Restore Comfort for Joan Emery at 92

I'm Scott Neighbor, son of Joan Emery.

My mother has been a resident of Altadena for 58 years. She lost her beautiful Altadena home on Tuesday January 7, 2025 as a result of the Eaton Canyon fire. The above photo was taken in her home on her 92nd birthday this past August. It would have been considered unimaginable at that time that her home, my childhood home, would be completely destroyed only five months later. But the unimaginable happened.

Fortunately, I was able to evacuate her to safety Tuesday night. I drove 35 miles to get to her and I'll never forget the eeriness of the neighborhood that night as I arrived on her street. It was strangely quiet (because everyone else had already evacuated) and pitch black because the power was out. The only light, besides the headlights of my car, was the orange glow of the fire on the hills north of her home. She left her home in a hurry with just a bathrobe, her purse and a small bag of necessities: a six-day supply of medications and a few pieces of extra clothing. I was certain that we would be returning in the next day or two. Turns out that I was in denial, and I was wrong.

The next day, I was sadly informed verbally and visually (via photos, see before and after below) by a local acquaintance who was able to return early to the neighborhood, that the entire neighborhood, including my mother's home, was completely destroyed. It is absolutely heartbreaking. At 92, Mom lost everything. Furniture, appliances, clothing, family photos, everything. We are devastated and it still seems unreal.

She is now living with me and my wife until we can relocate her to a local assisted living facility near our home (she needs 24/7 care and we both still work outside the home). But she is doing as well as can be expected considering (I found her sitting on our couch in the dark this morning at 4 AM crying about her little pet bird that perished in the fire). But otherwise, she seems to be coping. She is having meals with us, watching TV, and generally seems OK. It's going to be a process.

My goal is to raise funds to help my mother furnish her new living space with a nice bedroom set, living room furniture, television, and anything else to help provide for her comfort and ease the pain in her remaining years. Your donation is appreciated.