Family asks for help for Tri-Cities grandma who was in a hospital when her home burned
A Tri-Cities family was already reeling from bad news just before Thanksgiving when things got even worse. Now they’re asking for help for a grandmother who’s always been there for other people.
Sally Madrigal, 67, was hospitalized because of a suspected stroke just days before the holiday. The Kennewick grandmother of eight was flown to Seattle on Nov. 17 and less than two days later her mobile home and two others on Klamath Avenue were burned in a suspicious fire.
The fire spread rapidly by wind gusts up to 20 mph. One person was treated for smoke inhalation.
Kennewick police told the Herald the investigation has been closed, but no arrests were made.
Her granddaughter Jelisa Miller told the Herald that Madrigal lost everything in the fire, but what she’s most upset about the death of her pets. She lost two dogs, one of which was just 2 months old, and a cat.
Miller said a second cat that was likely outside at the time was so scared that they haven’t been able to catch it.
She and a sibling spent the Thanksgiving holiday at the hospital with their grandmother.
Miller said Madrigal was diagnosed with a clot in her carotid artery after a series of mini strokes, and had surgery Monday. She was expected to be released soon, but her discharge date keeps shifting so they don’t know when she’ll be able to leave.
“She knows she’s got left with nothing, but I don’t think it’s going to hit her until she sees the place, but she is very aware of what happened,” she said.
Miller said the mobile home was the first home Madrigal ever owned and where she helped raise all of her grandchildren. She said Madrigal did it all on her own, first as a single mother and then as a grandmother helping her daughter.
“She’s always been very hardworking, everything she owns she broke a sweat for,” Miller said. “She takes a lot of pride in all of us kids and her daughter.”
She said Madrigal is a deeply caring person and always looking out for others. Now Miller is hoping others can help her grandmother. In addition to the fire, the retired Greyhound employee is also looking at significant medical bills after her stroke, life flight and surgery.
She also will need to find a new place to live, buy new clothes and replace everything in her home.
“To most people she is a lady that would give you the last piece of clothing on her back,” Miller said. “She was always there for other people, and still is. Even as she’s in the hospital she’s still trying to be there for everyone.”
Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/37fva8juso
