Courtney was in class when the fire broke out.
Courtney, who asked that her last name not be mentioned, is a student currently enrolled in the CNET program.
For Tyler, Courtney’s boyfriend, the morning of November 4, 2013 was a typical one at their home in Rosewood Heights.
Courtney said, “Tyler heard a popping noise coming from the toaster and walked in to see what was going on. The toaster was in a flame the size of a basketball.” Tyler desperately scooped up the couple’s 3-year-old daughter Skylar and dog Toby and took them out the door to the outside to get them out of the fire.
He ran back to the house to try and stop the fire, but he couldn’t manage to get the door open to the kitchen due to the pressure.
Whenever Courtney returned to school she was devastated as most people would be, but she was not concerned about herself or her boyfriend. All of her worries were focused on her daughter, Skylar. In the fire they lost a lot of her toys and personal belongings.
She soon told her professor, Doyle McClellan about the fire and the fact that she lost all of these items for her daughter. McClellan along with other students in the CNET program, and fellow professor Scott Hudson started collecting donations for Skylar.
“I didn’t want anything for me or my boyfriend. My main priority is and always will be my daughter before myself.” Courtney said.
All of the donations were anonymous but it was astounding how many people stepped up to help.
Thanks to the selfless contributions, Courtney was able to not only supply toys for her daughter for Christmas, but she was able to buy her a new bed and essentials that were destroyed in the fire.
“To be able to know that we were going to be okay took a pressure off of my chest that was unbelievable,” she said. “I owe a lot to Mr. McClellan and Mr. Hudson for all the support they rallied up for me and my family. I want to say thank you to every person that helped my family, I didn’t think there were people out there like that anymore, but they sure did prove me wrong.”
A tragedy like a fore quite a daunting thing to ponder about, but for Courtney and her family it was reality, but they didn’t have to suffer alone because here at L&C we are a family.
It’s situations like these that make me proud to be a Trailblazer.
kierstenconnolly1@gmail.com