Community rallying for local family devastated by fatal mobile home fire

Jodi Bisio of Red Deer created the “Helping these kids FIGHT” GoFundMe campaign on Mar. 1 that has raised over $11,000 and counting in support of the family.

Bisio says she started the campaign to help her best friend rebuild her life once she gets out of hospital.

“I’m only doing what my best friend would do for me,” says Bisio. “I’m trying to make her stabilized when she gets back, with a house, a vehicle. Her animals are gone in the fire and she’s an animal lover, so more toys, just everything that they lost.”

Bisio says Sarah is in an induced coma and currently getting skin grafts done at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary.

“She has about 75 per cent burns to her body, so she’s not out of the woods yet, she’s far from recovery,” Bisio explains. “That’s one thing with the campaign, we’re not just looking for furniture and toys, we’re looking at the long run like physio, medications, all this stuff that’s going to help her be comfortable in her body. A lot of the burns were on her face, so she’s not going to look the same.”

Benjamin is being treated at Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. Bisio says he’s in stable condition, but also not doing well.

“He’s worse than Sarah,” laments Bisio. “He’s getting skin grafts done, too, which is progress, but he’s holding on. That’s as much as the doctors said to me.”

Further adding to the devastation, Bisio says Sarah also lost possessions in the fire belonging to her late father, brother and husband.

“She lost her dad and her brother in the same year, she lost her husband to suicide last year, so it’s been really shaky for all those kids and her,” Bisio shares. “She’s a strong, strong woman. She’s gone through so much in her life already.

“I look up to her, and you know, this is going to break her when we have to tell her that her daughter is gone. She’s not going to face it alone,” says Bisio.

As for three-year-old Sammy, Bisio says he’s not yet aware of his family’s new reality.

“We’re trying to keep him busy,” she explains. “It’s in our position to tell him, but we don’t want to tell him just yet. He’s three, he can’t comprehend that. He knows daddy is in heaven and that daddy’s not coming home, but now we have to explain to him that his big sister is not coming home either.”

Looking back at the tragic events of last Friday, Bisio acknowledges the efforts of everyone who tried to help save the lives of Sarah and her family.

“Mario (Roy) is Sarah’s uncle, his trailer burned down too, he’s going to need help as well,” adds Bisio. “He’s staying in a holiday trailer right now and he’s doing the best he can there. All the firefighters did amazing just to put out that fire.”

Bisio says Pozzolo, who she says Sarah plans to marry, also did what he could to save everyone inside the burning home.

“Charlotte’s room was in the back and was the hardest to get out. They managed to get the window smashed out but they just couldn’t manage to get her out. There was just too much smoke.”

Bisio notes the love and support shown by the community for Sarah and her family, is nothing short of amazing.

“Catholic Social Services has been a great help, but a lot of places it’s hard because you can’t get Sarah in a program because she’s not here,” she explains. “So I have to be her voice and I’m not going to stop fighting for her or her kids. I’m just not.”

by Sheldon Spackman

Community rallying for local family devastated by fatal mobile home fire

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