(Someone else's) Roof Is On Fire. (More and worse problems than mine, #2) · 5:04pm Mar 9th, 2020
Before this starts: I was given direct permission to write this blog.
This is my way of passing along news. It is not intended as a fundraiser of any sort: in fact, no such page exists. It's just telling people about what's going on in the life of someone who's left the site, because some of you knew him and -- you ought to know what's been going on.
This is about Princeps.
Some of you know the name. (There's no point to searching the site for it: he asked Knighty to remove his account. This was done for personal reasons and we won't get into them here.) There's been a couple of posts about his situation before this, and I'm not going to link them in this section because I want the new arrivals among you coming in with fresh eyes. Let's just say that he had been having a number of problems with his life, with a good quantity arriving on the medical end. He's scheduled for surgery next month and describes it as a coin flip: he wakes up or he doesn't. The actual odds are somewhat better than 50/50, but it's still chancy. (However, he does have what passes for insurance in the States, so he'll only wake up to crippling debt.)
He's been trying to get everything put together for this and as with many people, it's been complicated by his own family situation. Something where there's no point to sneaking up on this, so I'm just going to state it directly: his mother recently died, and his father was just diagnosed with the sort of brain tumor where they can't operate again, you get two years at best, and the latter stages are going to bring the dementia effects in. He's been preparing to take over as caregiver there, if his own surgery goes well. And he already prepped his apartment for his father's arrival, because that parent was going to be discharged on the 12th.
But he has a job: income exists. His father has Medicaid, so some help will be available down the line.
And yesterday, his apartment building caught fire.
We've talked about James Kirkwood and the concept of the fleet enema before: the idea that sometimes, everything dumps on you at once. You have a medical issue which requires surgery, your mother is dead, your father is dying and by the way, as long as we have your attention, your apartment building is on fire. A literal four-alarm fleet enema. Anyone want to place bets on what goes next? Exploding car engines are popular...
So the next thing to say: this wasn't as bad as it could have been.
He showed me pictures of the building. (I also have a news article, but I won't link to it without considerably more direct permission because it gives away his location. I was told I could talk about the situation, but I'm not comfortable with handing out a street address.)
(ETA: He told me it was okay to link the articles. This is the local TV coverage, and this is the newspaper piece.
First: there were no human fatalities, although many people are in mourning for their pets.
Second, while the center of the structure was gutted, his residence is on a lower corner. The actual fire didn't reach his area, although there's a good chance for smoke/heat damage and, given the sheer amount of water sprayed over the building, some potential flooding. He doesn't know for sure because no residents have been allowed into the building.
Third: he has renter's insurance. (It was a requirement for getting the lease.)
Right now, his biggest problems come from not being able to enter the apartment. For starters, his prescriptions are in there (including medicines he really can't go for more than a day without), and he's down to one set of clothing -- which he was wearing at the time. However, the Red Cross came to the site and offered the displaced residents some limited emergency funds, along with help getting various things straightened out.
I'm pasting his own description of where he personally stood around 9 p.m. last night.
1) Rx: I need refills from my doctor for all of them, and insurance refuses to pay for new refills despite what happened. My refills will therefore be paid out-of-pocket, because I refuse to let Red Cross pay for my $200+ specialty drug (which was almost forced on me anyway, despite them knowing how much it is!).
2) Temporary housing: Renter's insurance is reimbursing me for my hotel. No set time limit, but I should be alright.
3) Long-term housing: My building owners have promised to help me move into one of their other properties if I so choose. I shall see what is available and go from there.
4) Possessions: Someone with the Fire Department spoke with building management and Red Cross. They will be sending in someone to retrieve what has survived the fire. I will not be permitted inside the building. When that is done, I will be able to go over everything with my insurance adjuster.
(ETA: The building owners have shown him an apartment in a different property: one with a walk-in shower, which would be helpful for his father. The next step is trying to transfer the lease. He's still having clothing issues, but friends brought him some spares and a charger.)
And with his father's care, he has a sibling who can take that parent in for a while (although that may not be the ideal solution), and I've advised him to check with Medicaid about respite days because it's not exactly likely that all this will be sorted out before the 12th.
So on the whole...
...this could have been so much worse.
It's still a major stressor. But the odds are fairly good that a decent number of his possessions survived. He has the key insurance to cover losses, and let's just hope it actually does. He has a roof over his head. (No idea if the insurance covers meals. He's going to be eating out for a while.) The job is still in place.
All the things which had already gone wrong? Those are still wrong. But imagine how bad this could have been.
Because the center of the building, where the fire likely started -- that's a shell. Char and collapsing husk.
Dead pets, and we mourn. But all the people got out.
Everyone in that building had renter's insurance, because it was required. Does it replace the memories tied up in heirlooms? No, but at least you know where your next bed is coming from.
But when you already have so much going on in your life, and you get home to discover your apartment is on fire...
I was talking to him for about an hour last night: he was live on his phone from the burn site, standing in line so the Red Cross could offer what help they could. Eventually, I had to go take care of my own, and asked that he leave updates in the Discord chat tab: that's where the pasted text came from.
All I could do was provide some basic advice (like 'get a charger, fast') and listen. But when I checked that tab a little while ago...
To be honest, I checked your FiMfiction page and was actually a little surprised not to see a blog post about the fire. Not that I expect you to write one, just that my exhausted, stressed-out brain thought you might.
If for any reason you feel as though you would like to do so, you have my full permission.
...well, clearly I've got a rep.
(Well-earned, too.)
So I'm just passing this on. And when it comes to help... as said, there is no fundraiser here. Most of his immediate needs are being looked after, and some of the long-term ones need to be processed through insurance. There's very little anyone can do to assist him with Medicaid. The surgery continues to approach.
But if you want to wish him well, offer up a few words on his behalf, present advice from your own experiences (especially when it comes to dealing with insurance companies) -- then feel free to do so. If he's checking this page, he'll see them.
(ETA: He's also given me permission to share his Discord handle, except that I have no idea how to do that. Right now, all I can tell you is that he's on FIMFic's Discord server as Princeps, and there's a #2522 after his name. That's all I've got.)
Sometimes, it just helps to know someone listened.
Thank you, Estee. Princeps, you have our best wishes and most sincere prayers.
Tell princeps that you were waiting for permission because you are too pure for this world (with any necessary clarification that this was someone else's words)
Oh goodness. You're doing good work.
Princeps, if you're reading this... Well, one, best of luck with the meds, the hotel, the smoke/heat/water damage, and so forth. Secondly, my condolences. Thirdly... Well, I can't exactly say I'm going to be on Discord with any regularity, but feel free to try to get in touch with me there. If I take a while (days, weeks, months...) to answer, you did nothing wrong. I just don't look at it for days, weeks, months... You get the idea.
I still think fondly of your stories (yes, even after that vicious, misinformed, completely off-base review,) and the WoD game. Again, best of luck going forward. Goodness knows you're due for some.
As always, Estee you always look after others. That is your very nature and it it is a wonderful attribute to have in today's selfish world. Thank you for all of know and for caring.
Princeps, you have May best wishes in all that you've endured recently and that you are facing. Though I know it will take time to recover and some situations will be on going, you'll be in our thoughts. That a part of what Friendship is, you know. Take care and stay safe.
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Thinking fondly of the World of Darkness... you certainly live up to your username. >_>
Oof. I'm new here and to the fandom in general, so I haven't read any of Princeps' stories, but nobody should have to go through all that, and especially not all at once. Princeps, if you're reading this, I'm sorry for your loss and hope things start getting better soon. Good luck with everything.
Estee, you're a good soul.
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Hey, that campaign was a lot of fun. We were wrongfully imprisoned in an insane asylum run by either the God-Machine or the fae (it wasn't clear which,) and by the time we managed to get out, we were somehow in rural West Virginia and also thirty years in the past.
One thing led to another, we may have accidentally kidnapped a ten-year-old Antichrist then left him in the care of family he immediately proceeded to corrupt, and by the time the group fell apart, we were conscripted into a far-future post-apocalyptic army of time travelers and our CO told us we'd just undone the events that led to his birth.
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Probably the God-Machine then, the fae would've put you into the future.
wow, shit D:
I remember princeps from the original Imposing Sovereigns contest. I wrote a trio of Mage crossovers, which was pretty unusual, and I liked two of them. All I can hope is that, if he does wake up, it's to a world that is better than it is right now.
I may not know you princeps, but I hope good luck comes your way soon. I can't imagine that kind of tragedy after tragedy, but I know that nobody deserves all that. I'll leave you with the words I saw on a plaque my therapist keeps in his office. "This too shall pass... It'll pass like a kidney stone but it'll pass."
You continue to rock, Estee
Princeps. I...you don't know me, but you inspired me a lot with my own original writing offline. I admired your work and always wanted to talk to you, but I was too chicken to do it >.< Then you left and it seemed for good, for worst, and I repeatedly beat myself up over never getting a chance to say how awesome you are. I will give you a hug, because you need it "gives said hug" I really hope that all goes well for you in the trials ahead and that you come back someday.
Thank you.
Oh my goodness.
I just..........hope it'll all turn out okay.
Estee, you're amazing for writing this.
Good luck, Princeps! It sounds like you could really do with more.
And thanks, Estee.
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I was given permission to post the articles. Doing a group reply because it's a little late for this group to see the edit.
This is the local TV coverage. (Warning: video. It's not graphic, but it may kill your data plan.)
Newspaper coverage. (Anyone playing the 'fake news' card gets blocked.)
He's also said that it's okay to share his Discord handle. I have told him that I have no idea how to do that.
He's on FIMFic's Discord server as Princeps, and the name has a #2522 after it. Right now, that's all I've got.
Just when I'm thinking MY life is out of order...
Princeps, I wish you the best. Thank God no one was killed, though I would be devastated if I lost my cats.
Estee, thanks for writing this. Even though he's not part of the fandom anymore, I hope it helps him to know we still think of him as one of our own.
P.S. Maybe you should get his permission to start a GOFundMe page anyway? A little extra cash couldn't hurt.
My father used to say "Either it's raining yellow or God is pissing on my head"
So all this happened at once, but deleting his account at the same time is yet another unrelated issue? Is he leaving the fandom 4-EVA? It sounds like there's even more going on than you say!
Princeps,
When the surgery is done, awaken. For all its injustice, the world would be poorer without you.
Thanks for sending this along. As I'm currently without access to all my saved stories at the moment (back up your stuff, people), I can't hearken back to any of Princeps' stories.
I'm very glad he's okay, and it's great he got immediate help from the Red Cross. Best of wishes to him.
Now, for all you renters out there, here's my message:
GET RENTER'S INSURANCE.
I'm serious. For less than $10 per month in most cases, you can get your possessions replaced, often with something better, in cases of fire/theft/water/wind damage and more. Your landlord's/property manager's insurance only covers the building. It DOES NOT cover your possessions. If something similar happens to you and you don't have renter's insurance, you'll not only have to find a new apartment, but you'll also need to replace your belongings out-of-pocket. No one needs that kind of stress after suffering a catastrophic event.
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The account was deleted... probably at least a year ago? Point is, we have no idea whether it had anything to do with this, and "personal reasons" is a phrase that makes me leans towards a no.