Hope for Camille and Michael After Tragic Loss

Camille and Michael are a father-daughter duo who joined forces after the passing of Cheryl Lesar, Camille’s mother and Michael’s wife, in 2020. The home Cheryl carefully selected, decorated, and turned into their sanctuary was destroyed at the onset of this widespread tragedy. Now, they find themselves starting from scratch with nothing but each other, their two loyal pups, Bubba and Bella, and a couple of small suitcases.

Their home, which once held their memories and all of Cheryl’s personal touches, was consumed with little warning, leaving no time to prepare for the devastating loss. In the aftermath, they not only face the daunting task of restarting their lives but also the constant reminder that all physical traces of Cheryl—family photos, her paintings, and their other cherished belongings—are now gone.

Typically independent, Camille and Michael are not the type to ask for help. I asked their permission to make this account and it took multiple asks. Camille is not just the best friend I could ever ask for, she's Auntie Camille to my 2 children, she's family. She is an all-in kind of friend. Camille has always been a caregiver and babysitter, while Michael is a quiet, hardworking father and dog grandpa. But now, in the wake of everything they’ve lost, they find themselves in need of all the love and support they can get.

Words from Camille about her home, "I was fortunate to live in the most breathtaking place, high in the mountains, surrounded by every kind of citrus tree you could imagine. It truly felt like heaven. Pacific Palisades seemed worlds away, a grueling 30-minute to 1-hour drive through rush-hour traffic two canyons over. Our area was no stranger to fire warnings, power outages were a common occurrence, but we adapted. Using the time with battery-operated candles to bond & appreciate what we normally have. While people say 'things are just things,' and I left my home with that mindset, there are some things that are truly irreplaceable. If you're in LA—even if it seems unlikely—take a moment to look around and gather the little things you'd maybe never think to grab on a normal day: paintings by family members, your favorite ornament, spare keys, something from one of your hobbies, anything that makes you happy. It only takes a second, but it's worth making that effort to try to save the little pieces of you."

To make sure this account gets approved, a little about me:

I am Tara Nicole Tjahjadi, a Los Angeles member of the Directors Guild of America. I met Camille in 2018 on the set of "Just Add Magic: Mystery City" while she was a Stand-in and Photo Dbl for the character "Zoe." In 2020, in the peak of Covid, she started to care for my children in between TV gigs and quickly became their favorite nanny of all time and my best friend. I hope that this fund will support her family as they get back on their feet, get an apartment, and get their lives back to some sort of normalcy. Everyone will be in the insurance waiting game.