May 2013 update

Lorie offers the following update, also available at this link:  http://s.rocketlife.com/?19100.1367428730.c76cab60-9275-48c7-a27b-4a9b5d8a21bd

This Thank You is late in coming but your help and generosity in this period of tragedy has been truly appreciated.

To update you all we are a long way from returning to our house.  The insurance company decided that the structure was sound enough to keep.  The house has been completely gutted down to the studs.  There is a corner in the basement that the block has to be replaced and there is about a third of the ceiling joists that need to be replaced.  With the MI weather and the money/paperwork games being played it has been a stressful 4+ months so far.  Hopefully the rebuild will begin shortly.

We are also tediously working on documenting the personal contents.  It is frustrating as everyone knows we have met the cap on the content policy yet we have to document every last paperclip find the replacement cost, submit everything, get a partial check and then withing 2 years to replace the item to get the balance.

The biggest heart-breaker in all of this is our furry family members. who are irreplaceable.  Josie's bunny who listened to her many secret-joys and trials and licked her tears.  Ellie's dog & BFF only part of the family for a year.  James' constant lap cat and Lorie's constant companion, a golden retriever.

On Saturday, December 22, my brother James Smith and his family suffered the terrible loss of their two dogs, cat, rabbit and much of their home to a house fire.   James, Lorie, Josie and Ellie are all healthy and uninjured - nobody was at home when the fire occurred.  Although healthy, the entire family is understandably heartbroken.  It is a very difficult time for them.

The only thing they really want are their pets and their home back.   I (James' sister) have had  many inquiries via phone and email from friends of the family around the country and world asking what can they do to help.   Friends and family in Michigan are already on the job, and for that everyone is grateful.

I asked James if it was okay to set up a donation site for friends far and wide to help them with the myriad unforseen costs that will come up after this disaster.    James & Lorie agreed, so elsewhere on this page is a yellow link to a donation page.

If you want to send a note directly to the Smith family, their mailing address remains as follows: Smith Family, 3155 Van Amberg Rd, Brighton MI 48114, USA.  Mail will be forwarded to their temporary address.

The family lost their dogs, Baxter and Mistie, and cat Sophie and later rabbit Trixie to the smoke and carbon dioxide.  The source of the fire appears to have a clothes dryer in the basement of the house.  The house is badly fire, smoke and water damaged.

Yesterday (Tuesday January 8) they moved into a rental house, after 2+ weeks in a hotel.   They will now be able to go through the ordeal of salvaging and cleaning whatever they can from their home, and going through the process of rebuilding or replacing that house.   The girls are back in school, Lorie's working (never stopped!), and James is back at work.

The family thanks you all for your concern and your kind wishes - it means so much to know what good people there are in the world.