‘Surreal’ June a rough ride for Battaglia
Joe and Kim Battaglia will never forget June 2020.
Amid a pandemic that has shut down the state of Maryland and beyond, the Annapolis couple experienced three major lifetime events in the span of 20 days.
On June 5, the Battaglias welcomed their first child into the world. Joseph Jr., nicknamed JJ, was born at Anne Arundel Medical Center.
On June 25, a fire destroyed their Annapolis apartment and displaced the family.
That same night, while meeting with volunteers from the American Red Cross, Battaglia received a phone call informing him he had been hired as coach of the Concordia Prep football program.
“It’s all been so surreal. I cannot even describe the range of emotions we’ve experienced over the past month,” said Joe Battaglia, an assistant coach with Navy the past four years. “We’ve gone from the sheer joy of having a baby and becoming parents to the total devastation of losing our home. All that in the current climate of pandemic. I don’t know that I have words for it all.”
Kim Battaglia, an athletic trainer with MedStar Health assigned to Bowie High, was breastfeeding the baby the night of
June 25 when her husband heard a slight knock at the door. Joe Battaglia heard commotion in the hallway and thought it may have been a robbery attempt.
Battaglia moved to protect his family, telling his wife to take the baby into the bedroom, then closing the blinds for the sliding glass door and making sure it was locked. That is when Kim Battaglia said she smelled smoke.
“We suddenly realized something was seriously wrong. I walked out of the sliding glass door and saw a huge plume of smoke overtop the building,” Battaglia said. “I looked to my left and there was a firefighter coming around the building screaming for everyone to get out.”
The Battaglias quickly exited their splitlevel apartment from the front door, having to go up one flight of stairs to do so. Firefighters from the City of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County responded to the 1000 block of Spa Road to find “heavy dark brown smoke billowing from the Bayshore Landing Apartments.”
Capt. Aaron Edwards, spokesman for the City of Annapolis fire department, said the fire quickly consumed the 12-unit complex.
Battaglia said firefighters managed to enter their apartment and save the family cat. He has been unable in the week since to gain access to the apartment, which has been deemed a total loss.
“I went back to the building the next morning to check on things and it seems the damage was worse with the apartment across the hall from ours,” said Battaglia, who has been told the fire started on the rooftop and eventually enveloped all three floors.
“I don’t think it has fully hit us yet. Obviously, it’s rather traumatic to lose everything you have in a fire. It’s completely escalated when you have a newborn child,” Battaglia said. “I really don’t care about possessions because they can be replaced. I’m just happy we got out safe and sound.”
The Battaglias, along with other residents of the Bayshore Landing Apartments, were bused to the nearby Pip Moyer Recreation Center, where they were met by volunteers with the American Red Cross. While being offered counseling and other assistance, Joe Battaglia received the phone call from Concordia Prep headmaster Brett Johnson with word that he got the job.
“All I can say is the Lord works in mysterious ways. You watch in disbelief as your home burns and a few hours later you get a phone with great news about something you really wanted and are excited about,” he said.
Joe Battaglia said the family is staying with his mother in Sparks in Baltimore County for the foreseeable future. A GoFundMe page set up by supporters has raised almost $15,000 so far.
“There has been an unbelievable outpouring of support from all sorts of people. It’s been awesome to see so many people reach out and show they really care about you,” Battaglia said. “It’s been extremely trying and overwhelming at times. It’s just a lot to deal with. We have been lifted up by all the love and support.”