Donald and Tanya Topey--St Bernard Project -- Help Rebuild New Orleans

Donald and Tanya Topey

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Donald and Tanya Topey were married on New Year’s Day in 2005, just months before Hurricane Katrina hit. Though unfathomable to believe, Katrina wasn’t the biggest disaster the newlyweds would face that year. Tanya nearly lost her own life during childbirth months after their wedding, which ultimately ended in the loss of the child. Tanya was put on bed rest for the next several months, including August, the month Katrina hit.

Before the storm arrived, the two packed up their belongings and evacuated to Donald’s niece’s house in Florida. They weren’t the only ones seeking shelter though, they shared two homes with 25 other people.

Later, they relocated to Picayune, where they stayed in a tent for six and a half weeks. Donald and Tonya along with two children, Katherine, 17, and Kolby, 19, picked up for a third time and settled in a family member’s tool shed. Two air mattresses served as their only amenity. Eventually a FEMA trailer arrived to their rescue, but not before their first child together, Kadden, entered the world. Kadden is now three and has been raised in a FEMA trailer.

Just when things were starting to look up, the family was struck by another misfortune. Donald, who was planning on fixing up the house himself, severely injured his back moving the new sheetrock into their home. Test results showed that Donald needed extensive back surgery and only had a 50 percent chance of walking normally again. The family’s need to return home continued to increase as Kadden was diagnosed of Asperger’s. Tanya is convinced the formaldehyde in the FEMA trailer caused Kadden’s illness.

The family is currently split with Donald, Tanya and Kadden residing in one FEMA trailer and Kolby and Katherine occupying a second trailer. “You can’t raise a family in two trailers,” Tanya said. “It’s tearing this family apart.”

The family’s resilience is beyond inspiring, and they just hope each day that their family will soon be reunited. Of all things she is most looking forward to, Tanya says, “I just want to be able to watch a movie together.”

February 23, 2010

February 9, 2010

February 2, 2010

January 22, 2010

January 29, 2010

Welcome Home!

SBP recently welcomed home:

Amelia Elzey, Gentilly, LA
Lisa Heberling, Arabi, LA
Royce & Veron Treaudo, New Orleans, LA
Shelita Harrell, New Orleans East, LA

Read more about our other completed homes.

Under Construction

Some of our homes currently under Construction

Barbara Williams, New Orleans, LA
Brenda Dupre-Williams, Lower 9th
Chana King, Violet, LA
Clarence and Diane Victorian, New Orleans East, LA
Cologero Caillouet, Chalmette, LA
Darren Anderson, Violet, LA
Darryn Carreras, Chalmette, LA
Darrell Betha, Mereaux, LA
David Lagrange, Arabi, LA
David Melerine, St Bernard, LA
Deborah Vita, Violet, LA
Debra Brown, Gentilly, LA
Delia Doty, Chalmette, LA
Donald & Tonya Topey, Violet, LA
Donnell Barthelemy, Violet, LA
Donnie Panarello, Chalmette, LA
Evelyn Solis, Chalmette, LA
Gerry Bierria, New Orleans, LA
Glenda Ceaser, Violet, LA
Jennifer Lanier, Violet, LA
Joycelyn and Lawrence Stokes, St. Bernard, LA
Joyce Guient, New Orleans, LA
Juan Toledo, Arabi, LA
Keith Florane, Chalmette, LA
Kenneth Burrell, Arabi, LA
Kenneth Dorsey, Lower 9th
Kwame & Dominique Adansi-Bona, Gentilly, LA
Mathilda & August Miller, Chalmette, LA
Mona Lisa Payne, New Orleans, LA
Ralph Dipadova, Chalmette, LA
Rebecca Holmes, St. Bernard, LA
Regina Beal, Violet, LA
Rhonda Krantz, St. Bernard, LA
Ricky Diecidue, Meraux, LA
Robert & Amy Barlow, Meraux, LA
Roosevelt Houston, Lower 9th
Sabrina Pacaccio, Violet, LA
Shane & Tina Meshell, Meraux, LA
Sharen Williams, Arabi, LA
Theresa McLuckey, Chalmette, LA
Vanessa Havers, St. Bernard, LA
Velma Lewis, New Orleans, LA
Willie Major, Violet, LA