Updates

Local news station, KHQ, followed up with Mike and JayLynn to see how they are doing one month after the fire. You can watch the short video at the link below: 

KHQ Spokane Family Starts Over 🔗

Dear family and friends,

It has been four weeks since we learned of the death of our home. We have visited the old neighborhood each of the past two Fridays, and it is still hard to stand there and see the ruins of our beloved abode. We spoke with some EPA officials in the area and learned that four of our five trees are deemed hazard risks and will be cut down. Our largest tree, the beloved maple tree in the front yard, does not have to be cut down and we are hoping it will survive. 

In the past week, Mike's healing has accelerated. The pain in his belly has gone. He can cough and sneeze without having to press his gut, or experience a sharp internal pain. He is walking faster and can sit up for longer periods of time now. We are grateful for this good progress in the past week. 

Last Monday, we started sleeping in the new place on Georgetown Lane and have enjoyed making it our own. Each day we shop for a few new things, supplies, groceries, etc. Some furniture will arrive this week and that will be very helpful. The neighborhood is quiet and peaceful. Neighbors on one side mowed our side yard and took us to lunch on Friday. The neighbor on the other side mowed our front yard, and a dear friend from Whitworth mowed the backyard yesterday. We are grateful for friends old and new for helping us in this time.

This week, we hope to finish getting Mike's home office set up so he can turn his attention to action steps. There are appointments to make with various government agencies regarding the cleanup of the Douglass property and getting permits before talking with potential contractors. We have some deep thinking ahead about rebuilding or relocating so continue to pray for God's wisdom on us as we wade into those waters. 

Thanks for all of your love, kindness, messages, prayers, and support. We are most grateful. 

Mike & JayLynn 

Mike and JayLynn signed a lease on a rental home in the Indian Trail area of Spokane. 

They are incredibly appreciative for all the offers for short-term housing from many of you. They were keen to establish some sense of their own space, and remain close to their current medical providers. They are grateful to have secured a space, knowing the demand on the market will be challenged in the weeks ahead. They are thankful to their insurance provider for affirming support for the rental.

Mike and JayLynn will likely be at this rental for 18-24 months. Two years is the average timeline for homeowners to be able to navigate insurance, construction, and/or relocation.

The securing of long-term housing expands how people can support the Ingrams.

1. Home Goods – Mike and JayLynn are re-establishing a home. In some sense they feel like newlyweds needing kitchenware, towels, etc. They have an Amazon Housewarming List here 🔗 from which you can contribute to their housewarming. If the list is completed, please know that Mike and JayLynn will continue to add items to the list. So please check back regularly. 

2. Meals – Soon we will establish a meal train for local folks to deliver hot or pre-cooked meals. More information to come soon. In the meantime, people are welcome to mail gift cards for restaurants or food delivery services to their new mailing address.

It will be a few more days before the rental house is set up for their stay. They are waiting on items such as a mattress delivery and internet connection. Once they move in, they will be able to take a breath that they have been holding for three weeks.  Mike’s physical recovery and the endless post-fire paperwork is still at the forefront. Nonetheless, they look forward to taking some mental breaks. They aim to enjoy the final days of summer with their Spokane grandkids before they head back to school next week. And rumor has it that they have a date with a new season of Star Trek. When Mike is able to resume travel, they look forward to experiencing autumn in some other beautiful parts of the Pacific Coast.

Their new mailing address is:

5711 W Georgetown Ln, Spokane, WA 99208

NOTICE:  Mike and JayLynn are not ready for visitors. Please respect their time to move in and allow Mike his continued recovery. They will share when they are ready to resume social calls. They have made their address public for you all to mail your cards of well wishes. 

Spokane local news station, KHQ, interviewed Mike and JayLynn regarding the loss of their home, and the finding of JayLynn's mother's wedding ring.  The segment includes footage from the moment Jennifer and Shawn found the ring. This footage was captured by their dear friend, Chris.

 
Watch the 2-minute segment here.🔗 

Dearest family and friends,

Seven days ago, we received confirmation that our house on Douglass was destroyed along with our entire street. From that moment on we have received an outpouring of love and support. That to me has been more overwhelming than the loss of our home. That power of prayer and love gives to our souls.

We are so grateful to all of you and to all your people with whom you have shared our story. We are grateful for the prayers as God has given us a peace that truly passes all human understanding. We are grateful for Mike's healing. We are thankful for our kids and how they have come together to take the load off of us, giving us places to call home and feel at home. We are grateful for restoration in relationships. 

We are grateful to a sweet 14-year-old boy who loved this old Grandma and had a hope to raise a thousand dollars to help her out. Between all of you and so many others we don't even know, his goal has been raised almost daily. Others have given in so many other tangible ways. Again, what love has been shown. [Andie’s Note: This is a reference to the GoFundMe campaign]

Our prayer is that seven days from today we will have learned the results from Mike's pathology report. That he can continue to heal well and with confidence that all is well.  He still has some steps to go, but is heading in a good direction.  [Andie’s note: Mike had surgery a few days before the fire. My parents were at the hospital when the fire broke out. We will spare you from all the medical nuance and gory details, plus, you know, HIPAA.]

We hope to find a more permanent living situation. We have been offered several lake homes and while they sound glorious, I feel more comfortable staying closer to medical care at this time. We are checking out another option tomorrow that will allow us (and our kids) some space. We will continue to look for a place to rent for the next 18 -24 months.  We have talked only briefly about what the real future looks like as so many other things are more pressing at this time. Our insurance coverage (thanks to our daughter-in-law) will cover the majority of our physical loss.  

We are still planning to travel next week to see our Portland kids and attend a wedding of a close Whitworth student. We are still planning to take our trip to California and be with all my siblings and their spouses.  These trips have become even more valuable to us as we long to see some of you face-to-face.

In time, we hope to see you all.  To hug on you as you have hugged on us these past seven days.

We praise the Lord for all his love and mercy on us. We will have a chance to share our story this afternoon with a local news team. Someone picked up Shawn's posting of Jennifer finding my mother's wedding ring among the rubble. Several groups of firefighters stopped to help them from time to time. It was a miracle it was found.  This maybe the only significant item retrieved. Besides its sentimental value, it is a symbol of hope. It is our rainbow. A promise that all will be well.

We can not express enough our sincere thanks to you all and the numerous others who have lifted us from the ashes to give us hope for all of our tomorrows. 

May our Lord God bless each of you for the blessings you have poured on us these past seven days. We love you all so very much.

-JayLynn

I am Mike and JayLynn's youngest daughter, Andie, the one who lives in Portland, Oregon. I am writing with an update regarding my parents. 

House Lost to Fire -- Mike and JayLynn lost their house to the Old Trails Fire in Spokane, Washington. The fire broke out on August 1st while Mike and JayLynn were not at home. While we are grateful that they were not present when the flames began, it also meant they did not have the opportunity to collect any essential or sentimental items. It was an anxious 24 hours, not knowing the status of their home, and monitoring the growing evacuation maps. The morning of August 2nd, their neighbor informed them that their homes had been lost. Later in the afternoon, their son-in-law, Shawn, was able to visit the property, confirming it was burned to the foundation. Nothing but a single brick was salvaged. You can see a photo of the property in this Spokesman Review article.  They lost precious photos, family heirlooms, documents of identification, their place of security and comfort, and much more. 

Gratitude Rises -- Mike and JayLynn are grateful to their children, Adam and Jennifer. Adam and Jennifer have helped them navigate the unprecedented loss in combination with our dad's recovery. Together they are rotating through the emotions of grief, being in 'task mode', and moments of laughter. Adam's home is not in the path of the fires, and has been the place of refuge. Mike and JayLynn will stay with Adam for the immediate future. Jennifer's house still stands and the warning level downgraded to a Level 2, permitting her family to return.  Mike and JayLynn are also grateful to all of you who contacted them with prayers and well wishes. They may not be able to respond to your messages, but they appreciate knowing your hearts are with them. As their daughter, it is abundantly clear how many of you love my parents, and have been recipients of their love. 

Your Support -- We appreciate how many of you have reached out with a desire to help. Everything is so fresh, and there is much that is unknown. In the days ahead, there will be tangible ways you can help. Until then, the path for you today is to donate. Today they began to replace basic supplies such as socks and tshirts, and soon they will need to replace items such as a mattress and pillows. The ways you can donate are now listed here on the Donate page.