Rebecca Kowalski Dies Days After House Fire
According to family members and officials, a disabled woman from Luzerne County died after becoming trapped in her flaming Kingston house earlier this week.
Kowalski, Rebecca
The Luzerne County Coroner’s Office said on Friday, June 27, that Rebecca Kowalski, 52, of Kingston, was declared deceased at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest at 4:42 a.m. on Thursday, June 26. At before 6:44 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24, she passed away due to complications from smoke inhalation and thermal burns she received in a house fire on the 50 block of Payne Avenue.
According to her daughter Emily Kowalski, Kowalski was alone herself when the fire swept through the living room of her family’s house, and she was unable to move her legs. Emily stated in a GoFundMe update that her mother prayed for help to arrive in time while she waited on the phone with 911. She was rescued by firefighters, but she was rushed to the burn unit after suffering third-degree burns over 30% of her body. There, she coded and was momentarily revived.
At first, the family expressed hope for recovery and stated that doctors intended to begin dialysis and install a pacemaker. But subsequently, a CAT scan showed that her brain was non-functional. Her daughter revealed the family’s tough choice to take her off life support on Wednesday, June 25.
Emily said that she and her son will now live in paradise, abandoning one kid to be with another. My dad is devastated beyond belief. In addition to starting again, he did it without his best friend.
According to her daughter, Rebecca Kowalski will donate any viable organs to help others survive because she is known for being a selfless giver.
The family lost all of their possessions and was left homeless after the fire. In order to reach their $2,200 target, Emily started a GoFundMe campaign called Support Emily’s Family: Rebuild and Recover, which has raised more than $2,000. Originally intended to cover everyday necessities and a safe, wheelchair-accessible place to live, the funds will instead be utilized to support her father’s long-term care.
Together with the Luzerne County Coroner’s Office, the Kingston Police Department and Kingston Fire Department are still looking into the fire.
