Now, he is left with a handful of charred photos, damaged possessions and two years of memories after a fire destroyed his home in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Tuesday.
Irwin, a nurse at Mercy Hospital, a few miles from her home, told CNN she was about to put a Covid-19 patient in life support when her neighbor called and said her home was burning.
The single mother of four ran out of the hospital and called one of her daughters, who was then at home, to see what was going on.
“She was just yelling,‘ Help mom, help ’and then the phone went dead,” Irwin said. “I had no idea if my kids were out. I had no idea what I would get home with.”
A place to “recharge”
When Irwin got home, firefighters were working to put out the fire. Her three children who were inside the house came out safely, along with five of her dogs.
“My daughter was sleeping in the back room and my other daughter was in the front room with headphones on when it was the end of the semester,” Irwin said. She credits her son for bringing the siblings out of the house safely and unharmed.
This Christmas would have been the first of the family at home and they were hoping to spend it together.
“I come home so exhausted that I have almost nothing left,” he said. “And the only place I always want to get to is my home and it’s the only place I can recharge.”
He said the work can be overwhelming.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “We’re working tirelessly and they (the patients) keep coming in and they’re sick. They’ll be fine for a few hours, and the next time you’ll know you’re coding them and you’re administering CPR so their heart starts all over again.”
Irwin said the fire department and investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the fire, but told him he will probably not be able to return home soon.
“It’s okay not to be okay,” Irwin said. “I just have to keep telling myself that.”
“Everyone lost everything except the one on their back”
Irwin said the fire stripped his family of all their basic needs, such as clothing and food.
“Right now I can’t process the thought,” he said. “Everyone lost everything except what they had on their backs.”
Neighbors have paid for a few days stay at the hotel for Irwin and his children, while community members have donated some essential items to keep the family afloat.
“I know it sounds silly, but last night we had to put clothes in the drawers and that’s the most normal thing we have now, just some clothes in the drawers,” Irwin said.
Patti Fanshier and Irwin have a 15-year friendship on their belt. When he learned what happened, Fanshier told CNN he immediately wanted to help.
Fanshier describes Irwin as a working mother who “has always put the needs of her children before theirs.” It was difficult for Irwin to ask for help.
“I thought if I could share what happened to him, a lot of people would want to help him even if it wasn’t financially, but by sharing the link to make it known,” Fanshier said.
Irwin hopes to land a rental property in the coming weeks until the damage to his home is repaired. And, although Irwin said he lost so much in one afternoon, he is grateful that his children continue to be by his side.