Heartache and loss in Turkey for Ajmal.

My name is Shaun Waite. I am the owner of A Gallery of Floors in Olds Alberta Canada. I am trying to raise funds for one of my contractors whose family has been devastated by the earthquake in Turkey. Ajmal Nikzad (AJ ) has been working in Olds, Alberta Canada for 10+ years with A Gallery of Floors. Our customers love him and rave over his amazing personality, his laugh is contagious. He is our family, his family is our family. He is the lone supporter of his family in Calgary, and his family in Turkey.

Any money raised will go directly to Aj to help him with the expenses of him dealing with the loss of his family members and the future medical expenses for his brother and sister. Their recovery will be long and will need the years of support that come with losing their limbs.

Aj, his wife and his young son need our help. The expenses he is incurring and will continue to incur for many many years to come. Will be large, to say the least. He will continue to work hard for his family because that's who he is. This family is struggling with unimaginable pain and horror.

We will do everything possible to help them at A Gallery of Floors, but we are asking for help for them. Money raised will go to ATB Financial and be distributed to AJ.

His Tragic story.

We received the phone call at 7 am Monday. It was Ajmal or as he is known here at work AJ. He was very distraught. He won't be coming to work today. There's been an earthquake in Turkey where his family is living and has been trying all night to reach them with no success. He has decided he must get over there to try and find his mother, two sisters, and brother. They were all living in a 7-story apartment building.

His long stressful, emotional journey began, and we all awaited some information. Praying for the best.

As the days wore on, news came that he arrived and the shock and horror that he was witnessing from Turkey were realized as the devastation was worse than imagined. The apartment building was a massive pile of rubble. The heart-crushing realization, and panic for AJ knowing that his family was somewhere in there. He stayed by the building feeling helpless, he could see bodies unrecognizable being slowly pulled out. Things he says, no one should see.

Then news came that his brother and sister have been pulled out alive. Relief and hope that maybe things will work out. The good news was followed by pain. AJ's brother had to have his legs amputated, and his sister was in another hospital 6 hours away. She also lost her left leg. AJ stayed by the apartment praying for his mother and sister. time passes and hope begins to fade. Nowhere is there for AJ to stay, schools are filled with bodies. AJ was sleeping on the street.

More heartache comes as his mother and sister are pulled from the rubble. They didn't survive. AJ is left in the street with his sister's and mother's bodies. There is no one to help. He stays by their side all night in freezing temperatures until he can have them moved and give them a proper burial. I am sure at this time his very soul is crushed.

AJ, his wife, and his young son's long and painful journey are just beginning.

He had been trying for so long to get his family to Canada after fleeing Afghanistan. His mother was a school principal. He is the main breadwinner for his family and has been a very hard-working man. He has been an unbelievable role model for many who have come to Canada. They coached kids' soccer (football) in Didsbury, AB when they lived there and volunteered to help anyone when needed. They truly were model citizens. He takes a lot of pride in his work installing flooring for us in the Olds, and Mountain View county areas.

He must now turn to the surviving members of his family and try to figure out how to help them as their lives are too forever changed. Horrifically ripped from them. They need help and we are asking for your help. Your donations are greatly appreciated.

Thank you and pray for all the families whose lives have been forever altered by this unimaginable tragedy.

Sincerely and respectfully,

Shaun Waite