The Abbotts

I first met Tom and Leah as they were picking through the rubble of their home three days after the fire. I'm embarrassed to admit that we've lived here almost a year now and I am just now getting to know my across-the-field-neighbors!

The Abbotts are grateful to be alive. The fire spread so quickly. At one point Tom says he actually thought he had the fire out just as he was running out of chemical in the fire extinguisher. But then it flared up again and he had to leave the house at that point. Leah says the smoke was so thick by that point that there was only a couple of feet close to the ground of clean air space by the time they got out. Tom was taken to the hospital as a precaution and miraculously no smoke was found in his lungs.

They literally left the house with only the clothes on their backs. Leah didn't even have shoes on her feet! Leah had just been grocery shopping that day and everything in the freezer was black. Clothes and food are a big concern right now.

I watched the house burn that Friday afternoon, but seeing it up close after the fire and water hoses had done their damage was pretty crazy. Leah says they feel like they're playing a constant game where they pick something up and try to identify what on earth it used to be. As I stood there talking to Leah, Tom dug through the remains hoping to find something that could be salvaged. At one point he called out from what used to be the kitchen and claimed the skillet that was cooking dinner when the fire broke out was still where they'd left it. The irony was not lost on anyone as he debated whether to drop kick the stupid thing or cling to it as proof that he used to lead a fairly normal life only a few days earlier.

You'd expect a great deal of tears to be shed over losing all of your possessions. And there has certainly been that. What you might not expect is humor. Tom and Leah are funny people and losing everything they had doesn't seem to have changed that. I mentioned to Leah that I've always been curious about what the inside of their house looked like. She offhandedly said they'd have us over for dinner sometime!

I can't imagine what it must be like to lose everything you own. It makes me kind of sick to my stomach to think about it. And every time I step out onto my front porch the sight and smell of the charred remains serve as a constant reminder to me of what my neighbors have lost.

Tom and Leah both have medical problems that have left them unable to work. Their disability income is limited and fixed. Chad, their son has been living with them since losing his job in January and he has lost all of his possessions too. He has been actively searching for a job, but is having a hard time finding anyone who is hiring. If anyone knows of any job opportunities please feel free to share. There was no renter's insurance for their possessions. They are literally starting over again from scratch.


I've included donation buttons for various amounts on the side bar. Any and all amounts will be greatly appreciated, and please understand that no amount is too small! Help me raise money to cover the basics this family needs right now including clothing and food by June 5th. That gives us just a little over a month to get the contributions going!