Update on my mother and her house fire (12/10).

[Pab Sungenis]

Original thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4607735
Update #1: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4609828&mesg_id=4609828

My mother was released from the hospital yesterday. We arranged to get new keys made for her car and to replace her cell phone.

Salvation Army gave her about $100.00 worth of clothes. They also put her up in a hotel overnight. Red Cross is taking up a collection for "the families;" while she could theoretically end up getting something from them it's more likely it's all going to go to the family that lost two children, as it should. She agrees with me on that.

The three dogs she got out with her are being kenneled by the SPCA for the foreseeable future. Two pups made it out of the house and were rescued, but one of them died yesterday of smoke inhalation. We don't know which of the five survived. Three were confirmed dead in the fire.

A news article about the fire can be found at the Olean Times Herald here: http://www.oleantimesherald.com/articles/2008/12/09/news/doc493ea8da8415e532027265.txt

From what we gather talking with neighbors and family, the 4-year old boy started the fire playing with an open space heater.

My mother is getting in a rental car and coming down to us later today, arriving late tonight. She has an appointment with our lawyer and will be staying down here for a few days with family as things sort out. We expect to have a roof back over her head up there in about a week or so.

Folks wishing to make a donation for the Gayton family can send it to The Red Cross Olean chapter, 452 N Barry St, Olean, NY 14760.

We're looking at over $60,000 in damage. The house is a complete loss and all her belongings, mostly family heirlooms of little value but much sentimental value, were destroyed. I'm running a number of eBay auctions to help raise money to replace and rebuild. A list of the current ones can be found at http://www.newadventuresofqueenvictoria.com/linda.php

And when you see a bell ringer this season, please do give to Aunt Sally. Their hiring practices may suck, but when the metal meets the road, they really do help people. When I spoke to her the first night, my mother said she had given a dollar the night before the fire. "I didn't expect to get it back so quick," she joked.

[Longhorn]

1. Such a tragedy!

You and your mother are wonderful people to be thinking of others when you're in the midst of your own troubles. I'm glad you're mother is physically okay and hope the process of recovering and rebuilding goes as smoothly as possible. I know you'll be glad to see her! :hug:

[BlueIris]

2. I feel so bad for your mother (and her furbabies).

RIP, pups.

[TahitiNut]

3. Fires are a horror. Sending up 'flares' for your family. Here's a news photo ...

Olean City Fire Lt. Edward Jennings douses the embers of what remains of 119 S. Second St. To his right is the side of 117 S. Second St. Two children are believed to have perished in the fire. Photo by Darrell Gronemeier

http://www.oleantimesherald.com/articles/2008/12/09/news/doc493d8b9bb8917956527755.txt

[TygrBright]

4. Yeah. I despise Sal's hiring practices and find their theology flawed (at best,) but...

...by their fruits ye shall know them. There're an awful lot of good people doing good things, very cost-effectively, there.

It's like AA in some ways. You may find the "Higher Power" aspects jarring, and the cult-like atmosphere off-putting, but damned if it hasn't worked pretty well for more than half a century.

I've given up on the whole "Ninety percent of what they do is worthwhile but ten percent sucks rocks so they must be the Embodiment of All Evil" thing, anyway.

Best to you and your Mom, pabsun, and the whole family. I'm so sorry for the loss of precious and irreplaceable family memories. But someday your Mom may find a silver lining in this tragedy, too. Stranger things have happened.

encouragingly,
Bright

[Mnemosyne]

5. Your has my admiration, what a great sense of humor! I am so sorry

to hear of the horrible losses. Furbabies are our family, heartbreaking loss.:cry:

Tell Mom to hang in there, better days will come. :hug:

[Pab Sungenis]

6. She and I both use humor as our defense mechanism

and have a great taste for irony.

We identified the surviving pup today by descriptions given by the clerk at the SPCA. It was the young buck who had been fighting (with the help of his sisters) for dominance over his father. Apparently he and the other young male were the two that broke the window to get out and the three young females were the ones who didn't make it.

Very much a parallel of the house next door in an eerie way.

[Mnemosyne]

9. A good, if not dark, sense of humor, has helped me survive my entire life.

I'm glad you share your Mom's humor. Humor helps to heal.

:hug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Take care, and do talk to the lawyer about insurance and

all that happy

And enjoy the visit even if it under tragic circumstances

[AtomicKitten]

8. My mother and two sisters lost their homes to the fire in San Diego County last year.

Truly a tragedy watching everything you own go up in smoke.

I'm glad the animals were rescued (:cry: for the one that didn't make it).

Peace to you and your family through this difficult process.