In the time we live in, few are doing more than our first responders. Heading into work each day, fully aware that the numbers they are fighting against are rapidly climbing. Still, they push onward and try harder than ever to help those who are sick.
Nurses are currently stretched to their limits as they fight surges.
With so many nurses spending the holiday season at the hospital saving lives, things haven’t been as “merry” this year. For one nurse, her Christmas season went from stressful to traumatic when she lost everything she owned.
Tina Irwin has been working 12-hour shifts in a COVID ICU for the past few weeks.
Close to exhaustion, she got a call that she never wanted to hear. While literally in the process of putting someone on life support, she was told that her house had caught fire. Her neighbor told her immediately after calling 911.
Tina’s next step was to call her one of her kids immediately.
When she called, the only thing she heard was her daughter screaming “MOM!” over and over and then a blood-curdling scream. Like any parent would be, Tina was stunned. Then, the phone went dead.
When she got home, the results weren’t pretty.
She didn’t know if her kids were stuck inside, and didn’t have details on what happened. The Fire Department was already there at the scene working when she arrived. Thankfully, all of her kids were totally fine.
Watching the firefighters work, she slowly saw everything she owned go up in flames.
By the time the fire was put out, there were few things left. The house was unlivable, and it was only five days away from Christmas. Ironically, one of the only personal items to make it through unscathed was a copy of the movie “Ladder 49”, a story of a man trapped in a warehouse fire.
Despite losing her home, there is a silver lining to the tragic event.
While Tina is upset that she lost her home, she knows that the things she really values are safe. Her kids are all in good spirits, despite the apparent tragedy of their home. Only having the clothes on their backs and the things in their cars, they are doing their best to look at the good, not the bad.
Thankfully, a friend is traveling for Christmas and has offered the family their living room to celebrate.
Through it all, the family has received messages of support and seen incredible generosity from their community. A GoFundMe was set up with a goal of $150,000, and they are currently sitting at $112,920! Only a little bit more to go!
Their friends also set up an Amazon Wishlist for her kids!
It’s in moments like these that you see who your real friends are. For a single mother who spends her days helping save the lives of those impacted by COVID-19, this is a great way to show her she is loved and appreciated.
Check out the video below!
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