Helping the Adams Rebuild
Donation protected
It was 2:38AM on Tuesday, August 19 when a megaphone in the distance vaguely formed the words EVACUATE, EVACUATE… The smoke in the air woke Jessica abruptly to realize that the power was out. Moments later, a police officer passing by alerted her to abandon the home that she and Seth worked so hard for to make their own, raise their children and see them grow.
That night, Jessica was home alone with the kids: Ava—four years old, Bella who just turned three, and Ezekiel “Zeke” who is one. Seth was working continuous, prolonged shifts leading emergency power restoration efforts to hundreds of homes in the South Bay. The last time Seth had seen his family Thursday, August 13.
Having been told to evacuate immediately, Jessica grabbed her children, starting with Zeke, and put him in the car. On the way back to the house to get the girls, she could feel the smoke descending into her lungs and panic setting in. She woke Ava next, asked her to be a good girl and walk herself to the car while she extracted Bella from the bunk beds they had bought only a month before. “But mommy, I have no shoes,” said Ava. “It’s okay honey, mommy doesn’t have shoes either but we need to hurry and get to the car.”
And so barefoot, Jessica with Bella half asleep in her arms and with Ava by her side, hastened to the car. A last trip into the house was made to retrieve the family dog Nala and a few important documents. There was time for nothing else. They drove from Vacaville in a fog, grateful for getting out alive and praying to God that their home was safe. Seth met Jessica and the kids as they arrived in The East Bay.
The day that followed was (is) surreal. In the morning, the hope that the home was standing was very much alive. Unable to drive towards the active, uncontained fire, the family looked through every media channel possible to get eyes on the home. The importance of community came through when the neighbors were the ones who were keeping an eye out, providing updates that ranged from optimistic to hard truths.
Plain and simple, the home that was once a nest, fort, and magical playground was reduced to ashes and smoke. Everything they had worked so hard for and nurtured, the future they imagined, all gone. Everything. An indescribable, unbelievable, ineffable loss.
Later in the day, Seth journeyed back to the home to see what remained. He found his grandfather’s pistol --the very pistol Seth learned to shoot with, a statue of Mother Mary, and an American Flag. While the rebuilding will be a formidable mountain to climb, Seth and Jessica’s pioneering spirit will prevail. And they are not alone.
Our heavy hearts are uplifted by the love received from family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and community. Our gratitude goes out to everyone who in their own way has made their support known. We appreciate you sharing this link as well.
Thank you, God bless you.
That night, Jessica was home alone with the kids: Ava—four years old, Bella who just turned three, and Ezekiel “Zeke” who is one. Seth was working continuous, prolonged shifts leading emergency power restoration efforts to hundreds of homes in the South Bay. The last time Seth had seen his family Thursday, August 13.
Having been told to evacuate immediately, Jessica grabbed her children, starting with Zeke, and put him in the car. On the way back to the house to get the girls, she could feel the smoke descending into her lungs and panic setting in. She woke Ava next, asked her to be a good girl and walk herself to the car while she extracted Bella from the bunk beds they had bought only a month before. “But mommy, I have no shoes,” said Ava. “It’s okay honey, mommy doesn’t have shoes either but we need to hurry and get to the car.”
And so barefoot, Jessica with Bella half asleep in her arms and with Ava by her side, hastened to the car. A last trip into the house was made to retrieve the family dog Nala and a few important documents. There was time for nothing else. They drove from Vacaville in a fog, grateful for getting out alive and praying to God that their home was safe. Seth met Jessica and the kids as they arrived in The East Bay.
The day that followed was (is) surreal. In the morning, the hope that the home was standing was very much alive. Unable to drive towards the active, uncontained fire, the family looked through every media channel possible to get eyes on the home. The importance of community came through when the neighbors were the ones who were keeping an eye out, providing updates that ranged from optimistic to hard truths.
Plain and simple, the home that was once a nest, fort, and magical playground was reduced to ashes and smoke. Everything they had worked so hard for and nurtured, the future they imagined, all gone. Everything. An indescribable, unbelievable, ineffable loss.
Later in the day, Seth journeyed back to the home to see what remained. He found his grandfather’s pistol --the very pistol Seth learned to shoot with, a statue of Mother Mary, and an American Flag. While the rebuilding will be a formidable mountain to climb, Seth and Jessica’s pioneering spirit will prevail. And they are not alone.
Our heavy hearts are uplifted by the love received from family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and community. Our gratitude goes out to everyone who in their own way has made their support known. We appreciate you sharing this link as well.
Thank you, God bless you.
Organizer and beneficiary
Tania George
Organizer
Fremont, CA
Jessica Adams
Beneficiary