From Ashes to Blooms: One Woman's Journey to Rebuild

Mon Jan 05 2026 05:32:02 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

After losing her home to wildfires, Missi Dowd-Figueroa transforms her barren lot into a vibrant sunflower garden, symbolizing hope and resilience.

Missi Dowd-Figueroa, a nurse and mother, lost her home in the Eaton Fire last January. A year later, she began planting sunflowers on her empty lot as a form of healing and hope. Despite the grief and challenges of rebuilding, Missi turned her damaged property into a colorful garden, helping nature return and lifting her spirits as she prepares for a new home.

ALTADENA, Calif. — Missi Dowd-Figueroa is bringing new life to the ashes of her fire-ravaged land, one sunflower at a time.

Last January, the Eaton Fire destroyed her beloved house, left her family and neighbors grieving, and turned their community upside down. For Missi, the grief deepened when she realized her father's ashes and precious family heirlooms were lost.

But rather than succumbing to sadness, Missi decided to transform her barren 2,000-square-foot lot into a vibrant sunflower garden. Every day, she would go back to the site, dig into the dirt, and plant seeds as a form of healing and connection to her past.

Over time, around 500 flowers flourished, bringing splashes of color to the otherwise empty space. “It felt like helping nature come back a little bit,” she shared.

Thanks to community donations, construction for her new home is set to begin, and Missi's spirits are lifting. This journey of resilience serves as a testament to hope amid destruction, showcasing how even in the face of challenges, new beginnings can sprout from the ashes.