07/04/2026
There are some places that become part of your story.
For me, these mountains have always been one of them.
Born and raised in Colorado, I grew up making memories beneath those trees, camping under the stars, fishing with my family, hiking trails that seemed to go on forever, and making the trip to Bishop Castle. Those mountains watched me grow up. They were the backdrop to some of my happiest memories, and they have always felt like home.
Watching the Aspen Acres Fire tear through the landscape is heartbreaking in a way that’s hard to put into words. It’s more than trees and acres. It’s homes. It’s generations of memories. It’s family traditions. It’s wildlife. It’s livelihoods. It’s the feeling of knowing a place that has always been there may never look the same again.
This fire has also touched families that I know personally, making the loss feel even closer to home. I’ve taken care of many patients who live in these communities and worked beside many of its residents as well. My heart is with every family forced to leave, every firefighter standing between the flames and someone’s home, every volunteer lending a hand, and everyone waiting and hoping for good news.
Colorado has always been defined by its strength, not because we never face hardship, but because we face it together. I have no doubt our communities will continue to wrap their arms around one another through this.
Today, my prayers are with every person affected by the Aspen Acres Fire. May those who are hurting find comfort, those who are fighting find strength, and those who have lost so much find hope in the community that will help them rebuild.
Colorado, you’ll always be home. And we’ll get through this together. ❤️🏔️
