Operation FireH.E.A.T.

Early Wednesday morning on November 4, 2009, Brian was asleep on the couch and awoke to find his kitchen on fire.  His girlfriend, Jonee, and their two daughters, 3 year old Taneesa and 5 year old Daysa, were trapped in their bedrooms.  As Brian attempted to put the fire out, Jonee was forced to toss their daughters from the second story window of their apartment into the arms of a complete stranger and then climb down herself.  The fire was too large for Brian to handle and he was quickly overcome by smoke and collapsed.

Jonee told the stranger that Brian was still inside.  That stranger, turned hero, raced upstairs to help Brian.  By this time, Brian was already down.  The hero carried Brian outside and down the stairs as the fire department was arriving.  Brian was raced to UMC Burn Center with burns to 70% of his body where he we went into cardiac arrest multiple times.  He pulled through each time and was placed in a medically induced coma.  Jonee also suffered a few minor burns; luckily, Taneesa and Daysa were unharmed.  Everything they owned was destroyed by the fire or the extensive smoke/heat damage. 

On Sunday, November 8, 2009, we took Jonee shopping for the children.  Jonee picked out clothes, sweaters, shoe, socks, toys, bathroom necessities, hair supplies, and school supplies for her daughters.  In addition to what we were able to initially provide, many of our donators went out and purchased even more necessities for the family.  Sherri Grotheer organized a collection through a group of friends and was able to get a futon and several bags of household necessities.  LVFR Station 43, C Platoon, Capt Jackson and her crew also organized a collection and was able to give more necessities including a lot of clothes for the children.  Jennifer, the apartment complex manager, also had a collection started  there at the apartments.  Jonee also received assistance from the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation.  Anthony Bruno, of the City Marshals, gave them a bed.  When we delivered the bed, we were pleasantly greeted by an apartment full of necessities.  They had a dining table, couches, another bed, TV, game system, dishes, glasses, silverware, and a toaster.  It appeared to be just about everything they needed.  Their story had reached Doris Reed and Lamping Elementary Schools, who also supplied a ton of necessities.  The outpouring of support was truly amazing!

Brian had a large family here in Las Vegas and Jonee's family had come in from California.  Brian was still in the coma at the Burn Center so the family was rotating in to stay with him.  The families were planning on a large family gathering at Thanksgiving to support each other and pray for Brian.  Mike Svoboda and Michelle Muscari worked together and were able to provide them with two turkeys with all the sides and a gift card to get whatever else they needed for the dinner.  On Tuesday, December 24, 2009, Michelle delivered the food to them.  An hour later, Jonee received a phone call from the Burn Center saying Brian had passed.  Brian had survived all the cardiac arrests and multiple skin surgeries but the infection was just too much for him.

As we did not do our normal Christmas toy delivery, we do not have any photos to share.

We are deeply saddened with Brian's passing and wish the best for Jonee, Taneesa, and Daysa and we are honored that we were able to provide assistance to them.