Help with Living Expenses!
Donation protected
I came to the United States on June 26, 2016 from Italy to visit my uncle (Aseged Mekonnen) and wife; they had been living at Flower Branch Apartments-8701 Arliss Street, in Silver Spring, Maryland. I had enjoyed six beautiful and unforgettable weeks with them.
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/health/But-I-Am-Still-Alive-Silver-Spring-Apartment-Explosion-Survivor-Continues-Recovery-417213913.html
The incident unfolded on August 10, 2016 was a defining moment in my life. It completely changed my life trajectory. With no exaggeration, it turned my life upside down and casted darkness over my dreams. It was the most horrific incident I ever experienced in my entire life. On that tragic day, I lost relatives and my academic career.
It was my first time to the U.S.A, excited to see my uncle who have been living here for more than a decade. He was like a brother to me; a humble, kind, polite and hardworking person who supported me in various ways. He was my only relative taking care of me since i came here.
Before coming to the U.S.A, I was working on my PhD in Political Science, European Politics and International Relations (PEI) in Italy. And also, I did my master degrees in Governance, Regional Integration and International Relations from Addis Ababa University and Pan-African University (PAUGHSS) in Soa- Yaoundé, Cameroon respectively. In fact, I had been teaching political science and international relations at Ambo University and Addis Ababa Science and Technology University.
On August 10, 2016, I had returned home at around 11:45pm, tired and ready to sleep. It was very quiet and all were sleeping. Two minutes later, I heard a loud sound coming from the lower stair of our apartment followed by a massive explosion and a huge fire which ultimately leveled our apartment and transformed it in to ashes.
Incredibly, I survived from this tragedy while my uncle and wife died in the fire. I found myself 49 feet away from our apartment as I was thrown out by the force of the explosion over the balcony from the second floor. I did not have time to understand what was happening; let alone escaping from that horrific explosion and fire.
Then, I tried to run away from the scene; yet I fell down on the side walk on my face. Immediately, a policemen came and took me to a safe place. I was creeping and struggling to escape death, I was left between life and death.
The next day, August 11, 2016, I found myself at Washington Hospital Centre surrounded by friends and other people; being unconscious for fifteen hours. When I woke up, I had some breathing problems and had a breathing tube, due to enormous amount gas and smoke I had in hailed.
The MRI and X-ray examinations indicated that the ligaments on my left knee are completely torn apart by the explosion and need to be reconstructed via ACL surgery. Moreover, I had little feeling in the lower part of my left leg and I was walking with crutches. I had also a deep cut on the right side of my back. Most importantly, I have been suffering from post-traumatic psychological disorder.
I was very close to my uncle. It is unfortunate and very painful to lose both of them in the fire. I never thought that this tragedy could happen to us. I also lost all my money, my original academic documents, my PhD research data, my passport and visa. Sadly, I have been excluded from the PhD program. In addition, my two laptops were burned in the fire. In short, I lost everything I had.
For the past few months, I have been following up medical treatments and physiotherapy at Washington Adventist Hospital to avoid surgery on my knee. Recently, however, I had ACL reconstruction surgery on February 28, 2016 on my left knee and started following up a physiotherapy at the same hospital.
At the beginning, I was so hopeless and desperate. But now, I have regained my moral and aspire to accomplish new ambitions. I am unbelievably lucky to survive from that catastrophe. God gave me a second chance to fulfill my dreams. He has a reason for everything in our lives.
My housing asssistnace which was provided by Montgomery County, Department of Housing and Health Services, will terminate on September 22, 2017. Therefore, I kindly ask your support and assistance to cover my living expenses. I assure you that your support will definitely transform my life for better. I thank you so much for your support!!!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/firefighters-rescue-multiple-people-from-burning-apartment-complex/2016/08/11/42c76bb4-5f7a-11e6-af8e-54aa2e849447_story.html?utm_term=.8255211be2e0 ,
http://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2016/08/police-release-photos-of-residents-missing-in-silver-spring-explosion/slide/4/ ,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/body-of-fourth-victim-found-at-site-of-silver-spring-explosion/2016/08/14/065c7a7c-622a-11e6-8b27-bb8ba39497a2_story.html?utm_term=.f80e7adf8460
“Be thankful for everything that happens in your life; it’s all an experience.”
Roy T. Bennett
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/health/But-I-Am-Still-Alive-Silver-Spring-Apartment-Explosion-Survivor-Continues-Recovery-417213913.html
The incident unfolded on August 10, 2016 was a defining moment in my life. It completely changed my life trajectory. With no exaggeration, it turned my life upside down and casted darkness over my dreams. It was the most horrific incident I ever experienced in my entire life. On that tragic day, I lost relatives and my academic career.It was my first time to the U.S.A, excited to see my uncle who have been living here for more than a decade. He was like a brother to me; a humble, kind, polite and hardworking person who supported me in various ways. He was my only relative taking care of me since i came here.
Before coming to the U.S.A, I was working on my PhD in Political Science, European Politics and International Relations (PEI) in Italy. And also, I did my master degrees in Governance, Regional Integration and International Relations from Addis Ababa University and Pan-African University (PAUGHSS) in Soa- Yaoundé, Cameroon respectively. In fact, I had been teaching political science and international relations at Ambo University and Addis Ababa Science and Technology University.
On August 10, 2016, I had returned home at around 11:45pm, tired and ready to sleep. It was very quiet and all were sleeping. Two minutes later, I heard a loud sound coming from the lower stair of our apartment followed by a massive explosion and a huge fire which ultimately leveled our apartment and transformed it in to ashes.
Incredibly, I survived from this tragedy while my uncle and wife died in the fire. I found myself 49 feet away from our apartment as I was thrown out by the force of the explosion over the balcony from the second floor. I did not have time to understand what was happening; let alone escaping from that horrific explosion and fire.Then, I tried to run away from the scene; yet I fell down on the side walk on my face. Immediately, a policemen came and took me to a safe place. I was creeping and struggling to escape death, I was left between life and death.
The next day, August 11, 2016, I found myself at Washington Hospital Centre surrounded by friends and other people; being unconscious for fifteen hours. When I woke up, I had some breathing problems and had a breathing tube, due to enormous amount gas and smoke I had in hailed. The MRI and X-ray examinations indicated that the ligaments on my left knee are completely torn apart by the explosion and need to be reconstructed via ACL surgery. Moreover, I had little feeling in the lower part of my left leg and I was walking with crutches. I had also a deep cut on the right side of my back. Most importantly, I have been suffering from post-traumatic psychological disorder.
I was very close to my uncle. It is unfortunate and very painful to lose both of them in the fire. I never thought that this tragedy could happen to us. I also lost all my money, my original academic documents, my PhD research data, my passport and visa. Sadly, I have been excluded from the PhD program. In addition, my two laptops were burned in the fire. In short, I lost everything I had.
For the past few months, I have been following up medical treatments and physiotherapy at Washington Adventist Hospital to avoid surgery on my knee. Recently, however, I had ACL reconstruction surgery on February 28, 2016 on my left knee and started following up a physiotherapy at the same hospital.
At the beginning, I was so hopeless and desperate. But now, I have regained my moral and aspire to accomplish new ambitions. I am unbelievably lucky to survive from that catastrophe. God gave me a second chance to fulfill my dreams. He has a reason for everything in our lives.
My housing asssistnace which was provided by Montgomery County, Department of Housing and Health Services, will terminate on September 22, 2017. Therefore, I kindly ask your support and assistance to cover my living expenses. I assure you that your support will definitely transform my life for better. I thank you so much for your support!!!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/firefighters-rescue-multiple-people-from-burning-apartment-complex/2016/08/11/42c76bb4-5f7a-11e6-af8e-54aa2e849447_story.html?utm_term=.8255211be2e0 ,
http://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2016/08/police-release-photos-of-residents-missing-in-silver-spring-explosion/slide/4/ ,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/body-of-fourth-victim-found-at-site-of-silver-spring-explosion/2016/08/14/065c7a7c-622a-11e6-8b27-bb8ba39497a2_story.html?utm_term=.f80e7adf8460
“Be thankful for everything that happens in your life; it’s all an experience.”
Roy T. Bennett
Organizer and beneficiary
Memar Ayalew
Organizer
Silver Spring, MD
Hamrawit Tesfa
Beneficiary