(GoFundMe)

By Sheldon Spackman

In Need Of Help

GoFundMe campaign launched for local family devastated by fatal fire

Jan 28, 2021 | 2:15 PM

The friend of a Red Deer County woman fighting to put her life back together following a tragic fire that claimed the lives of two of her three children is hoping the community can once again rally in her support.

Jodi Bisio says a previous GoFundMe campaign for her friend Sarah Arlidge saw all contributions returned to their donors as Arlidge was still in a coma at the time, which made it difficult for Bisio to establish the campaign in Sarah’s name.

Now that Arlidge is out of her coma, Bisio hopes the community can once again show her all the love and support they did almost one year ago when $30,000 was raised.

“Sarah is doing an incredible job in recovery,” writes Bisio, on the GoFundMe page. “Sarah is doing physio now which she is insanely proud of and even ate a cheeseburger the other day, which shows how far she has really come.”

It was on Feb. 28, 2020 when fire crews responded to the tragic blaze at the Westview Estates mobile home park west of Red Deer, where Arlidge’s seven-year-old daughter Charlotte passed away. Her five-year-old brother Benjamin succumbed to his injuries a week later.

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Three-year-old Sammy suffered a burn to his arm and was taken in by family members following the fire as Sarah went into a coma.

Arlidge lived in the home with her three children and boyfriend at the time, who also survived.

“Sarah has been a hero through all of this,” says Bisio. “She did what any mother would do and went back in that house after making sure her youngest that was right beside her sleeping, was outside and safe. Sarah went back in to the burning house to get Charlotte and Benjamin but the fire and heat was too unbearable for Sarah and she could only reach Benjamin.”

Bisio says Sarah was left with 85 per cent burns to her body.

“Calling her a hero is just not quite enough. Sarah has undergone many types of surgeries. For example, she went through many days of sepsis and had multiple times of nurses and doctors saying she was not going to make it.”

Bisio notes, however, that with millions of prayers from family, friends, and strangers alike, Arlidge is now out of ICU and has transitioned into the Burn Unit.

“I remember standing over Sarah’s hospital bed the day after the fire and talking to God and telling him how much I hated him for making my best friend go through such agony and pain and heartbreak,” recalls Bisio.

“I thought to myself, ‘Why God?’ This woman has already been through enough after losing her loving husband a year prior. How much more could she take?”

Bisio describes Arlidge as a strong woman and the best mother to her three beautiful children – Charlotte, Benjamin and Sammy.

“Sarah and her family and myself, as well as her many friends she has by her side, will always hold the weight that’s on Sarah’s shoulders, on all of ours as well,” she maintains. “Sarah will never go a minute without one of us telling her how strong she is, and Sarah will never go a minute without knowing how important she is, and how much of a purpose she has in this life.”

Bisio encourages central Albertans to also consider donations of clothing, furniture and other household items for Arlidge and her young son.

“Sarah is awake and has made amazing progress. Anybody that can donate now is much appreciated, as Sammy and Sarah lost everything.”