Genoa City fire survivor battling kidney failure loses life-saving supplies

 

GENOA CITY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Nearly a week after a two-alarm fire in Genoa City, we're hearing from one of the victims who was home at the time.

It's been one challenge after another for the young man living in this house. He's 19, with kidney failure, and he was home, when this fire could've taken his life.

Andrew Santiago loves his family dog 'Ranger', and his video games.

"Old Xbox 360 games," said Andrew Santiago.

But unlike most 19-year-olds, Santiago is home quite a bit. Three years ago, he was diagnosed with kidney failure.

"I started getting these really bad headaches and I originally thought I had migraines," said Santiago.

Intensity of the pain increased, along with frequent vomiting. He's now on dialysis and looking for a donor.

"I went to lay down for 10 or 20 minutes and then I heard a large pow. So, I went outside, and I see the neighbor's garage completely engulfed in flames, so I'm like ok I need to get out now," said Santiago.

In the hustle to survive, Santiago went to save what he loves most -- Ranger, but Ranger wouldn't move.

"I originally put the leash on the dog, and I was in a really hectic mood saying we need to leave now, but he's scared because he doesn't know what's going on. So, I relaxed, I said let's go outside, let's go potty. I'm just lucky I was home, even though it was an awful experience. I was able to save the dog," said Santiago.

The fire jumped quickly from his neighbors' house to his.

"I just didn't think that it would spread as fast as it did."

"And how fast do you think it spread?"

"Their house was gone in five to seven minutes," said Santiago.

The video games he loves.

"I mean Mod Warfare, Mod Warfare Two, the original discs and it kind of hurts to lose that because it’s something you can't get anymore," said Santiago.

Santiago was able to get these emergency medical supplies, but other than these.

"I've lost everything -- the water that goes into me, the cleaning solution, the iodine caps, everything gone with the wind," said Santiago.

The family has a GoFundMe page to try to recover some of the loss.

Employees at Sav-A-Lot at 1500 State Street in Racine have also been helping out because of their connection to Santiago's aunt, who Santiago lives with in Genoa City. They held a hot dog sale this week with benefits going to the family and are continuing to collect donations on the family's behalf. For that, and for the kindness of neighbors and the fire and police department, Santiago is grateful because there's so much to do now for his aunt and uncle.

"Trying to figure out insurance. Trying to figure out where I'm gonna get my supplies dropped off. We all have to go through challenges in our life and this is my challenge," said Santiago.

The cause of the fire that originated at 289 Meadow Drive, spreading to two neighboring houses and melting the siding on a house across the street is still under investigation.