A Hillsborough County mother is trying to get back on her feet after losing everything in a fire two days before Thanksgiving and credits her dog for waking her up.
Everything that Casey Meadows and her young two girls owned was melted away Tuesday morning at their home on Nichols Road in Lithia.
“I couldn’t believe that was happening,” Meadows said.
She said her girls weren’t home but she was thankful her dog “Gator” was there.
“He [Gator] was grabbing on my hair, pulling my hair and then he started pouncing on me, licking on my face, I woke up and then I saw smoke,” Meadows said.
Meadows is forever grateful to Gator for waking her up just before the roof started to collapse where they ran out.
“He’s my hero. He really is,” Meadows said.
There are decades of memories in her home, which has been passed down through the family.
“I have owned this house for 40 years,” said Casey Meadows grandmother Patsy Meadows.
Patsy Meadows spent the holiday taking it all in.
“It’s Thanksgiving, we got nowhere to cook but thank the Lord we’re all alive,” Patsy Meadows said.
“You just don’t know what kind of feeling that is until you go through it.
The community has been pitching in to help the family already donating thousands of dollars online.
Patsy Meadows said their insurance will not cover any of their belongings, but on this Thanksgiving the Meadows are thankful for each other and those who care.
“It’s not like you would think because there’s so many people that have a heart,” Patsy Meadows said.