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Sep 26, 2008 7:00 pm US/Eastern
Family Mourns Child's Death, Now Needs Help
To help the Harbin family, contact Neighbors 4 Neighbors at 305-597-4404.
MIAMI GARDENS (CBS) ―
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4-year-old Shamese Harbin died when his Miami Gardens home went up in flames.
A local family is grieving for a four-year-old boy who died when Miami Gardens home went up in flames. To make matters worse, the fire has left them homeless.
"Johnny was always dancing, laughing. He was hilarious," describes Shamese Harbin. Her son lost his life in a house fire earlier this week. "He brought my family joy, peace and happiness."
All that joy and happiness has now turned into pain and heartbreak for Johnny's family. The adorable four-year-old who always wore a huge smile lost his life Tuesday in a house fire. Now, his mother says part of her went with him.
"I just don't know how I'm going to start my life over without him."
On Tuesday afternoon, Shamese Hardin picked Johnny up from school and took him home. She started cooking with Johnny's grandmother and her eight-month-old daughter, while Johnny played in his room.
Minutes later, the room was filled with flames. Shamese tried to save her son, but the fire was too intense. "We couldn't get him. I was screaming, hollering, saying 'please help me, get my baby out of there.'"
Rescue crews managed to get Johnny out, but it was too late. "When I got to the hospital, they told me he was dead. It just seemed like it took my whole life away."
Investigators say the fire has been ruled an accident. Shamese lost her son, her home and everything she owned. She, her mother and her other three children are now living in a hotel. Although this fire has left this mother devastated, she tries to find her strength through her smiling angel.
The Red Cross has provided the family with shelter. They will stay at the hotel until Tuesday. After that, however, they have nowhere to go. They need help finding a home and with funeral arrangements.
If you'd like to help the Harbin family, you can do so by calling
Neighbors 4 Neighbors at
305-597-4404. The organization has already kicked off the donation through their family fund.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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