Help Amarion after Devastating Loss of Parent, Home & Fire

In February of last year, I faced one of the hardest moments of my life — I lost my mom to complications from sickle cell anemia something I also struggle with. Her body was too weak to fight off pneumonia, and I held her in my arms as she took her last breath. Losing her was devastating, especially since I had already lost my father to health complications in 2016. Suddenly, I was left without either of my parents and without the family support I desperately needed.

After my mom passed, I couldn’t stay in the house where she had died. The memories were too painful, and with family complications, there weren’t many welcoming arms to turn to. I ended up leaving Compton, a place that had always been tough to grow up in, searching for a fresh start and a better life.

For a time, I stayed with friends and occasionally with my girlfriend’s family, who welcomed me into their home in Altadena. I started working for their family business, saving money for trade school and trying to rebuild my life. It felt like I was finally on a path toward something better.

But tragedy struck again. The Eaton fire swept through Altadena and Sierra Madre, destroying my girlfriend’s family home and their entire neighborhood. They lost everything — their home, their belongings, and the business they had worked so hard to build. Now, they too are homeless, with nothing left to their name.

I’ve also lost everything. The fire destroyed my belongings, my computer, and the tools I had been using to save for school. My savings have been drained trying to survive without a steady income, and once again, I’m starting from scratch.

Despite everything, I’m still holding on to hope for a better future. I’m reaching out for support not just for myself, but also to help the family who gave me a place to belong when I had nowhere else to go.

Any help you can offer would mean the world to me during this incredibly difficult time. Thank you for taking the time to hear my story and for any support you’re able to provide.