Wildfires in Southern California he destroyed the lives of Leonardo and Giorgio Antinori after taking over their home and robbing them of the ashes of their late firstborn child.
Now, without insurance, the couple wants to rebuild with the help of friends, FEMA and the generosity of donors.
“It was like a surreal nightmare. The whole thing hasn’t really sunk in yet and I don’t think it will for a long time,” Giorgi told “Fox & Friends First” on Wednesday.
“At this point we’re just taking each day, one day at a time, and we’re very grateful to all our friends and family who have come to our aid,” added Leonardo.
The the couple ran away their home in a blue wooden bungalow with their two-year-old daughter as the wind-driven wildfires spread, later consuming the property and those nearby.
LOS ANGELES FIRES: ‘LIFE-THREATENING’, STRONG WINDS BRING INCREASED FIRE RISK
Leonardo and Giorgi Antinori lost their home in Southern California to the relentless wildfires. (Giorgi Antinori)
When they returned, the house and its contents were gone. Among their possessions lost in the blaze – perhaps the most valuable – were the ashes of their first-born daughter Vita, who died 15 years ago.
“Every memory, every bit of physical evidence of her life is just gone. And it hurts. I feel numb right now because I feel like I’ve cried out all my emotions,” Giorgi told CNN.
Some friends have set up a GoFundMe for the Antinori family to defray the costs of putting their lives back together after the tragedy. By Wednesday morning, donations had approached $80,000.
“We were actually blown away by everyone’s support after hearing our story because we no longer had insurance because we couldn’t afford it anymore,” Giorgi said.
But support extends beyond donors. The couple found out right before the segment that they were eligible for full FEMA financial supportwhich helps with housing and other personal needs after a disaster.
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A view of smoke covering the sky from the Eaton wildfire in Altadena, Los Angeles County, California, United States, January 9, 2025. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“It actually seems like a miracle of God,” Giorgi said. “But not to be rude and talk too much about money, but to lose a $400,000 house, which might seem expensive to a lot of people who don’t live here. But in Californiathat’s what I mean, it’s working class, so a total loss like that is absolutely devastating for us.”
Now Giorgi and Leonardo are focused on staying strong for their daughter.
“My whole world is spinning, and she’s seen me cry, and she’s seen me break down, but at the same time, it’s like she still needs my attention, and she still needs structure. How do you do that when your whole life is a pile of ashes and there’s no more structure and no more normal and you have to start all over again, that was really hard,” Giorgi continued.
“I was just going minute by minute and talking to friends and praying and trying to give her as much attention as I could while also dealing with FEMA paperwork and all that stuff.”
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