Tragedy Strikes Family Twice

Tragedy and loss seem to follow Terri Oakes like a sinister shadow lurking around the corner for the next chance to strike, yet through it all, Teri remained strong and self-reliant until now.

New Year’s Eve 2014, Terri had family and friends over to celebrate the start of the New Year. Everyone was having a wonderful time until 9:27pm. Terri recalls the hour and minute her world came crashing down. Her home was on fire.

Despite the heroic efforts of the Big Lake Fire Department, Terri’s home was a total loss, again. She could only wonder why this had happened again. In June 1996, she lost her home to the Miller’s Reach Fire. The difference is that she had insurance in 1996.

In 1998, Terri gave birth to quadruplets, but tragically lost one of the boys. Five years later, her husband left her to raise the four remaining children by herself. It was very tough economically, and took a toll on Terri’s health.

In 2005, she suffered a major heart attack, even needing CPR to bring her back. Multiple heart procedures depleted her already meager finances, and she had to let the home’s insurance lapse. Now, because she only has 25% function of her heart, she’s been unable to work and unable to set aside enough money to rebuild.

The property has been in her family for 3 generations now. Her parents died in the home, her children were raised in the home. All sentimental items are gone…except for her grandmother’s bowl that she was able to recover from the ashes. Kyle regained the safe he’d made in welding class, the safe that held all the money he’d saved since he’d started working. His grandfather’s knife was also discovered amongst the rabble.

After the fire, Terri and the triplets moved in with her in-laws, an arrangement that lasted only 10 days. She then moved the family to a motel for 2 days. While in a quandary of what to do next, a friend offered his mostly finished house to the family, but problems with the septic system in April forced Terri to move out.

Since April 15th, Terri has been living in a small dome tent inside a portable shelter. Her children are living with family friends and only get to see their mother on weekends or an occasional evening. Terri feels the loss of family greatly. She would love nothing more than to have her children back with her.

Catlyn, Kathryn, and Kyle are high school seniors now at Houston High, and all express the same desire. They don’t grieve over the losses of the material possessions as most teens would, but they each expressed the loss of the family unit as being the most devastating outcome of this tragedy.

Terri is proud and not one to reach out for help, but with winter approaching, and her children scattered, she’s reached out to Wasilla Homeless-Committee for help.

There is a lot to accomplish. The well and septic system must be checked for functionality. The detritus of the fire must be removed, and a dwelling placed on the property. All of this will take money, and that is why we are asking for donations to help this family get back together.

An account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank specifically for the rebuilding of the home, or even the placement of a mobile home on the property. The account number for donations is 7663569809. Any donation, no matter how small will help tremendously toward rebuilding their lives. Please find it in your heart to give to this very deserving family.