It's the day before Thanksgiving, and Sue Anthony attempts to get some shut-eye inside her home in Lehighton after preparing holiday cards for veterans.

Anthony is suddenly awakened at 3 a.m. to the smell of what she believes to be wires burning, only to see an orange glow outside her window."My blinds were already melting from the heat," Anthony said. "At that point, I heard someone shouting our names, saying the house was on fire."Anthonyscreamed for her daughter, Felicia-Sue, who was asleep in the next room.At first, her daughter did not believe her, but Anthony screamed again that they needed to get out.Anthony's husband was already outside because he was alerted by their next-door neighbor, whose home was also on fire. Their son, who is a firefighter, was asleep in a downstairs room, heard the commotion, and realized that there was a fire and ran out to go to the station.Escaping the fireAnthony said that during and immediately after the fire, her memory is somewhat of a blank."The last thing I remember was holding my daughter's hand as I desperately tried to guide her to safety," she said. "The smoke and fire was heavy, and my senses were disoriented. But, somehow, we were able to get through the evil flames and heavy smoke."Anthony said she held one dog, and Felicia-Sue had the other. As they got out, Anthony said she realized her bunny was still inside, which firefighters were able to rescue. The bunny is currently being taken care of by neighbors, she said.While Anthony was taken to the hospital, she has no memory of how she got there or why she was there at that time."It was only a while later that I realized I lost my home," she said. "Later that day, my family was all together trying to comprehend what happened. Shock, fear and sadness was just overwhelming."In all, 18 people were displaced from their homes following the fire Nov. 24, where three structures on North Second Street were on fire.Living away from homeAnthony, who lived with her husband, Richard; her son, Steven; and her daughter; two dogs; and a bunny at 245 N. Second St., said they stayed with their oldest son, Brandon, also a firefighter, and their daughter-in-law, Danielle."The most heartwarming thing was knowing my neighbors were OK," she said. "However, we are saddened by the loss of some of their pets, for which our heart aches."Anthony said, "The emotional and physical stress has really put a strain on us all.""The days immediately following the fire, I guess we all were just trying to piece things together," she said. "Playing things over and over again in our minds. Such as why did this happen? How could this have happened? Where are we gonna live? So many what ifs."Anthony said she and her family are currently staying at a hotel.Support systemThroughout their time of loss, Anthony said, "the outpouring support of family, friends, clubs/organizations that either I or my husband and children belong to, a few local businesses, the Lehighton area schools, staff and students and the community have been phenomenal. The love, kindness and generosity is what is keeping our hopes and faith alive.""Without these people, our spirits would be crushed and even more devastated," said Anthony, who added that the Red Cross has also been a big help. "The support, whether it's donations of clothing, food, items, monetary, hugs and especially prayers means more to us than words could ever express."Anthony said the family has received clothing and some household items, which they are appreciative of, but with the uncertainty of where they are going to live and limited storage, it's hard to say what they will need moving forward.Anthony noted one particular gift: a bouquet of flowers that was delivered from two teenagers who live in the community the day of the fire that read "Thinking of you.""It was very touching to know that even the young people care," she said. "That bouquet of flowers brightened a very gloomy day."Gail Maholick, secretary/treasurer of the Beltzville Lions Club, said the organization recently gave the Anthony family a $250 donation, which she said they used to buy clothes and food that they needed."Since Sue has done so much for our club, we took the money over because there was an immediate need," Maholick said. "We knew her personally, and we wanted to give it to her personally. She needed it desperately."Dealing with the holidaysWith the holidays approaching, Anthony said the family's "spirits were pretty low.""Just thinking about everything that we ever owned is gone was enough to wipe the spirit of the holidays away," she said. "However, we knew the community we live in is a very caring and supportive area in times such as a house fire."Anthony said that as the days passed after the fire, the messages, donations and kind words of hope came pouring in."We knew then that we will be OK," she said, admitting how difficult being on the receiving end has been because her family enjoys giving."There is nothing more satisfying than putting a smile on someone's face," she said. "Since the fire, and knowing that people care so much, our faith and hope have risen tremendously. All the people who have been reaching out to us to help in any way they could have been are the glue to keep us from falling apart mentally and physically. We have so much to be thankful for."Anthony said that the Saturday after the fire, her husband was blessed to be known as Santa."Seeing the excitement on the children's faces was enough to bring out the smile and warm feeling of the approaching holidays," she said. "Our angels were already with us that dreadful day. They are known as firefighters, fire police, policemen, medics, doctors, nurses, volunteers and community people."Moving forwardAs the family looks ahead, Anthony said their goal is to find a place that they can call "home" again, and added that as soon as they are able, they plan to give back to the community."I would like to share to the community and everyone that has reached out to us in some way or another that we feel we are truly blessed in many ways by receiving the support by everyone," she said. "As one note written on a donation said, "take one day at a time."Despite her family's misfortunes, Anthony said she still believes in miracles."We're alive," she said. "That's a miracle in itself right there."Anthony said the family could possibly have someplace to live within the next week or so."I believe in miracles, and hopefully my family will receive our Christmas miracle, a place to call home again," she said.