# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C8NXBztOgBI
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72589966-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/41f8d9f1b6.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-06-14T20:00:30.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

“Nunca en un millón de años imaginé la posibilidad de sufrir un incendio en mi hogar. Cuando veía cómo el edificio ardía en llamas, pensé: ‘Bueno, ¿y ahora qué?”

Gabriela never thought she would experience a home fire until she received that phone call. She was at work when her brother called to tell her that their home was on fire and they were losing everything.

Gabriela remembers standing there watching everything she owned burn in flames and thinking about how she would explain what happened to her daughter: “¿Cómo iba a explicarle esta tremenda pérdida a mi hija que afortunadamente estaba en la guardería en ese momento? No sabía qué hacer a continuación y mucho menos pensar en las palabras que necesitaba usar para asegurarle que íbamos a estar bien."

Thankfully, her daughter was at daycare at the time of the fire. Gabriela and many of her neighbors stayed at a Red Cross shelter in the following weeks. RedCrossIL volunteers helped replace Gabriela’s daughter’s medication, ensured they had items like toothbrushes and combs to feel comfortable, and walked them through recovery resources.

“Cada voluntario que conocimos nos trató con mucha amabilidad y compasión,” Gabriela said. “A mi hija, los voluntarios de la Cruz Roja le proporcionaron juguetes de peluche y materiales para colorear, se tomaron el tiempo para sentarse con ella a dibujar y colgar sus obras de arte en el refugio.”

Gabriela said she's the most grateful for the volunteers who helped comfort her daughter with their compassion and by doing activities with her. Although they tragically lost everything, it was the care and kindness provided by volunteers that made all the difference in their recovery.

Because of that support, Gabriela now donates to the Red Cross and hopes others will do the same. ❤️ 

#RedCross #HomeFire #Testimony #Illinois #DisasterResponse

## Stats

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- **Likes:** 151
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## Tags

illinois, homefire, testimony, redcross, disasterresponse

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