“Hi guys! We have a guest”: when the uncle shows up at the door of the house with a puppy, it is always a moment of joy. Especially if the family with seven children has lost everything in a fire, and is starting over after a difficult time. “He’s a dog!” was the enthusiastic response of the children and their mother, who immediately welcomed the newcomer with affection.
A family displaced by a devastating fire that destroyed their home has had an outpouring of community support and now has a new dog. AJ and Lindsay Rowe have seven children. The couple had purchased their dream home in Deerfield Township, a farmhouse built in 1906 that spans two acres. They managed to escape and save themselves after losing everything. Two dogs were also lost in the fire that broke out on March 13. All of their children were hospitalized, some in the emergency room and some in intensive care. Then, fortunately, they all recovered.
After the fire, the community gathered around the family with prayers, love and generosity. The outpouring of support didn’t stop: after Brighton Ford owner John Cueter heard their tragic story, he gave the family a home to stay in. The family now affectionately refer to Cueter as “Uncle John”. He recently showed up on his front door with a new four-legged friend to love. He surprised with a gesture welcomed with great joy.
In a post on their Facebook page, the family said: “This fire sucks. We have lost everything we have ever owned. We have lost everything special to us that we can never replace. We have lost our dream. But… we earned much more. Strangers have turned into friends and friends have turned into family. Our community is embracing us so tightly. We are overwhelmed with love. We have received donations from Iowa to New York. This story is reaching far, but this story is not about a fire. It’s about what happens next.” With the arrival of the puppy there is now a great desire for rebirth.
