Santa Sanchez called her grandson, Drew Moreno, her little angel on earth. Now, she says he’s her angel in heaven.
We now know the name of the 11-year-old boy who died in a far south Bexar County. house fire Monday evening.
The fire happened around 5:30 Monday evening, in the 20000 block of Spanish Grant Road off 1604, near Interstate 37.
Drew Moreno was a fifth grade student at Heritage Elementary in Southside ISD. Drew’s grandmother, Santa Sanchez, tells us he was a special needs student.
Sanchez says she is still in disbelief that he is gone and feels like she is living in a nightmare, waiting to wake up.
“I just dropped, because my baby was gone,” said Sanchez.
Sanchez recalls the moment firefighters told her that her Drew, who lived with her, died in a fire on Monday.
Sanchez says a babysitter was watching Drew while she was at work when she got a phone call from the babysitter.
“The way she worded it, there’s an explosion in the bathroom, and the baby’s taking a shower,” said Sanchez.
Sanchez says after the babysitter told her she couldn’t get Drew out of the bathroom, she raced home.
“About halfway down to 37, I look up, and I see the smoke. My mind just started to think the worst. I remember praying all the way home,” said Sanchez.
Sanchez says when she got home, flames engulfed the home. All she could think about was saving her grandson.
Sanchez says the next moments were a blur, then she got the news, Drew was gone.
“I told him, no, he’s not gone, he’s probably hiding,” said Sanchez.
Sanchez says he was autistic, diagnosed with ADHD and a learning disability. Sanchez says Drew was looking forward to going to middle school.
“He was so excited, he was going to go to school next year. Very excited, but that’s not going to happen anymore,” said Sanchez.
Sanchez says Monday morning when she saw Drew get on the bus, she never expected that was going to be the last time she would see him.
Sanchez says firefighters told her the fire was caused by a short circuit.
The home was destroyed and now Sanchez is having to lay Drew to rest. A teacher at Heritage, started a GoFundMe, to help them. The GoFundMe has already raised more than $5,000.
Sanchez says fire officials told her Drew likely died from smoke inhalation.
“It helps me know, he didn’t suffer,” said Sanchez.
A memorial is growing in front of the home as many people are coming to leave mementos of Drew’s favorites, including all things Spider-Man, flowers, balloons and even cereal. Sanchez says Drew could eat cereal all day.
Sanchez says she called Drew her angel on Earth. Now it’s giving her a little comfort to know, while he is not here physically with her, he’s still with her in her heart.
“Now he’s my angel up in heaven. He’s my angel,” said Sanchez.
If you would like to help the family with burial cost and getting back on their feet, you can find the link to the GoFundMe but clicking here.