She is a single mom with three boys, 16, 13, and 12 year of age. She works as a home health nurse in a rural area, which means funds are scarce most of the time.
Thursday evening, around 11:00 west coast time, her grandfather had a massive heart attack and died. She got the news Friday morning. The boys had hoped to take a trip next summer to visit the great-grandfather they’d never met in person.
But the weekend was coming up. Everyone was excited about the weekend. They were going to visit a friend south of Atlanta, two hours away from home. The dogs were going with them, since their friend had a fenced yard, and the whole family was looking forward to a little time to de-stress and relax for a change.
Three o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the car is loaded, kids and dogs on board and on the way. Steaks are in the cooler for a cookout, snacks for the trip and high spirits.
Saturday morning at 6:52, she received a call from her mother informing her that her house had been completely destroyed by fire. The fire department was there, but there was nothing left to save. Items she’d treasured since childhood were gone, clothes for the whole family, gone; computers were gone, furniture, dishes, musical instruments–all gone.
Now imagine that this is you. What do you do? You’ve been in this house for 10 years of your life. Your kids grew up here. All of your files and important documents have been destroyed in a not-so-fire-proof safe.
This young woman is our daughter, Dawn Miller. The three boys are our grandsons. The first round of insurance agents and inspectors came out today to begin assessing the damages. We both looked at it all and cried.
She will have to start all over again. Yes, there will be money from the insurance company, but it may take months before everything is settled. Red Cross gave her money to buy food and clothes. But have you priced clothes lately?
If you are able and willing to help, she has a GoFundMe account set up, with the help of Kim Cowsert. Anything at all will help this family get started again.
Thanks to all of you in advance.
Mellie Miller
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