Macee Jones and Wendy Miller are trying their best to comfort each other. Their daughter, Macee Alexis Jones, was killed when fire swept quickly through a home where she was sleeping.
"This is the hardest thing in my life I've ever had to go through," Miller said.
Miller said the 4-year-old, who she calls Alexis, went to spend the night with her cousins for a family birthday party. They were supposed to sleep at her uncle's house in Rocky Mount, until they discovered someone had broken into it. Her uncle's girlfriend decided to stay at the home with the children instead for safety.
"I've beat myself up for letting her go. I blame myself, and I'm just now going to have to say it was just her time," Miller said.
Alexis' 9-year-old cousin, Coleene Brie, was injured in the fire. She is at the UNC Nurn Center with burns over 40 percent of her body.
"I'm sure she's in a lot of pain, and she's going to need a lot of prayers and healing," Miller said.
Five other people, including the owners of the home, all escaped with only minor injures. Jones and Miller are now leaning on family and faith for healing.
"The only thing that's going to get me through this is just time and God," Miller said.
Brie is listed in critical condition. Doctors tell the family she will be in the burn center for at least three weeks. The family is still planning a memorial service for her 4-year-old cousin.
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