Whiting-Romero Apartment Fire Fund

PLEASE READ THEIR STORY:

My sister Alejandra and her fiance Devin are some of most endearing and kind-hearted people I know. They are extraordinary people independently, but together they are the couple people look up to and admire. This Vimeo video was taken a few months ago before the tragic fire incident. I remember when Devin told me he was going to ask my sister to marry him on her birthday January 24th. It is a day I'll never forget as I'm sure neither will she. He had picked the perfect date, and the perfect ring. My sister said yes and we began brainstorming wedding ideas.

No one ever imagined that their apartment would burn down exactly 2 months after the engagment. I was devastated when I heard the news. My sister is a hardworking woman.  She joined the National Guard right after High School and fell in love with it because she has the opportunity to serve this country. She's my younger sister and it kills me to see her going through this. I'm still in shock trying to process how quickly her life has changed.  She loves animals, her family, and most of all Devin. They met while working together at Farm and Fleet. A few years later and they are still working together at a different place and with a different relationship status. He is a hardworking man who aspires to become a personal trainer and is devoted to his family. I couldn't have asked for a better man for my sister. This picture was taken at their apartment... 

They never asked for too much. They work at a factory in Woodstock, IL and enjoyed their cozy apartment. It was the first place they moved in together and it had a lot of sentimental value to them. They built a home that brought them comfort and something to say "This is ours". They bought a cat named Moo and a ferret named Taz. Thankfully they made it out too. 

This picture is what the building looks like now. These are the apartments after the fire.

Last night around 3am Devin got woken up by a loud banging on his door and someone telling him he needed to leave the building immediately. He was startled and at the time unaware of what was happening. He quickly exits the building leavin his pets behind. As soon as he reaches the street he realizes the building is on fire. His neighbor's apartment on the left is engulfed in flames and the fire seemed to be coming for theirs next. He rushes over to a fireman and pleads them to go in to save the cat and ferret. He calls Alex who at the time was at Drill for the Army National Guard and tells her what happened. Her Sergeant lets her leave and she calls me crying to tell me that her apartment had burned down. I can't explain the pit feeling when she told me. I was in tears with her trying to understand how things like this happen to good people, to MY SISTER. Therefore, I had to respond in some way and this is it. I am asking all my friends, family, and/or strangers to please help them out. They were saving up for their wedding and unfortunately didn't have renter's insurance. The money will be used to help get another apartment, pay for utilities and buy essentials. Every penny counts, no donation is too small, and they need all the help they can get. Thank you for taking the time to read this and god bless.