BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Seham Haj's life was cut short hours into the new year due to a house fire on Clio Avenue in Buffalo. The 34-year-old had just closed on the home in November.
"She worked countless hours to get this home," her sister Fayza Griffin said.
Griffin told me her little sister's spunk carried into adulthood.
"We're keeping her memory alive," she said. "She's the life of the party."
And so did her selflessness.
"She would work at BestSelf. She would work overnight at the shelters, ensuring the people who needed her were there," said Griffin. "All while taking care of her daughter and being a single mom."
Haj leaves behind a 10-year-old daughter, Malyah.
"No one will ever replace her mom," said Griffin. "We're going to teach Malyah to be that way and know exactly who her mom was."
A GoFundMe was set up to support Malyah which you can find here.
A friend from work told me Haj was so dedicated to helping the homeless, that she was recognized for her in December with an "unsung hero" award.
"A lot of her coworkers came to the hospital," said Griffin. "They told us how amazing she was and they said no one would be able to fill her shoes."
And Haj gave all that she could on this earth up until her dying day.
"My sister opted to donate every single organ, down to her eyes, down to her skin," said Griffin. "She essentially checked every box. Even the coordinator said you don't see that very often."
The Buffalo Fire Department said the cause of the fire is still under investigation but no malicious intent has been found and the preliminary investigation is leaning toward the fire being accidental.
