Sharon Pitmon, right, sits on the couch in the living room of her family’s new home as her children (from left) David Gladden, Deasia Gladden, niece Uzziah Hall and daughter Teonna Gladden watch TV Saturday afternoon. Pitmon’s home and belongings were destroyed in a house fire in late November, and some of the children had to escape out a window and off the porch roof.It’s been a month since 4-year-old Makiyah Gladden was forced to climb out a window onto the roof of her family’s house and jump off to escape a fast-moving fire – but she still dreams about a little girl who is caught in flames.
“It doesn’t seem to bother her, but she seems surprised that she is dreaming it,” said Makiyah’s mom, Sharon Pitmon. “She says, ‘The girl, she was in the fire — but she got out, though.'”
Makiyah and three of her siblings — 3-year-old David Gladden, 6-year-old Deasia Gladden and 15-year-old Eddie Pitmon — were caught in a house fire Nov. 27 at 703 Caruthers Road.
Eddie guided the younger kids away from the flames, broke a window and got everyone onto the roof of the back porch, where they jumped to safety.
The family was uninsured and lost all their possessions but escaped with mostly minor injuries. Eddie cut his leg, went through surgery and received a skin graft — and is supposed to be using crutches still.