By: Angie Springs, American Red Cross 

No one can ever predict when a fire is going to take away a family’s home. At the end of 2023, Marla Embrey and her family were celebrating the end of the year at Walt Disney World. Such a magical time that was quickly brought to an end when she received a call that her home was on fire.

After making emergency arrangements to get back to Missouri, the devastation, heartbreak, and sadness of losing their family home of 30 years began to sink in. Thankfully, there were many hands on deck to help Marla and her husband Gary with their recovery.

Their children and their families were there the entire way, stepping in to serve as a voice when Marla and Gary just were not able to wrap their minds around what they were having to do. Their daughters, Aubrey Parrott and Krystin Turner were there to step in and be their support.

Aubrey stated that they had gone to the store to purchase everything that their parents had lost. Not even sure how much money they were going to need to spend, just knowing that their parents now needed essentials like deodorant, shampoo, clothes, and shoes. That was when their angel on Earth showed up. Aubrey stated, “The Red Cross showed up while we were in the middle of shopping to replace items at the store, and the immediate assistance the Red Cross provided allowed us to purchase the items that my parents so desperately needed.” The Red Cross was even able to replace their parents’ glasses, which was such a blessing.  “You don’t realize what the Red Cross does every day until you are on the receiving end. Just to know that they are always there is a comfort”, Aubrey went on to say.