You Never Truly Realize How Much You Appreciate Something Until You Lose It
Asking for help has never come naturally to me. I’ve always taken pride in working hard, taking care of myself, and handling my own problems. I never imagined I would be creating a GoFundMe.
But on August 8, 2026, everything changed.
A severe storm uprooted a roughly 100-foot oak tree on my property and sent it crashing into my home, penetrating approximately five feet into the structure. The damage was extensive, and my home was ultimately condemned and declared uninhabitable.
What makes this especially heartbreaking is that I was almost at the finish line.
I had just finished my bathroom and was so proud of it that I was excitedly showing pictures to family and friends. New kitchen cabinets were about to go in, and I was preparing to have the floors installed and finally have my home back together.
Then the storm happened.
The tree destroyed so much of the progress I had worked so hard for. Now I’m facing the possibility of having to start over, and I’m also being challenged by my insurance company over parts of the damage from the storm. It has made an already devastating situation even harder.
I was so close to finally enjoying my home. Instead, I’m now facing the possibility of being outside of my home for at least another year while everything is addressed.
The People Who Stepped Up
I have been incredibly fortunate to have people step up when I needed help most.
Wallace Tree Service in Hampden rearranged their schedule to remove the massive tree from my property.
Graduate and Sons Pest Solutions responded when a carpenter ant infestation became another unexpected problem following the damage.
Green Roof Solutions came through when my roof needed to be secured. After another crew determined it was too dangerous to access, Andrew from Green Roof Solutions rearranged his own schedule and came out to protect my home. Since the roof was secured, I have had no further exposure to water inside my house.
My uncles Kurt and Craig helped secure the property, provided tarps, and helped arrange a trailer so I would have somewhere to stay.
My dad has been there through practically every step—helping with adjusters, inspectors, contractors, and everything in between.
My neighbors James, Jerome, and Mike also gave their time and physically helped me bring belongings out of the house, especially the things that meant the most to me.
I have lost many belongings that were priceless to me—not necessarily because of their monetary value, but because of the memories attached to them.
Temporary Housing and My Dog
Because my home was condemned, I did not feel comfortable simply leaving the property unattended. I wanted to remain nearby and protect it as much as possible.
For several days, I slept in my truck while arrangements were being made for temporary housing. During that time, my parents cared for my dog, allowing me to stay on-site while knowing she was safe.
On August 20, 2026, the trailer was finally delivered and connected, giving me somewhere to stay while allowing me to remain close to my home.
My dog was also inside the house when the tree came down and was later found underneath the debris. She required emergency veterinary treatment, and unfortunately, those expenses were not covered by my homeowners insurance.
Where Things Stand
On August 26, ServiceMaster began emptying the bedrooms and removing belongings and damaged materials from the house.
As the rooms were cleared, more of the damage became visible. In one of the affected areas, the floor drops nearly two inches where the tree struck the structure. The flooring will need to be removed so the area can be inspected by city officials and a structural engineer.
On August 27, I was finally able to pay off the emergency services that were provided immediately following the disaster. A dumpster and storage unit were also delivered, allowing the process of removing, sorting, and protecting the belongings that can still be saved to begin.
Why I’m Asking for Help
The biggest thing I want people to understand is that having homeowners insurance does not mean everything is covered.
I’ve heard people say, “At least you’re going to get a new house.” I understand why someone might think that, and I am grateful to have insurance. But that is not the reality of what I’m facing.
There are deductibles, exclusions, policy limits, items that may not be fully covered, and expenses that insurance may not reimburse. I am already taking significant financial losses, and I still don’t know what the final insurance settlement will look like.
An emergency-services payment alone had $5,000 applied toward my deductible.
This GoFundMe is about helping me with the financial gap that insurance may not cover and the many unexpected expenses that have come with this disaster.
There have already been costs for emergency services, tree removal, roof stabilization, temporary housing, storage, dumpsters, debris removal, veterinary care, my deductible, and other expenses that continue to arise.
I never expected to be in this position. I was almost finished with my home and was excited to finally have everything back together. Instead, I’m now facing the possibility of being displaced for at least another year and having to start over on things I had worked so hard to complete.
I would not wish this experience on anyone.
If you are able to donate, any amount truly helps. If you cannot donate, sharing this fundraiser is just as meaningful.
To everyone who has already helped me—my family, friends, neighbors, contractors, and everyone who has called, checked in, helped with my home, helped with my belongings, helped with my dog, or simply been there—I cannot thank you enough.
I have lost a lot through this disaster, but what I have gained are people that really stepped up to help me and that means the world to me.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story, share this fundraiser, and support me through one of the most difficult experiences of my life.
It truly means more to me than I can put into words.
