Fourth disaster hits family’s home - After three hurricanes, fire demolishes dwelling

What started as a normal day for 25-year-old nurse Danielle Swaby assisting patients at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital, turned into what she described as the worst day of her life.

That's because she learnt that her family home in St Elizabeth had been gutted by fire, leaving them struggling to rebuild - for the fourth time.

"I can't remember clearly because I was young, [but] I know Hurricane Dean damaged the house. There was nothing left, nothing," she recalled, noting it took her mother a few years to rebuild. Eventually, the home became a five-bedroom dwelling.

"Then came [Hurricane] Beryl and we had damages again, then [Hurricane] Melissa came and took the roof. That was fixed and now this," she lamented.

"I don't want to say we give up and my mother hasn't outright said she has given up but this is discouraging, it really is," she added.

Despite trying to bury herself in work and pour her all into caring for her patients, Swaby still vividly remembers the day, Sunday March 8, when her phone wouldn't stop ringing.

"I was assessing a patient when I got the call. They were calling before but because I am at work I wasn't ignoring the call, but I just planned to call back. They were persistent; I answered and... ," she said, unable to complete her sentence before a loud sigh escaped.

A cousin from overseas had called to inform her, but Swaby still called home to confirm. The confirmation came from her grandmother, who lives next door.

"She confirmed that the house was indeed on fire. Honestly, I was just blank, and then I asked if they contacted the fire brigade and if they tried to put out the fire. They said no the house was closed and they are trying to get in contact with the fire department," she said.

Swaby added that she could not complete her 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. shift that day and had to leave immediately. Travelling from Kingston to Berlin district, St Elizabeth, that evening, the journey home was filled with nerves rather than the usual happiness of seeing her loved ones.

"What usually takes two to two and a half hours felt like it was forever. I was anxious the whole time," she recalled.

"I was a bit nervous. After the call with my family, I didn't hear back from anyone. The last thing I could remember was hearing my mom screaming out."

When she finally made it to her family home, Swaby said the scene was heartbreaking.

"I had to gather myself because the yard was filled with people. I checked on my mom. I was heartbroken, I broke down in tears."

For the young nurse, seeing the blood, sweat, and tears that were poured into building and rebuilding her family home, only to now have nowhere to call home, is deeply painful.

"The only word to describe how we are now is 'uncertain'; that's the only word to describe it," she said.

"I am feeling uncertain, uncertain about a lot of things. I don't know where to start. My mother suffers from high blood pressure. Since then it has been high," she stressed.

Back in Kingston, Swaby noted that while her passion for her work keeps her mind distracted, there are times when she is at work that her mind goes back to the scene.

Investigations into the fire are still under way, but the family has not received a full report. Swaby noted that there has been much speculation about what happened. What remains of the home are weak concrete walls, some at risk of collapse, and a single bedroom that was saved in time. While Swaby works hard, and her mother, who is still in St Elizabeth, has been able to stay with a friend, the road to rebuilding looks challenging.

"I would appreciate help from the public, it would be good. I started a GoFundMe last Saturday," said Swaby.

Persons wishing to assist Danielle Swaby and her family rebuild their home, may donate to her GoFundMe account at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-dannielles-family-rise-from-the-ashes