I'm Not Dead Yet!
A close look at an extraordinary life with Parkinson's Disease. Quirky and irreverent hosts Judy & Travis take a look at this most tragic of events: life with an incurable disease and why it’s important to declare that I'm Not Dead Yet!
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I'm Not Dead Yet!
EP-127 Rising from the Ashes: Our Journey Through Loss, Resilience, and Community Support
What would you save if a fire threatened to consume everything you hold dear? Join me, Travis Robinson, alongside my co-host Judy Yarris, as we recount the harrowing moments when flames forced Sarah and me from our home in Altadena. From the heart-wrenching choices on what to rescue—my priceless photography gear and Sarah's cherished handmade furniture—to navigating the chaos of evacuation, our story is one of loss, resilience, and gratitude. With Judy's steadfast support, we also tackle the practical challenges that arise, like securing medication and documenting losses for insurance, and find solace in the immense outpouring of support from our community.
As we navigate this challenging chapter of our lives, we’re overwhelmed by the love and assistance we’ve received from friends both near and far. In this episode, we shine a light on the incredible solidarity that has uplifted us, driven by the very connections we have nurtured through our work with individuals living with Parkinson's. A GoFundMe page stands as a testament to this collective kindness, rallying contributions to help us rebuild. Judy and I share our profound gratitude and reflect on how the spirit of giving and solidarity can help us all rise from the ashes, stronger and more united than ever.
LINK To GFM page: https://gofund.me/e3c2cee4
- Co-hosts: Judy Yaras & Travis Robinson
- Editor & Audio Engineer: (EP1-100) Spencer Yaras
- Audio Engineering Intern: Ana MacAller
- Social Media Intern: Ana MacAller
www.INDYpodcast.net
Welcome to the I'm Not Dead Yet podcast. I'm your co-host, Travis Robinson. I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age 35 in 2014. 2014.
Speaker 2:And I'm your other co-host, Judy Yarris. My husband, Sandy, had Parkinson's disease for 18 years.
Speaker 1:I was his care partner. Today's episode is a little different.
Speaker 2:We're recording it in less than ideal circumstances, but that's what we have for you. So just to clarify this, Travis is recording this from a hotel room, so if you hear odd noises and strange bells, that's okay, it may be an alarm. We're in Los Angeles and we felt the need to record this today because Travis and his partner, Sarah, have lost their home in the Eaton Fire. It's hard for me to talk about it. I feel very emotional today Because if you could see the devastation that has occurred in Los Angeles, both on the west side and the East side, you would be shocked. Living here right now with horrible air control, air quality and trying to have some feeling of normalcy because there is none it takes me back a bit to the pandemic. It takes me back a bit to the pandemic, but then it also takes me to a different place from the pandemic, and so we felt the need to record this so you could hear what has been going on with Travis.
Speaker 1:So, number one, Travis, you and Sarah are safe. Yes, yes, we got the evacuation notice on Tuesday night and that was about one hour after the Eaton Canyon fire had started.
Speaker 2:How far do you live from Eaton Canyon? Fire had started. How far do you live from Eaton Canyon?
Speaker 1:About six miles.
Speaker 2:Okay, six miles. Yeah, I knew it was not that far and you're in a very woodsy area. You're in the foothills of Altadena.
Speaker 1:Yes, yeah, so a lot of grass. We are fairly low on the hill as far as we are in what was considered the lowest risk for fire from our insurance company.
Speaker 2:Well, lucky for that, because at least you were able to be insured, so that was a good thing.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:So, travis, when you knew you were going to have to evacuate, how did you determine and you let me know, if you're okay talking about this, I'm assuming you are how did you determine what you were going to take out with you? Obviously, the poodles, the two poodles.
Speaker 1:Right, two poodles and two Cornish Rex cats were at the dark and trying to find stuff like meds and assistive devices. While in the dark and having the wind blow so fiercely that we couldn't open our doors, it really threw a wrench into my carefully planned exit strategy.
Speaker 2:Yes, I know the winds were like 70 to 100 miles an hour, which is unheard of, but I'm glad to hear that you did think of your assistive devices, your meds. Did you take all the meds that you had in the house, or just some?
Speaker 1:No, I was not able to take all of them and I lost a lot of meds. Okay.
Speaker 2:That's something, travis, that we can talk about, because I know that Mickey Fine Pharmacy over in Beverly Hills is actually refilling prescriptions for people that have had their houses go down. So just so you know, and if anyone is listening on the west side and you also lost meds, contact them. They are an amazing pharmacy and they are helping people all the time. Contact them, they are an amazing pharmacy and they are helping people all the time. So, travis, you got the car. Did you get both cars out, I'm assuming?
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Okay, great, that was good. And immediately what comes to mind for me after your meds and your assistive devices is your artwork. I know that you have a house with cameras and lots of wonderful photographs, lots of equipment. How did you determine what you were going to take? I?
Speaker 1:grabbed two bags of photo gear and one portfolio. Everything else was lost.
Speaker 2:Unfortunately. I'm so sorry.
Speaker 1:I'll probably keep saying that throughout this podcast.
Speaker 2:I'm so sorry because it's just how I feel. It's so emotional to think of that. Did you have your passports and things like that, any papers in the house that you knew where they were? I know some people don't always know where they keep things, but I do know that you are an organized person with all your mountaineering gear and things.
Speaker 1:Yes, and so I was able to get my important papers, backups of most of my records and things.
Speaker 2:Good, I'm assuming you grabbed your computer. Of course, yes, I know it seems like that's what everyone is doing. I'm grabbing my computer and my drives. That's what they're grabbing the backup drives. I'm grabbing my computer and my drives, that's what they're grabbing the backup drives Right. Was Sarah home at the time.
Speaker 1:Yes, but only for a minute. She grabbed much less than I did. Oh, I'm sorry. So it's a sobering feeling going through the inventory and just remembering oh, there was this and oh, yeah, that. And don't forget this you know, there are a lot of things that we had in the home that are difficult to determine value. You know, Sarah hand-built most of our furniture.
Speaker 2:Right, I remember that.
Speaker 1:How do you value that? Well, you know cost of lumber, I mean.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you can't, but you have to find a way, as any artist would, to value the time and the time and what went into creating it. And I mean that's how you have to do it. It's so difficult to do. Do you have pictures. I have a. So Do you have pictures? I have a question Do you have pictures from inside your house?
Speaker 2:That's something that someone just said to you recently that before they left, they did a quick video or photo of their house so that people knew, so that it could be seen what they actually had in there.
Speaker 1:Yes, knew, so that it could be seen what they actually had in there, yes, and. I have been going through my store of photos for just that reason.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:But it's just a long process.
Speaker 2:Right, it's just a long process, right? I know, travis, that you didn't know the first night. We kept seeing where the fire was going, but you hadn't been notified. How did you find out that the house was gone? I remember when I first contacted you, you said we think, we're not sure yet we're waiting to get confirmation.
Speaker 1:How did that process go for you, for proper channels and made it back to my place? Passed the barricades.
Speaker 2:a little serendipitously, you did.
Speaker 1:How did you do that?
Speaker 2:Took some photos and are we able to post some of those photos into the?
Speaker 1:show All right.
Speaker 2:So for our listeners, I don't know if you can really comprehend what this is like, but when you see these devastating photos I have seen them it's beyond comprehension. I think it is so disturbing and, just so you know, I'm going to do a plug for it right now. Travis, before we go any further, I've set up a GoFundMe page for Travis and if you go to GoFundMe and put in Travis Robinson, you can find it, but I'll also put the link in somewhere here. Travis will tell me where to put it. It's okay, this is real life. We're not going to keep it you much longer, Travis. In any case, I hope that those of you that are listeners can offer support in any way.
Speaker 1:Thank you, Judy. It is very much appreciated All that you've done for Sarah and I.
Speaker 2:Well, travis, you know our community sticks together and you have done so much for so many people, not just in LA, but around the world, really in LA, but around the world, really by inspiring them and showing your tenacity and your ability to push through just about anything. And I think today I think about it and go. This is the max, like if there's any test that you could have, this is probably the biggest test that you will ever face and I know that you're going to come through this and I know you and Sarah are resourceful and you have people that love you and you have friends merciful, and you have people that love you and you have friends. But this is going to take more than just the initial community of people that know Travis.
Speaker 2:We really need to reach out to the world and get people to come and support you on this, travis, because you have offered so much to the world not just people with Parkinson's, but care partners and just people in general that have listened to the podcast and hear your story and see what you, your honesty and your ability to share your life with them, and so I'm just going to put it out there again any help that someone can give. I don't care if it's giving up a cup of coffee for $5 or $4. It doesn't really matter what it is, but let's see if we can get some support here and make this happen. And, travis, please be safe, you know that I'm with you. I'm always on your shoulder and looking over you, you mean you're a little nudge and a little push.
Speaker 2:So I'm here for you guys in any way that I can be of service, to be there for you.
Speaker 1:Thank you so very much.
Speaker 2:Sending a big love bubble out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, well, that's a wrap Bing.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry, travis, I'm a mess.
