbors. I thank God for them. And I truly do not know how we would make it through this without all their help. We will rebuild and make more memories. But for now it’s just getting through the day and taking that first step to begin our new journey.