April 25, 2024

Photo Galleries

'Everything is basically a lump of charcoal.'

Helping Linda Landrey in her extreme time of need

By DENISE M

September 01, 2019 at 5:30 am CDT

Because it destroyed her hopes for the future and took away her dog Pepe, the love of her life. Landrey’s family is hoping the community will help restore her hope.

Because it destroyed her hopes for the future and took away her dog Pepe, the love of her life. Landrey’s family is hoping the community will help restore her hope.

Landrey, who will turn 70 on Tuesday, has battled health issues over the last decade, health issues which intensified the last few months. The health challenges started when Landrey had a stent placed in her heart about 10 to 15 years ago to correct a blockage, said Landrey’s daughter Tina Clay of Florida. Around the same time, Landrey also had a bout of diverticulitis (inflammation of small pouches in the intestinal walls) and peritonitis (inflammation of the membrane that lines the inner abdominal wall). That’s led to multiple bowel obstructions, about one a year, Clay said. “And so she has to be careful about what she eats,” Clay said. “Any kind of seeds and nuts and it’s pretty much an instant bowel obstruction.” Seven months ago Landrey had a heart attack “out of nowhere,” Clay said. This past winter, Landrey, who has “horrible arthritis” and two artificial knees, slipped on her steps and broke her leg in two places, Clay said. “She was in a wheel chair for three months,” Clay said. “I flew out to take care of her.” The first day Landrey was able to “get out of that chair,” she felt the familiar abdominal cramping, the signal she had another bowel obstruction, Clay said.

So Clay urged Landrey, who lived alone with her mixed terrier Pepe, to sell the house and move to Florida. Landrey’s old car had broken down and Landrey had no transportation of her own, Clay said.

But if she sold the house, which had no mortgage, Landrey could use that money to rent an apartment and buy a used car, Clay said.

“She’d only lived there seven years,” Clay said. “After she and my dad got divorced, she bought that house. That was the first thing she ever got that was hers. She paid cash for it. She got a settlement for a work injury so she used that to buy the house outright.”

Landrey’s only other income is $700 a month in Social Security, Clay said.

So Landrey put her home on the market and began planning for her future.

All her plans changed in a single flash on Aug. 18.

It was raining when Landrey woke up and decided to take a shower, Clay said. In the background, Landrey heard the rumbling of thunder but otherwise didn’t think much of it.

While in the shower, Landrey heard a big boom that shook the house, Clay said.

“She threw on her bathrobe and get out of the bathroom,” Clay said. “By then, flames were coming out of the kitchen.”

“She went to grab Pepe, but he got spooked and ran back into the dining room,” Clay said. “She tried to grab him but the flames were too much. She ran outside, yelling for help. Then the neighbors came out and called the fire department. He [Pepe} did not make it out. There was a big hole in the roof where lightning hit.” Landrey had her second heart attack on Aug. 19, the day after her house burned down. Clay is certain Pepe’s death contributed to it. “That dog meant everything to her,” Clay said. Clay recalled one time when both Landrey and Pepe were sick but Landrey could only afford one doctor’s appointment. Landrey chose Pepe over herself. Any time Landrey was not feeling well, Pepe remained by her side, Clay said.

Pepe was so attached to Landrey, he would not go to sleep unless Landrey was in the bedroom. Pepe was the first dog Landrey owned since Clay’s childhood. He was meant to be a birthday present for another relative, but he and Landrey formed an “instant bond” when they met, Clay said. The relative received another dog for a gift, Clay said. “He was her little best friend,” Clay said. “They did everything together.”

Clay said Landrey literally has nothing left of her former life. “Everything is gone,” clay said. “Clothing, pictures, just everything she owned, furniture. She just got a brand-new living room set, and it’s nothing but ash. Everything is basically a lump of charcoal.”

Clay said the items in the kitchen and the bathroom weren’t burnt but they are full of water damage, except for, maybe, the pots and pans. “The Red Cross came out on Sunday and gave her a gift card for $450,” clay said. “It’s pretty much all she has. It’s gotten her some clothes and things like that.”

Landrey even lost her medication in the fire. “At the hospital, she had a real hard time with the insurance trying to get them to refill it,” Clay said. But the devastation doesn’t end there.

Landrey had dropped the insurance on the house because she couldn’t afford it, Clay said. And Landrey, who doesn’t trust banks, had kept the money for the taxes, which are due, in that house. The tax money was burned up in the fire, Clay said.

Clay still wants Landrey to move to Florida. So the family has set up a GoFundMe account to help raise $2,000. This will help pay for a security deposit on a modest apartment and allow Landrey to buy a used car.

So far, friends and family have only raised $250. Clay is hoping the community will support Landrey

“She’s always been there for anybody who’s needed anything,” Clay said. “She’s never asked for anything. She’d give you the shirt off her back. If you needed a place to stay, she’d open up her home. She’d give you her last dollar. Any help would be greatly appreciated.”

How to help Linda Landrey's family have set up GoFundMe page called " Helping Linda in her extreme time of need." To donate, visit bit.ly/2Zr728G.

#People Joliet house fire rainbow bridge pets in house fires dogs in house fires dog loss dog death devastation house hit by lightning when lightning hits your house Denise M. Baran-Unland