ALTADENA, Calif. (AP) — Missi Dowd-Figueroa found a way to revive her fire-ravaged lot where cherished memories once lived, one sunflower at a time.
The registered nurse and mother of three lost her 1898 farmhouse during the Eaton Fire, a deadly blaze that swept through Los Angeles last January, displacing thousands and obliterating entire neighborhoods.
Despite the grief and challenges that linger a year later, Dowd-Figueroa chose to stay and heal. The Altadena I know and love is gone, she reflected, lamenting the loss of familiar places like her dentist and pharmacy while maintaining a glimmer of connection to her community.
After a period of mourning, she decided to plant flower seeds in the ashes of her home, transforming her once-barren property into a flourishing garden. I was already going there every day crying, so I thought, ‘Why not do something that keeps me busy?’ she explained.
Dowd-Figueroa initially grappling with a deep sadness, also faced the loss of family artifacts, including ashes of her father. This poignant realization deepened her heartache. Yet, as the garden flourished with approximately 500 flowers, it became a place of solace and healing—an effort to help nature rejuvenate as she prepared for the construction of a new house.
Her journey of recovery saw the emergence of butterflies and other wildlife in her garden, fostering a sense of nurturing toward the environment. Construction on her new home commenced in September, fueled by community support and her own inspiring resilience. The blooming sunflowers are no longer present, yet her spirits are lifted as the framework of a new home rises, solidifying her hope for a brighter future.
“It feels like now there’s a place that exists. It will happen. We can do this,” she stated, embracing the prospect of rebuilding her life.
