GENESEE COUNTY (WJRT) -
(02/02/12) - A fire destroyed the inside of a Genesee County home last week. The family lost nearly everything. But workers at a Mid-Michigan hospital come to their rescue.
While the home on Dodge Road in Montrose Township is still standing, Michael Watterud said there isn't much left. "The inside is mostly gone. It was heartbreaking."
His girlfriend, Michelle Melchor, and her daughter were home at the time the fire started a week ago Monday. She tried to put the flames out but smoke filled her lungs. "I saw smoke coming from the basement, I went to the fuse box, opened it, and flames just starting shooting at my face."
Michelle said it took fire crews 20 minutes to get to the home. She grabbed a picture of her grandparents wedding day off the wall, before running out. "It's the only thing that I got out of here, it means the world to me."
Michelle and Michael each have a son with autism, that's how they met nine months ago. It was in October when they all moved into the home together. Now they find themselves rebuilding.
"We needed furniture for the living room, we are tired of sitting on the floor. We do have beds set up. We're trying to keep life as normal for the kids as we can it," Michael said.
He has worked in data analysis at Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw for more 10 years. In a weeks time, his co-workers found them a new place to live, collected clothes and donations.
"When you think you're all alone, we had clothes, they raised $1,000 for us. I didn't know I had that many friendships through the years at Covenant, even people I didn't know."
If you'd like to help Michael and his family, please call 989-583-6067.
