Eight-year-old survivor of fire wakes from coma

[spaminator]

Eight-year-old survivor of fire wakes from coma
Marie-Eve Dumont, QMI Agency
First posted: Saturday, December 27, 2014 01:05 PM EST | Updated: Saturday, December 27, 2014 03:28 PM EST
LES COTEAUX, Que. –- After waking up from a coma, the first words of an eight-year-old boy whose entire family died in a fire was to ask who will take care of him.
Patrice Gagnon, his wife Karine Desrochers, four-year-old Lorie and two-year-old Felix died in a house fire on Dec. 23. Mathis, the only survivor, is still in the hospital receiving treatment for smoke inhalation.
“He woke up last night, and he immediately said that his parents were dead, his brother and sister, too,” said Pauline Lalonde, the boy’s great-aunt. “He was worried about who would take care of him.”
While the cause of the fire has not been determined, it appears that it was caused by a forgotten cigarette in the living room.
“It was such a beautiful family, beautiful children, they were very similar,” said Lalonde. “Kids don’t realize what’s happening. I hope the shock won’t be too great.”
Firefighters in the area have begun a fundraising campaign for Mathis, and the towns of Les Coteaux and St. Zotique will collect donations beginning Jan. 5.
“We’ve been bombarded [with donation offers],” Michel Pitre, director of firefighter services in the area, told Quebecor TV station LCN. “It’s a small community, the firefighters have spoken to people personally, and they want to help. The two municipalities are closed right now, so it’s difficult to organize, but on Jan. 5, we’ll be able to reach out to the community that wants to help.”
Only Mathis, 8, (left) survived a house fire that killed his brother Felix, 2, and his sister Lorie, 4, and his parents Patrice Gagnon and Karine Desrochers (not pictured) on Dec. 23, 2014. (Facebook)

Eight-year-old survivor of fire wakes from coma | Canada | News | Toronto Sun

 

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Quebec town rallies around orphan whose family was killed in fire
Claudia Berthiaume, QMI Agency
First posted: Tuesday, January 06, 2015 01:05 PM EST | Updated: Tuesday, January 06, 2015 01:16 PM EST
MONTREAL — People in Les Coteaux, Que., will gather in church Saturday with an eight-year-old boy who is the sole survivor of a fire that killed his family.
Mathis Derochers-Gagnon's parents, brother and sister all died on Dec. 23 when fire gutted their apartment in the western Quebec town.
"There was already a natural outpouring of solidarity for Mathis and we'll continue to surround him," parish priest Yves Guilbeault told QMI Agency.
He said the young orphan will likely play a central role in the traditional Catholic funeral service.
"I still have to discuss it with his family, but I think it might help him grieve," Guilbeault said. "I will meet him this week."
Patrice Gagnon, his wife Karine Desrochers, and kids Lorie, 4, and Felix, 2, died in an apartment unit that didn't have a smoke alarm.
When Mathis emerged from a coma three days later, his first question was who would take care of him.
His aunt, who is also his godmother, will raise him.
At Birchwood Elementary, where Mathis was halfway through Grade 2, principal Coleen Turner said teachers discussed the tragedy with students when classes resumed on Monday.
Mathis likely won't return to the school because his aunt lives a long distance away, but the school west of Montreal won't forget him, the principal said.
"In Grade 2 and in Grade 3 as well, there will be cards that the kids will make to give to Mathis," Turner said Tuesday.
"Even the senior grades...I believe they might make one big card from each class to send to him."
The entire region is rallying behind Mathis.
Firefighters raised $50,000 in just seven days to help the boy.
— With files from Brian Daly
Only Mathis, 8, (left) survived a house fire that killed his brother Felix, 2, and his sister Lorie, 4, and his parents Patrice Gagnon and Karine Desrochers (not pictured) on Dec. 23, 2014. (Facebook)

Quebec town rallies around orphan whose family was killed in fire | Quebec | Can