# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C1cjuwKR0bp
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72591349-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/3afe7068d9.jpg
- **Posted:** 2023-12-29T18:00:23.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

"I woke up at 8 a.m. because something told me to wake up. I thought it was the middle of the night and would have normally rolled back to sleep, but something pushed me out of bed, and I’m glad it did. I'd like to think it's my late husband, my guardian angel, who told me to go to the window.

I had no curtains in my house. When I looked outside, the sky was this beautiful red color. My neighbor basically saved my life. She called me and said, ‘Get out now, kiddo!’

I called my children for their help, and my son called the Pleasanton Fire Department, and that is how I found out that I was in deep trouble. They told him that I needed to get out quickly.

I started throwing things together while I was talking to my kids, and they were telling me what to grab. I had no idea how close the fire was. I threw everything in the car as fast as I could. I arrived at an Olive Garden because I had to use the restroom, and it was the first place I found to stop. I fell apart there.

I finally got back on the road and stopped in Sacramento briefly before meeting up with my children in Lodi, California. That’s where the start of my new me began.

I couch-surfed for several months and moved five times before I landed the house in Brentwood. FEMA and the Red Cross helped me recreate my life. I'll be forever grateful. The travel-sized personal [hygiene supplies] I received became a staple in part of my many trips to Paradise and through my recovery.

While living in my new home, the [Red Cross] showed up on my door one Saturday, and they were putting in smoke alarms. They helped relocate a few and installed a bed shaker for me because I am hard of hearing. They also walked me through my exit plan and told me what to do.

This experience either makes you humble and grateful or just angry. I choose to be humble."

In 2018, Kathie Reinholds lost her home in Paradise, CA, to the #CampFire. Throughout her recovery, she has remained hopeful with help from family, friends, community partners, and RedCrossNorCalCoastal volunteers. We’re honored to share her inspiring story as part of our #StoriesThatInspire series.

#RedCross #DisasterRelief #DisasterRecovery #EndHomeFires #California

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 466
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 5

## Tags

storiesthatinspire, endhomefires, disasterrecovery, california, campfire, redcross, disasterrelief

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