The Antinori family lost their home and the ashes of their deceased daughter in the Southern California wildfires. Now, they rely on community support and FEMA assistance to rebuild their lives.
Southern California wildfires have devastated the lives of Leonardo and Giorgi Antinori, destroying their home and taking from them the ashes of their late firstborn child. Now, facing the daunting task of rebuilding without insurance, the couple is relying on the support of friends, FEMA , and generous donors. 'It's been like a surreal nightmare.
The whole thing hasn't even really sunk in yet, and I don't think it will for a very long time,' Giorgi shared with 'Fox & Friends First' on Wednesday. 'At this moment, we're just taking every day, one day at a time, and we are just very grateful for all our friends and family that have come to our rescue,' Leonardo added. The couple, with their two-year-old daughter, fled their blue wooden bungalow as the wind-fueled wildfires raged, eventually consuming their property and those around it. Upon their return, they were met with the heartbreaking reality of a home and all its contents reduced to ashes. Among the irreplaceable losses were the ashes of their firstborn daughter, Vita, who tragically passed away 15 years ago. 'Every memory, every piece of physical evidence of her life, is just gone. And that hurts. I feel numb right now because I feel like I've cried all of my emotions,' Giorgi revealed to CNN.Fortunately, a GoFundMe campaign established by friends has garnered nearly $80,000 in donations to help the Antinori family rebuild their lives. 'We've actually just been so blown away by everybody's support after hearing our story because we didn't have insurance anymore because we couldn't afford it anymore,' Giorgi expressed. Adding to their relief, the couple learned they qualify for full FEMA financial assistance, providing crucial support for housing and other essential needs. 'It feels like a miracle from God, actually,' Giorgi shared. 'But, not to be crass and talk too much about money, but to lose a $400,000 house, which seems expensive maybe to many people who don't live here. But in California, that's I mean, that's working class, so to have a total loss like that is absolutely devastating to us.'Now, their focus is on remaining strong for their daughter amidst the overwhelming challenges. 'My whole world is spinning, and she's seen me cry, and she's seen me break down, but at the same time, it's like she still needs my attention, and she still needs structure. How do you do that when your whole life is in an ash pile and there is no more structure and there is no more normal and you have to start all over again? That's been really tough,' Giorgi continued. 'I've just been taking it minute by minute and reaching out to friends and praying and just trying to give her as much attention as I can while also dealing with like FEMA paperwork and all kinds of things.'
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES FAMILY LOSS DONATIONS FEMA REBUILDING
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