Sally Gagala Valencia Lahaina fire victim

I am fundraising for my cousin, Sally Gagala Valencia.

During the chaotic evacuation of the Lahaina wildfires, she suffered physical injuries. As the driver of her car headed away from the fires, the streets became consumed with thick black smoke and flying embers. They panicked when they could not see the road and feared they would lose their lives if the fire reached their car.

In the pandemonium, their vehicle collided with another car and Sally’s right hip and left arm was crushed in the impact. Because of excruciating pain, she couldn’t move. Thankfully, the driver’s screams for help were heard by Maui Police Officers. MPD carried her out of the damaged car and transported her in a police vehicle to safety where an ambulance then transported her to Maui Memorial.

That night, as 67 mph winds ripped through Maui and the fires devastated thousands of lives and homes in her hometown of Lahaina, Sally was airlifted to a hospital on Oahu Island. She underwent two surgeries for a total hip and to repair her broken arm. She is now recovering in a rehab facility on Oahu.

Like many of Lahaina’s residents, Sally is still processing the events of August 8th and its aftermath, navigating FEMA and insurance claims, and basically just trying to figure out the future. However, she is also facing medical bills, months of physical therapy, and an uncertain future.

Both of her adult children’s homes and two of her sisters’ homes were completely burned and destroyed in the fire. Many of them escaped with only the clothes they were wearing. With the help of the Maui community, they have all been placed in hotels or other family’s homes.

Sally is a loving mother and grandmother. She immigrated from the Philippines in the early 1980s and worked as a housekeeper in a Maui hotel to support her family until she retired. Like many retirees, she is on a fixed income and this tragedy is hitting hard.

Please help with a donation through GoFundMe or through Venmo at @Sally-Valencia-1

Also, please share this story with others so we can help Sally with her medical bills and recovery. We thank you so much for your help and prayers.