Officer Rescues Disabled Lily Bandak from Burning Home

SAN CARLOS - March 27, 2012 - A veteran SDPD officer and two good samaritans are heroes tonight after helping rescue a woman paralyzed from the neck down, who was trapped inside her burning home. The officer's name is Diana Hodges. Two neighbors also helped, including Gary Cameron and his father. The fire was reported around 1am, and quickly spread before firefighters could arrive. Everyone was able to get out of the home except a disabled woman. Lily Bandak, a world-renown photographer known for her work in the middle-east and throughout the United States, travels promoting independence for people with multiple sclerosis. Some of her photos are even in the White House. Her photos and negatives were all stored in a filing cabinet in her garage, which completely burned, destroying decades of memories. Her wheelchair lift van (easily $40k+) was also destroyed by the fire, but her motorized wheelchair was saved. The fire caused an estimated $150,000+ in property damage. The Red Cross came out to assist the family.

DONATION FUND:
Send checks, made payable to:
Diana and Lily Bandak
4343 Oceanview Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92113

SOT: SDPD Sargeant Dean Thomas