My name is Katie Marie Shelton, and I’m asking for help after a fire turned my life upside down. A few weeks ago, the home where I was living with Miss Judy Wright caught fire—authorities told me the stove had been left on. I was at the store when I saw the smoke and ran back. With my boyfriend and a neighbor, we kicked the door in as flames moved through the rooms. Miss Judy, who is 83, had gotten trapped toward the back of the house. I told the sheriff where she might be, and they reached her in time. She suffered smoke inhalation but, by God’s grace, no third-degree burns. The sheriff later told me I helped save her life. The house, however, is destroyed inside. I’m in a toy hauler for now, doing my best to keep us going.

Miss Judy isn’t my blood grandmother, but for years she treated my sister and me like family, letting us live on her property and calling for help when she needed a hand. Losing our mother this past May has left our family strained and scattered, and I’ve been trying to hold it together through grief and long-standing family complications. On top of the fire, I’m also dealing with health issues—there’s cancer in my family and I have a tumor; with a fixed income and limited resources I can’t afford chemotherapy. I’m doing what I can with the paperwork, talking to the sheriff’s office and agencies, and trying to find the next safe step.

I’m raising funds to cover the immediate needs that keep us safe and stable: (1) temporary housing costs (lot fees or short-term rent), utilities, and basic repairs/supplies so I have a safe place to stay; (2) medical costs I can’t cover—appointments, scans, and the first steps toward treatment for my tumor; (3) transportation to appointments and to check on Miss Judy while she recovers; and (4) food and essentials while I work to replace what was lost. If generosity allows us to go beyond these essentials, additional funds will go toward replacing IDs and documents, and paying down any fire-related fees or deposits so I can move into stable housing.

I will post updates and keep receipts so you can see exactly how your help is used. If you’re not able to donate, a share or a note of encouragement helps more than you know. Thank you for reading my story, for caring about Miss Judy, and for helping me take the next steps after a frightening night. Your kindness gives us safety, dignity, and a way forward.