New Year's House Fire Recovery Fundraiser

Hello [Including Pictures Below],

In the early hours of January 2nd, My family and I experienced something that one could only imagine until it happens to you. My father awoke around 3am on the couch choking from smoke inhalation and attempted to put out the fire. He discovered that our landlord had a fire extinguisher from 1978, last checked in 2002, as our "fire preventative device." He proceeded to try and put out the fire, but the extinguisher's strength was not enough and it continued to spread. My Grandmother and ~14-year-old Pitbull, Beyoncé, were on the second floor asleep along with myself on the third floor. I awoke around this time to my A/C cutting out, while my Dad worked on trying to warn my Nana to leave, who did not yet understand the severity at the time. It culminated in my Father having to go into the house with one of the first responding officers, with water-soaked clothing on their faces, in an ultimately failed to attempt to retrieve her (and myself... who they hadn't realized managed to climb out onto my roof and call 911, which is why units had been dispatched initially). I climbed down from roof to roof, ripping my Grandmother's A/C out in the process to attempt to release smoke; I had hoped to get her in the air and out of the fire itself. She was not in view or responsive and by around that time EMS had arrived on the scene as well (I believe that fire was last, but shortly after). I then had been instructed to jump down and landed directly on concrete on my lower back. I was evaluated later on at the hospital and it seems to "only" be nerve damage, but am watching it closely as pain is still prevelent intensely at times. My father was also later taken to Phoenixville hospital, diagnosed and treated for Carbon Monoxide Poisoining from the multiple attempts to get back into the house for myself and my Grandmother...

Once local fire crews busted out the windows to allow the blaze to be more predictable, they went into the house and after about 15-20 minutes (realistically) removed my Nana. At that time, she had not been breathing for the better half of a minute (at the very least) and had to be resuscitated. In the meantime of her receiving on-scene medical attention, our dog was rescued (the last one out) and barely breathing. Thanks to the preparation and quick thinking from someone in the medical or fire personnel, an oxygen mask fit for a dog was able to keep her stable until I could physically manage (given the immense pain I had been in from the fall) to carry her to my car and transport her to the beyond wonderful staff of VRC Malvern. My Nana was eventually transported to Lehigh Valley's Burn Center to better care for her specific injuries and, after an incredibly scary ten days that included a covid diagnosis preventing us from visiting her, has been off oxygen and is no longer in intubation for around two days. She has a very long road ahead for a full recovery, but she is a fighter; and has fantastic, experienced doctors. Beyoncé came home January 7, with support from her incredible veterinarians she was able to come out of an oxygen chamber. However, she's still experiencing concerning symptoms that worry me for potential future medical expenses (regarding potential return visits or additional medications/treatments).

I relented to use GoFundMe as an outlet, but with fears of additional medical bills that are not covered by insurance such as in my Nana's case and a lot of uncertainty on where we go from here, I'm pushing aside pride to create one hoping-- knowing-- that we'd support others in the same scenario if we had the ability. We are / I am asking for donations to go toward rebuilding the life we had -- to replace the essentials of what was lost, allow us a medical bill safety net and assist us in the financial ability to locate and afford a new home. A large majority of personal belongings and keepsakes were destroyed either through fire or intensely heated smoke as well. Nearly all clothing; bedding; electrical appliances, etc. were deemed to have been totaly lost or ruined.

We appreciate any and all support. Seeing the number of people who have reached out to us with thoughts & concern- along with complete strangers- has been near overwhelming and we cannot thank each of you enough. We are extremely grateful. If you have anything extra to donate at this time, it would be incredibly helpful toward getting back on our feet, into a home again, while having less of a fear about lack of funds regarding medical issues that can still arise...

Funds From Donations Would Go Exclusively To:

THANK YOU [Pictures Included Below]