There have been countless heartbreaking stories of loss and despair in the weeks since wildfires have ripped through Southern California, leaving thousands of people displaced and nearly 30 people dead, according to NBC News. But one Altadena family is trying to stay positive after losing it all...especially one special member of the family.
Grayson Roberts, 10, his mom and two brothers lost their family home in the Eaton Fire that ravaged the community, destroying over 9,000 residential and commercial structures, according to Cal Fire. For Grayson, who was born with a rare genetic disorder that left him completely blind, starting over will be a major challenge, as it means adapting to a new home and a new school while making sure he continues to get the special services he needs to learn.
“I’ve worked really hard to provide a stable environment for them, especially for Grayson,” his mother Terica Roberts told The Los Angeles Times. “Because of his disability, it’s always been important for me to have that one safe place.”
Along with LEGO sets and a stuffed animal he’s had since he was born, Grayson lost his braille books, an adaptive computer and other important educational items will cost thousands of dollars to replace, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Despite his disability, Grayson, who has nearly 30,000 Instagram followers, has dedicated his time to helping others. He and his mother started a fundraiser which allowed him to donate over 200 canes to visually-impaired students in Ghana, an accomplishment he proudly talks about in a video post on his page.
A GoFundMe was created to help the Roberts family rebuild, and while the road to recovery won’t be easy, Grayson remains positive that better days are ahead.
“I told everyone while we were staying at my uncle’s that when life gives you lemons or burnt houses, you make lemonade,” he told KTLA in an interview. “To the people of Altadena — let’s rebuild and make our community better and bigger.”