“It’s very emotional. I’m just trying to keep everyone together.”
The Denver Post B. J. Purvis held back tears Thursday while sharing how his in- laws, who lost their disabled son and their home of 38 years in a house fire, were coping.
Ralph Andrade III , 72, remains “in bad shape” at Denver Health MedicalCenter with a head injury on top of pre- existing medical conditions after dropping from a second- story window to escape the Tuesday night fire in southwest Denver.
“He’s not out of the woods yet,” Purvis said. “He’s still fighting to come back to us.”
Josie Andrade, 71, is recovering at SwedishMedical Center.
She suffered from inhaling smoke and carbon monoxide, Purvis said.
“We may be able to remove her from the hospital soon,” he said.
During the fire at 752 W. Stanford
» Ave., Josie Andrade pushed her husband out of the windowto get him away from the flames, Purvis said.
Ralph Andrade is not in his right mind, Purvis said, and has not yet been told that his 49- yearold son, Ralphie, died in the fire.
Josie, who learned the news Wednesday, is taking it hard.
“It’s very emotional,” Purvis said. “I’m just trying to keep everyone together.”
The couple’s 21- year- old granddaughter, Alexis, and her 2- yearold daughter, Audra, who lived in the house, also survived the fire.
Purvis thanked the firefighters and neighborswho rushed to save his family. Neighbors said that without the help of civilians, more lives would have been lost.
The Andrades were taking care of Ralphie, who had multiple sclerosis and was the father of three.
Purvis described Ralphie as a hard- working man who took care of his family. His four sisters are grieving.
Most of the family’s photos and personal items were destroyed in the fire, which crews described as “very intense.”
Firefighters called the home a total loss.
“These two individuals togetherwere like angels,” Purvis said of his in- laws. “They’re very, very gracious. Theywould give you the shirt off their back.”