SCITUATE, R.I. (WPRI) — Sadie Laprade has lived on Silk Lane for her entire life.

So when a fire ripped through her childhood home last week, she was understandably devastated.

“I just ran as fast as I could and fell to my knees,” she recalled. “I couldn’t believe that our house was up in flames.”

The Laprades lost everything, including a place to live. Investigators believe a malfunctioning gas dryer was to blame.

“I’m really happy we made it out alive,” Sadie said. “But I just couldn’t imagine how much harder our life was about to get.”

To make matters worse, the 22-year-old’s mother Rae-Ann has been battling ALS for three years, and some of her medical equipment was destroyed by the fire.

“I can’t imagine what she’s thinking or what she’s feeling,” she said of her mother. “It’s so unfair to her.”

Sadie told 12 News times have been extremely tough, emotionally and financially, for her family. Her father, who’s a Cranston firefighter, has been out on leave to take care of her mother.

Thankfully, Sadie’s father made sure her mother escaped their burning home safely. Rae-Ann is now staying at Rhode Island Hospital for the time being while Sadie and her father scramble to find a place to live.

“My dad and I are losing my mom,” she explained, referring to Rae-Ann’s terminal illness. “Now we’ve lost our home in one fell swoop. We don’t even know where to begin to mourn.”

Prior to the fire, a GoFundMe page organized by Laprade for her mother had raised more than $20,000 to help Rae-Ann and her family. It’s since raised more than $60,000 and counting.

Sadie said anyone who wants to donate but doesn’t feel comfortable doing so online can drop off check and cash donations at Snow Family Medicine in Cranston, which is where she works. Donation efforts are also underway in the social media group “ Support the Laprade Family .”

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