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'I thought I lost my babies': Jeffersonville family picking up the pieces after losing everything in fire

A fire at the East Lawn apartments on Saturday has left the Henderhan family with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The fire sent several to the hospital.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind — The last 48 hours for the Henderhan family have been hard.

Everything was ruined in Saturday’s fire and now they're left stranded with no transportation or housing.

"We lost everything we came out with what we had on our backs," Rachel Henderhan said.

Furniture and clothes are left outside. Their once beautiful Christmas tree is now part of the debris, burned and covered with water destroyed at East Lawn Apartments.

Rachel, her father, daughter, son-in-law and grandson survived. Now all they have left is each other.

"I woke up not being able to breathe, my whole room was filled with black smoke. I looked out my window and just see flames coming up the side of my apartment," Angel Henderhan said.

Angel jumped up looking for her family. Firefighters found her mother Rachel semi-unconscious in the bathroom.

First responders immediately rendered aid.

"I thought I lost my babies I was worried about them," Rachel said.

Angel's fiancé Anthony jumped out the window landing straight down shattering his leg.

He was sent to UofL Hospital in Louisville for surgery.

"He came off that ventilator fully last night and so far by the grace of God he is doing really good so far," Angel said.

The last two days have been tough with nowhere to stay, no clothes and no car.

The holiday is just a week away and the family's Christmas tree and gifts are ruined.

"It breaks your heart when you have a little four year old that looks at you and says, 'Is Santa Claus going to find me this year,'" she explained.

The Henderhan's have started a GoFundMe as they try to recover from the fire. The American Red Cross also gave them a small donation.

They're still looking for shelter, clothing, and hygiene products.

"I don't have no family except for my aunt them and we really [haven't] spoke since 2019 when my brother committed suicide," Rachel said.

She hopes someone can make this Christmas special for her grandson Malachi.

"I don't even care if it's a little truck just find, just for Santa Claus to bring my grandson a little truck," Rachel said.

Hoping this will make their family smile through their pain.

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