An Illinois family is reeling from unimaginable loss after enduring two devastating tragedies just hours apart.
On the night of Tuesday, July 8, the Russo family was forced to flee their home in Poplar Grove after a fire erupted around midnight. Just hours later, on the morning of Wednesday, July 9, the family’s father, John Russo, passed away from cancer at age 49, according to reports from WIFR and WWNY.
John, who had been battling small cell lung cancer, was receiving hospice care at home when the fire broke out. Despite his condition, he managed to escape the burning house in his wheelchair with help from his wife Carli Russo and neighbors. He died the following morning.
Carli, who shares two children—14-year-old Payton and 10-year-old J.J.—with John, recounted the harrowing moments to WIFR:
“I slammed the door shut, came running in the house screaming for the kids to get out. I got my husband in the wheelchair and was able to get him out and across the street with help from some neighbors.”
The fire reportedly started in the garage and quickly consumed the front of the house. Due to the severe damage, firefighters have said it may be difficult to determine the exact cause.
“Right now they’re telling us it’s a complete loss,” Carli said.
A Family Already in Crisis
The house fire came after months of mounting hardship. On April 30, John visited the ER with stomach pain. That visit led to a series of appointments and, ultimately, a devastating diagnosis: aggressive small cell lung cancer. Within weeks, his condition deteriorated, leaving the family scrambling for support.
“It was so fast-growing, there was nothing they could do,” Carli said.
Community Rallies Around the Russos
A GoFundMe page was initially created by a co-worker while John was undergoing treatment, as he had been the family’s sole breadwinner. The description praised him as a devoted father and generous neighbor:
“Whether he was at a softball game for his daughter, fixing his project car, or lending a hand to a neighbor, John has always been the one people could count on.”
Following his death, a second GoFundMe was launched by Carli’s sister-in-law to support the family during this crisis. As of Friday, July 11, the campaign had raised over $24,000.
“Carli got her kids, ages 14 and 10, out of the house, along with John and their family dog, just minutes before the entire home was engulfed in flames,” the fundraiser reads.
“They lost everything at a time when they should have been cherishing their final moments together as a family.”
The post calls on the community, friends, and compassionate strangers to help:
“Every dollar raised will go toward securing temporary housing, replacing essential items, and helping the Russo family begin the long road to recovery.”
Despite their unimaginable loss, Carli remembers John as a man of deep generosity:
“He would do anything for anybody,” she told WWNY.