At 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning, an old friend of mine lost her home, her belongings, her husband, her 4 year old son and her 8 month old daughter to a fire. She was saved by a neighbor who put a ladder up to her bedroom window. Her 12 year old step daughter also made it out on her own. The neighbors tried to put a ladder up to the children's window, where their father was trying to save them, but were unable to due to the smoke and flames. The fire department was able to remove her husband and children from the home within 10 minutes of arriving, but as I already mentioned, it was too late.
I've been having a hard time keeping my eyes dry for the last couple days. I know her story and this isn't the first time I've cried for her. When we were in high school, I remember going to the funeral home for visitation for her mother who passed away. I cried again for her at her wedding where they had a rose and picture of her mother set up front with the thought that her mother was smiling down on her wedding from heaven. At those times I couldn't imagine going through life and getting married without my mom by my side. Now I couldn't imagine the rest of my life without my husband by my side and watching my children grow.
This friend, Amanda, is only 27 and has suffered unimaginable loss. She could use a lot of prayers right now and, because she has lost everything, she is in great need of financial support as well. I don't have a very large reach on my little blog, so I was hoping that some of you could help me spread the word by blogging about this as well.
Her work place has set up the 'Buckland Family Trust Fund' at the Eastern Michigan Bank, but they are also accepting donations, for those who cannot make it to the bank, at the following address:
Ullenbruch's Flower Shop
C/O Amanda Buckland
1839 Lapeer Ave
Port Huron, MI 48060
I've been having a hard time keeping my eyes dry for the last couple days. I know her story and this isn't the first time I've cried for her. When we were in high school, I remember going to the funeral home for visitation for her mother who passed away. I cried again for her at her wedding where they had a rose and picture of her mother set up front with the thought that her mother was smiling down on her wedding from heaven. At those times I couldn't imagine going through life and getting married without my mom by my side. Now I couldn't imagine the rest of my life without my husband by my side and watching my children grow.
This friend, Amanda, is only 27 and has suffered unimaginable loss. She could use a lot of prayers right now and, because she has lost everything, she is in great need of financial support as well. I don't have a very large reach on my little blog, so I was hoping that some of you could help me spread the word by blogging about this as well.
Her work place has set up the 'Buckland Family Trust Fund' at the Eastern Michigan Bank, but they are also accepting donations, for those who cannot make it to the bank, at the following address:
Ullenbruch's Flower Shop
C/O Amanda Buckland
1839 Lapeer Ave
Port Huron, MI 48060
***Update: There is now a Paypal account set up to accept donations. You can reach the donation page by clicking on the button below. If this donation button doesn't work, please use the one at the top of my sidebar (upper left-hand corner of my blog).
Again, I know this time of year is super busy and times are tight, but if you can please help spread the word and/or send a donation-no matter how small, every little bit helps. Of course, if you don't have the means to help in either of those ways right now, prayers are greatly appreciated! :-)
Thank you to everyone who has expressed their condolences already and to those of you who have been praying for Amanda and her daughter. I will be sure to pass on your thoughts and prayers to Amanda when I see her at her family's funeral tomorrow. (Typing 'family funeral' is not easy! Phew!)
*I also want to send out a safety reminder to anyone who reads this. Make sure you have smoke detectors installed in your house and that you change the batteries twice a year. (The recommended times to change them is when you change yours clocks for daylight savings time.)
Again, I know this time of year is super busy and times are tight, but if you can please help spread the word and/or send a donation-no matter how small, every little bit helps. Of course, if you don't have the means to help in either of those ways right now, prayers are greatly appreciated! :-)
Thank you to everyone who has expressed their condolences already and to those of you who have been praying for Amanda and her daughter. I will be sure to pass on your thoughts and prayers to Amanda when I see her at her family's funeral tomorrow. (Typing 'family funeral' is not easy! Phew!)
*I also want to send out a safety reminder to anyone who reads this. Make sure you have smoke detectors installed in your house and that you change the batteries twice a year. (The recommended times to change them is when you change yours clocks for daylight savings time.)
**If you would like to read more about this horrible trajedy, you can do so here.
77 comments:
I am so sorry. I can't imagine the pain she is going through. It's so upsetting!
I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.
I will link to and mention this tomorrow. Already tweeted w/ a link to your post.
Please email me at firemom@stopdropandblog.com if there is anything I/we can do more than just donate.
I will sit down and post tonight... Still praying and everyone at my church is praying too.
Still sending up prayers.. this is just horrific. I will try to post about it tonight.
This is unimaginable. I will send a tweet out now. I am sending tons of prayers her way.
I retweeted this also. My best to Amanda, and to you for being a faithful friend.
Oh my-that poor sweetheart-this makes me cry :(.
Like Firemom said in her post-I would like to know also if I can do
something beside donate money
my email is aunteegem@yahoo.com
This is just horrible. It just breaks my heart. I will be praying for her although right now that is probably not good enough. Hugs. What a horrible tragedy.
I found this post through another blog and am heartbroken for this family. They are in my prayers.
(I think that donating will be easier and generate more of the much needed funds if you get a paypal account going for the family and add a link.)
I can't even imagine. I am so sorry for her loss. Sending prayers...
I am so sorry I am left speechless over this situation, just speechless!
Oh my gosh. I feel sick in my stomach just thinking about this. I will be praying. How horrible.
so sad and so hard to imagine how this mom is dealing with such devastation to her family,
prayers and thoughts going out to help her through this tragedy...
How awful! Sending lots of positive thoughts for your friend and for you to help give her strength to get thru this.
Kristie! Oh my Gosh!! I am at a loss of words for Amanda. I cannot imagine the pain she is in. One thing is for sure, I will recheck my fire alarms today!!
I will be sending Amanda a little something. I agree with the other person who suggested a special pp account. Maybe we can have a Twitter party and seeif we can raise a little bit of money to help her out.
Email me and I'll help you put Kristie. What a great friend she has in you!!
I'm so sorry to hear about this! It's so sad! My heart is breaking for your friend! I will keep the family in my prayers!
I keep thinking about her and her daughter all the time. My prayers are with her, she has lost so much in her short lifetime. I am going over to donate right now. I was thinking that she needs to be given a home by that show that is on Sunday nights on ABC! I wonder how they pick people but maybe the town needs to get together and get them on that show.
The link didn't work for PayPal.
I will just send a check to her through the Flower Shop.
Never should anyone have to endure so much pain my heart goes out to this family.
I am so sorry to hear about this, I will repost
http://minilegs.blogspot.com/2009/12/family-loss-due-to-fire.html
Melanie
My heart breaks hearing this. How horrible to go through. A couple years ago we lost our home and everything we owned in a fire. I was lucky to not have lost anyone in my family but know the pain of losing material items nevermind what the loss of her family must be doing to her.
If you would like to guest post on my blog to help get the word out please contact me jleighjd@aol.com I would love to be able to help in anyway possible!
I found your blog through Cakewrecks and I just want to let the family know I'm lifting them up in prayer.
There are no words.
I am clicking over to PayPal next, and will link to your blog this morning in the hope that some of my readers will help Amanda and her stepdaughter with expenses.
My heart is filled with such sorrow for her. She will be in my prayers and I will be donated to her as well.
I also found this via Cakewrecks and I'm sending every wish I can. To lose so much would be hard enough, but to lose at Christmas . . . I hope she and her daughter can find peace soon.
I, too, am here via Cake Wrecks. I've also posted a link on my blog to try to help encourage donations from Oklahoma. Good thoughts and hugs to everyone touched by this tragedy.
And, Kristie? You're such an awesome person for helping your family.
http://www.megspinksky.blogspot.com
I have also come here via Cake Wrecks. I am going to tweet a link to your blog on Twitter and repost when I can. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her step-daughter.
Another CakeWrecks reader; I donated thru the Paypal forum.
My prayers are also going up for your friend, and for you, as well, as you give support & friendship. God bless you all at this otherwise festive time.
Peggy, RN, in Ohio
I found out about this through Cake Wrecks, I can not begin to imagine what this young woman and her family is going through. Praying for her. I've also posted about it on Facebook so hopefully many more can lift this family up in prayer and help. Praying for you!!
I am so very sorry for your friends loss I will spread the word in hopes that even that is enough to help in some way.
I'm looking at the pictures of my two precious boys and cannot even let myself imagine losing them. I don't even know what to say in my prayers for Amanda and her step-daughter, except, 'Lord, I lift them up to you.'
My husband and I have just been talking about making up a safety plan in case of fire. I know what we're doing tonight. But I didn't want a tragedy like this to have to remind me.
this is heartbreaking. i just sent out a tweet to spread the word.
I am speechless. And I am soooo very sorry for her losses... complete nightmare.
I gave what little I could. Wish it was more. Also tweeted, posted about it.
Praying. Heartbroken for her.
Totally heart broken. I will give when I can talk with my husband this evening. In the meantime, I'll spread the word.
How terrible. I lost my breath when I read the first line. I'll be thinking about your friend.
This story is absolutely crushing. I don't know how she can bear such a loss. I sent out a tweet to spread the word. Please tell her that her story is touching thousands of lives, and that we are all seeing these beautiful, heartbreaking photos and keeping her continually in our thoughts and prayers.
Saw this through CakeWrecks - donated through PayPal, how horrible! My thoughts are with her, thank you for blogging this, and my deepest sympathies to you and your family.
I saw this through Cake Wrecks too. Such a heart-breaking story. I shall do my little bit to spread the word too. My condolences to them both.
My heart and prayers go forth for your friend. I'm very sorry this has happened and I pray the LORD's presence, peace and provision over her.
I cried when I read this on Cake Wrecks this morning. I hope every CW follower donates to the Buckland Family Trust today, it takes so little to make a difference.
I can only imagine the scope of this tragedy, and what Amanda and her family and friends are going through today. Like so many others, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences, with the hope that the new year brings renewed hope, a lot of healing, and peace and comfort to those who are grieving.
I will share this on Facebook and Twitter right now. I am just heartbroken for her, and in tears. May she vbe as well-cared for as anyone could possibly be.
This is so horrible. I can't even imagine. I featured this blog post on my own (tiny, hardly ever read) blog. Hopefully my friends will be as generous as the fans over at Cake Wrecks.
Read about this on Cake Wrecks as well and am crying for Amanda. Just want her and you to know that you both are in my prayers... Amanda for comfort and peace. You for your ministry to her as you are there for her to lean on.
There is never a good time for something this horrible to happen but losing a family at Christmas time has got to be so painful.
Please know that I am praying.
I could not find anything out about this in the news. I did find another very similar incident in Florida. http://www.fireeducator.com/?p=934 So very sad.
Hey - I am not able to help financially at this point in time, but I tweeted it, posted it on Facebook, and have posted this on my blog all linking back here. I hope if nothing else I can send some help her way.
I can't begin to fathom her loss. My girls are 8 months and 4 years old... I'm gonna go hug them for a bit. So sad.
I find the sad article... O Lord be with her and all there friends and family. http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20091216/NEWS01/912160310/1002/Fire-kills-father-2-children
I came here from Cakewrecks as well, and I've reposted to my Facebook so that will hopefully get the word out a little farther as well. You know your blog is doing so much good and reaching so many people, even if you think your reach isn't that far- together, we can do anything.
I can't imagine how one would even start to deal with this kind of tragedy. I just wish I could do more.
We're praying for everyone and sending good thoughts and love from Nova Scotia.
I am so sorry. Will be praying for Amanda.
I also will try to spread the word about it.
Best wishes to your friend and her step daughter!!
Here's another group that might be able to help: http://thelizlogelinfoundation.org/ . They give one-time grants to widows and widowers for any type of need.
I learned about this via CakeWrecks; as I am on deviantArt - a large online website devoted to artists at all stages, of all ages, and of all kinds of art - and have passed along this information.
Amanda and Ayllissa are in my prayers and heart. I pray that Amanda and Ayllissa will remember that they do have each other, as small a consolation as it may be - they do still have living links to their departed family members.
How awful, and so near the holidays that are supposed to be about joy and thanksgiving. Well, we as a community will hopefully show the light in our hearts as we help these two in a dire time of need.
True, please, everyone, have an alarm, have it checked and batteries replaced, and have a fire extinguisher in your place of living! This cannot be more of a stress on the emphasis of how important such things are!
I will do what I can to help. Thank you for posting this information, Kristie. It has not gone unread, and your wish to pass this along has not gone unheeded. I'll also pass on the word on my Twitter account, and LiveJournal. Please, take care, to all involved in this.
*hugs*
I cannot imagine. I'll pray. I cannot think of anything worse than being the only survivor of this kind of tragedy. I'll pass it along.
I just found out about the Buckland's loss through the Cake Wrecks website. I can't imagine how horrible the thought of going on living must be for Amanda and her stepdaughter after the loss they have endured. They are in my thoughts and prayers.
I've made my donation to the fund and just posted a link on Facebook to this page on your blog, asking my friends and family to consider contributing.
Fellow Michigander... found out about this via Cake Wrecks.
What a horrid and tragic loss. :( My sincere prayers and condolences to Amanda.
*hugs*
Kimmy
the message is certainly being spread, a friend posted this blog on facebook and I have reposted and donated. I can not imagine what this poor women is going through at this time. sending hugs and prayers from Western Australia.
Hi, just wanted to let you know that anyone who purchases from my Etsy shop, I will donate every cent to the Family Trust. It's not much but it's something to at least provide a little material comfort, I hope. My prayers are with them.
I am so sorry to hear about this terrible loss and my heart goes out to Amanda - what a terrible tragedy to have happen ever - let alone around Christmas - our family is praying for comfort for her, and we're holding our family closer this season. I'm so very sorry for this awful event to have happened. If there's anything myself or my family can do for her, don't hesitate to let us know. My heart is just breaking for this poor woman and her irreplaceable loss, I wish there was something I could do for her. I'm so sorry. :(
How terrible...I will donate a little something.
This is so terribly sad.
A member of my neighborhood moms' group, her husband and almost 5 year old son (he was two weeks short of his 5th birthday) died in November due to a house fire caused by an electrical short.
They had smoke detectors, but no one knows if they were working because they were burned so badly.
I posted a checklist that our fire department gave homeowners at a fire safety session that neighbors organized after the deaths. If anyone is interested, the info is here: http://cravingthesavings.com/?p=2941
I want to spread the word to hopefully help another family avoid this sort of loss.
Tweeted and blogged.
I'm so sorry for your loss. You are in my prayers.
I will repost on my blog right now. How horrible...
I'm also here from CakeWrecks, and glad to be part of the outpouring of support.
I've posted about this on my blog as well: check your smoke detectors! Make sure you have them; make sure they work.
I am so sorry for your friend. I came across this from CakeWrecks. I've posted on my blog. I don't have a big following either but I hope others pass on the info.
I'm here from Janet Reid's blog, but I'm also a Michigander and heard about this tragedy on the news. So very sad and what a terrible loss.
Your friend, her extended family, as well as you, are in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh dear God, how can we ever understand such a loss. Our prayers and with your Amanda, your daughter and the rest of your families.
Deepest Sympathies
Oh my goodness, I am so so sorry to hear this :( I will spread the word to help. Please let me know what else can be done.
What can we do to help her immediately? Clothes? Toiletries? What does she need? What sizes? Please email me.
Oh my heart is breaking for your friend. What a sad and horrible tragedy. laurie
How incredibly heartbreaking for her and her daughter, I'm so incredibly sorry for this horrible tragedy. Lots of prayers for this family.
Another CW reader; I can't even begin to fathom this. Amanda and her family are in my thoughts and prayers; I will post this to my Facebook and donate whatever I can to help.
hi there,
found my way here by way of cakewrecks. my heart goes out to amanda and her family. i hope that she and her little girl will find peace eventually.
sending everyone lots of thoughts and prayers from CA,
laura.
OMG, I am SO sorry. I came by way of Just Breathe. I cannot imagine her loss and my heart is bleeding for her. I would like to help, monetary or otherwise.
We sent a small donation to this family right after Christmas. I would really like to read an update about them ... their story made me cry.
OMG, words can't express how sorry that I am for what happen'd to your family Amanda. I didn't get to know you too well but I was a good friend of Charlie's at one point in time and also was Ayllissa's godfather too. I knew him since round 1995...I was wondering if you or anyone could possibly shoot me a email to dsk922001@yahoo.com of how to contact Chuck and Lisa that would be great, I would like to express my sympathy to them as well...Again, Amanda and Ayllissa I'm so very sorry for your losses.
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