Checking in from LA

Requesting help

This week has been a blur—work, stress, tension, worry, and guilt. Besides the air quality and the false evacuation alarms that go off, we are safe, and our home and neighborhood are safe. We are lucky.

If the stats are correct, most of my readers here and on social media live in California. Please contact me here or on IG if you have been affected by the fires and need help. I will do what I can and share anything you need.

I have been sharing as many resources as possible. I live in the middle of it all, which feels overwhelming, yet I also feel incredibly disconnected because I am not actively in it, like many I know. I imagine anyone who doesn’t live here may also feel overwhelmed wanting to help yet unsure how or where to help. It feels like we should be doing something for everyone right now, which is a perfect way to get caught in a freeze situation. This is also when many people tune out, look away, and hope for the best.

In nursing, when I am overwhelmed, I stop, take a couple of deep breaths, remind myself that I am one person doing the best I can, and then put my head down and start doing what needs to be done, one patient at a time.

So when I saw the quote earlier, “Do for one family what you wish you could do for everyone,” I was reminded to start with one at a time.

Today, I want to share with you the story of one of the many families who have lost everything. I know there is this idea that Pacific Palisades and Malibu are filled with celebrities and people who are very well off and have the means and insurance to build again. While this may be true for some, it couldn’t be further from the truth for many.

I learned about Luigi and Santiago years ago when I noticed a woman walking a dog near my old neighborhood. I was out walking with my late dog, Pablo, and I couldn’t help but notice how kind this woman was to her dog. She was kneeling on the ground, playing with and thoroughly enjoying her time with this dog. Now, mind you, I’m a New Yorker. I don’t approach random people on the streets, but I felt called to approach her and ask if it was her dog. It was not; she told me she was caring for this dog (something I instinctively already knew and was searching for myself). I asked her if she was looking for more clients, and while she could have taken my information for herself, she gave me the business card of the company she worked for. So, not only was she super cool and kind to dogs, but she was also loyal to her boss.

The dog walking business was She Loves My Dog, owned by Ligia and Santiago Torres. Their home and business were in Pacific Palisades, right off Sunset Blvd. It didn’t take long after becoming their client to know why their employee was so great because they were terrific. Salt of the earth people, as they say.

Knowing that the fire wiped out most of the Pacific Palisades, I was nervous about contacting Ligia and Santiago. I prayed that she would say they were lucky when I asked how they were doing.

But things were not ok. Their home (and place of business) was destroyed. Thankfully, she and her family and all their animals were safe.

Asking for help does not come naturally to me. I don’t love asking people I know or don’t know to share things for me or to help me in any way. I would rather have my toenails slowly ripped off one by one than have to slide into someone's DMs or my WhatsApp groups and ask for help with something. It’s just not my style.

This request is not for me but for Ligia, Santiago, and their son Joshua. I asked them to share their GoFundMe link, so Joe and I could donate and share it with anyone who would like to help. I know it can be concerning when donating to people or businesses that you don’t know. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scams. This is why I thought it was especially important to share their story personally, how I know them, and why I want to help and go out on a limb and ask others to help as well.

Below is their GoFundMe page. I will also contact Ligia over the coming days. They are still in shock and unsure what they need exactly, but I will reach out when specifics emerge.

If you are looking for a place to help directly, please consider the Torres family.