In the early morning hours just before 3:30AM on Monday morning December 29th the DeSarno family experienced what is surely a family’s worst nightmare…. They woke up to find that their home was on fire. The fire, in their historic late 1800’s home spread so quickly that they barely had enough time to flee with their lives! The family was forced to break through their 2nd floor windows to escape to the roof or jump from their rooms to flee the searing heat of the flames. Unfortunately during their escape 4 of the 6 members of the family were very severely injured with burns, broken bones, smoke inhalation and cuts and bruises! Three of the family members are in critical condition up in the Burn Unit at Saint Barnabus Medical Center in Livingston; they are Kim (mom), Shelby (daughter) and Max Klitzke (Kim’s dad). All had to be placed with breathing tubes to survive. All three suffered serious burns and Shelby, who is one of the two children who had to jump, has broken bones and internal injuries. Henry (son) is in critical condition in Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick with a very severe back injury he sustained in also jumping from the 2nd floor to escape the flames and intense heat and already has been operated on in hopes of restoring feelings back to his legs. Thankfully both Paul (father) and Arthur (son) who sustained minor injuries after fleeing the flames through a window to the roof, are now both released from the hospital and staying with friends here in town. Paul DeSarno, who many of you may know, is a very active member of the local community as is his wife Kimberly. Paul is a local attorney, former Sayreville town councilman & public defender, past president of the Sayreville War Memorial High School Band Association, Boy Scout committee chair for the past 15 years with Troop 97, he also served on the Sandy Relief Board and is very active with their church, Holy Trinity Episcopal in South River, where Kim is a Senior Warden. Son Arthur is an Eagle Scout with the local Boy Scout Troop 97 as well. The DeSarno’s have lost everything, as is often the case with such a fast moving fire which quickly burned through the roof and collapsed the second floor to the first. They all narrowly escaped with just what they had on and all else was lost. Gone are their Christmas presents, clothes, pictures, important documents, cash, personal belongings, and heirlooms, all the things of family value and reminders of better times that families collect through the years and define their lives! All the things that may have little or no value, but are priceless for the memories they bring back of times together. All they have now are their memories, hopes and prayers that all their family members will live and survive this tragedy and will heal and be well again. They desperately need the help and support of the community they so love and have served for so long. Boy Scout Troop 97, in conjunction with their sponsor, Our Lady of Victory Knights of Columbus Council 2061 will be accepting monetary donations for the immediate needs of the DeSarno family at our council home from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM this Saturday January 3rd, 2015; PLEASE stop by and give whatever you can, even if it’s just a dollar to help this family rebuild their lives… Or you can mail your DeSarno Family donation to … OLV Knights of Columbus Council 2061 775 Washington Road Parlin, NJ 08859 Checks can be made out to either BSA Troop 97 or Knights of Columbus Council 2061; Please put “DeSarno Donation” in the note area on the check. Also, accepted will be gift cards for area stores to be used for food, clothing purchase, gas, and other immediate needs such as personal care necessities. Future needs and services will be addressed once the family members are out of the hospital. At this time arrangements for bulk items of clothing and furniture have not been made yet but more information will follow in the coming days and weeks. We hope that you will find it in your hearts to come to the aid of this wonderful family who lost everything but their hope in God’s blessings and his mercy as well as yours. Thank you so much and please keep praying for all of the DeSarno family members.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 16:01:35 +0000
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