An update from AJ
In support of
Alexis (AJ) DeLeo
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Alexis (AJ) DeLeo
I don't really know how to write this without getting emotional, so I'm just going to write it honestly.
A week ago we lost our home in the Old Trails fire. We evacuated, and within hours I was with my crews on the fireline. I haven't really stopped to feel it yet. There hasn't been time. More than once, I have caught myself going to get something that isn't there anymore, and it hits me differently than I expected. My calendar reminded me to take the garbage out Wednesday night. My internet company sent me an outage notification for our address the other day, and I couldn't help but laugh — "buddy, our whole home is an outage."
What I didn't expect was this. The messages, the donations, people I've never met showing up for my family anyway. Local coverage from KREM 2 and KHQ has been humbling to see, and I'm grateful they told the story with care. I know I'm not the only one who lost everything in these fires — there are other survivors out here too, and I hope people find their way to support them as well, not just our household.
It wasn't just Keith's and my home. My sister Chante's family and our close friend Kelsie were living with us while they saved up for places of their own; they lost everything right along with us. We're each starting over separately now — if you're able to help, here's where:
Chante DeLeo and Little Miss Mae: https://gofund.me/1efc7def4
Kelsie Lynn: https://gofund.me/ddb209e74
Keith, Nola, and Myself: https://supportnow.org/alexis-aj-deleo
I've spent my time as a firefighter showing up for my community on its worst days. I never thought I'd be on the receiving end like this. It's humbling in a way I don't have great words for yet. I wish I could reach out to every single one of you individually right now and say thank you the way you deserve — but I'm holding onto whatever I've got left these past few days, so please forgive me if I haven't reached out. It's reminded me, powerfully, why I chose this job in the first place.
Thank you doesn't feel like enough, but please know I feel every bit of it.
— AJ
A week ago we lost our home in the Old Trails fire. We evacuated, and within hours I was with my crews on the fireline. I haven't really stopped to feel it yet. There hasn't been time. More than once, I have caught myself going to get something that isn't there anymore, and it hits me differently than I expected. My calendar reminded me to take the garbage out Wednesday night. My internet company sent me an outage notification for our address the other day, and I couldn't help but laugh — "buddy, our whole home is an outage."
What I didn't expect was this. The messages, the donations, people I've never met showing up for my family anyway. Local coverage from KREM 2 and KHQ has been humbling to see, and I'm grateful they told the story with care. I know I'm not the only one who lost everything in these fires — there are other survivors out here too, and I hope people find their way to support them as well, not just our household.
It wasn't just Keith's and my home. My sister Chante's family and our close friend Kelsie were living with us while they saved up for places of their own; they lost everything right along with us. We're each starting over separately now — if you're able to help, here's where:
Chante DeLeo and Little Miss Mae: https://gofund.me/1efc7def4
Kelsie Lynn: https://gofund.me/ddb209e74
Keith, Nola, and Myself: https://supportnow.org/alexis-aj-deleo
I've spent my time as a firefighter showing up for my community on its worst days. I never thought I'd be on the receiving end like this. It's humbling in a way I don't have great words for yet. I wish I could reach out to every single one of you individually right now and say thank you the way you deserve — but I'm holding onto whatever I've got left these past few days, so please forgive me if I haven't reached out. It's reminded me, powerfully, why I chose this job in the first place.
Thank you doesn't feel like enough, but please know I feel every bit of it.
— AJ
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