When Ray Lucas and his girlfriend, Shi’Ann Brown, returned home from a quick trip to the corner store to pick up milk, they found their Michigan house covered in heavy smoke — and their twin daughters still inside.

His mother, who had been watching the 18-month-old girls, was already outside in panic, calling for help in Eastpointe, Michigan.

“I was speechless. Instinct took over. I ran inside to get my babies,” Lucas, 23, said. “I looked at it as a father. I did what any parent would do.”

The incident on July 17 had spread through several floors, including the basement where little Malaysia and Milan were sleeping in their crib. Fearing help might not arrive in time, Lucas went in himself.

He pushed through the thick smoke, unable to see, but he knew the layout of his home. Reaching the basement, he felt around until his hands found the crib. “I was so relieved when I touched them and they were moving,” he said.

One of the girls was standing in the crib, the other lying quietly — both in shock from the chaos. Lucas gathered them into his arms, shielding them against his chest, and made his way back up through the smoke-filled air.

Once outside, he handed his daughters to his mother — then realized his young niece was still upstairs. He rushed back in but couldn’t see her. Running to the backyard, he spotted her at a second-story window. He shouted for her to jump, and caught her safely in his arms.

“I was overwhelmed with relief that my babies were safe and everyone made it out,” Lucas said.

A father’s courage comes at a cost

Lucas suffered serious skin injuries on his arms, ears, face, and neck. For several days, his eyes were swollen from the smoke, and doctors warned his sight might not fully return — though thankfully, it did. “My vision feels back to normal now,” Lucas said. “But the healing has been tough. Simple things take effort.”

Both Malaysia and Milan were also affected by the heat and smoke. They were taken to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit for treatment and recovery.

Milan had injuries to her legs and feet, while Malaysia’s arms and cheeks were affected. She is now doing physical therapy to help with movement and strength.

Lucas and his daughters stayed several days in the hospital before being released. Doctors told him that, with time and care, their skin would heal.

Though his body is recovering, Lucas says the emotional pain has been harder. “It was a lot to process. I’ve never faced anything like this before,” he shared.

The family lost their home and belongings. Investigators said the structure was too damaged to repair. “The house didn’t completely collapse, but everything inside was ruined,” Lucas explained.

For now, they are staying with relatives in Detroit while trying to rebuild their lives. The medical costs have also been high.

“It still doesn’t feel real… the whole thing feels like a dream,” Lucas said.

A community comes together

In the aftermath, their community stepped in with overwhelming support. Lucas’s aunt created a GoFundMe page to help them start over, setting an initial goal of $40,000. More than 8,000 people have since donated — raising over $286,000 to help this brave young father and his family rebuild their future.