Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, many lives were tragically lost, including those of a young boy and his grandparents. The child’s aunt shared the heartbreaking details in an emotional online post.
According to a recent CBS News report, Hurricane Helene has claimed at least 135 lives, with the Carolinas bearing the brunt of the storm’s destruction. Officials have confirmed that over 80 people were found dead in those states.
One of the most devastating stories reported involved a mother, her son, and her parents, who became stranded on the roof of a house in Ashville, North Carolina. As the floodwaters rose, Megan Drye watched in horror as her 7-year-old son, Micah, and her parents were swept away after the house collapsed.
Though Megan was rescued, her son and parents were not as fortunate. Her sister, Jessica Drye Turner, took to Facebook to share the pain the family is experiencing.
In her post, dated September 30, Jessica opened up about the emotional struggle she faces in accepting the loss of both her parents and her nephew.
She shared, “I feel a strange sense of peace, knowing we will see them again one day. Nothing could bring them back after being with Jesus.”
Jessica went on to reflect on the peace she believes her parents now feel, free from the fear and panic of their final moments. However, she acknowledged the immense burden Megan carries. “It breaks my heart that Megan has to live with these memories, but they are no longer suffering […] It’s going to be a long and difficult journey for Megan,” Jessica wrote.
She also mentioned the challenges that lie ahead for her and their other sister, Heather Kephart. Turning her attention to her nephew, Jessica revealed, “Micah’s body was found about a quarter of a mile from where Megan was rescued […] He was such a beautiful little boy, and he always dreamed of being a superhero. Now, he is.”
Jessica then shared the heartbreaking detail of Micah’s last words, “Before he was swept away, he cried out, ‘Jesus! Please help me!’” She ended her post with a message of faith and strength, “I still call on His name, through this new grief. Strong faith. That’s my new motto.”
In addition to sharing her thoughts on the grief experienced by herself, Megan, and Heather, Jessica also provided a detailed recount of the terrifying moments her sister, nephew, and parents endured during the height of the storm.
Jessica revealed that Megan, who had been swept away by the floodwaters and became stuck between two trailers, was left waiting for three agonizing hours before finally being rescued.
Like Jessica, Heather’s friend Amanda Sprouse Simpkins also took to Facebook to share the heartbreaking news.
In her post, Amanda pleaded with her followers, saying, “Please pray for Megan, Jessica Drye Turner, Heather, and their entire family. The loss Megan has suffered is beyond words. She has lost everything. If you feel compelled to help, please donate. If you can’t, please keep them in your prayers.”
Amanda’s request for donations refers to the GoFundMe page that Heather set up for her sister.
“For Megan Drye, our miracle, who has faced a mother’s worst nightmare. She has survived the unimaginable but lost everything. The support of others will help her keep going, one breath, one step, and one day at a time,” reads part of the GoFundMe page’s description.
Adding to the heartbreak, Heather chose to use the last photo Micah’s grandmother had taken of him for the GoFundMe page. In the image, Micah is wearing a Jurassic World T-shirt, smiling brightly, while his grandmother is reflected in the door as she takes the picture.
Our deepest condolences go out to Micah’s mother, aunts, and the rest of the family as they grieve such a tragic loss.
Hurricane Helene’s aftermath continues to wreak havoc across several states, despite efforts to mitigate the storm’s impact. One such measure involved the closure of 15 schools across Georgia, as reported on September 26.
As Florida’s capital prepared for the impact of a powerful hurricane, one the region hadn’t seen in over a century, residents were strongly advised to brace themselves for the worst.
According to the BBC, Hurricane Helene, initially classified as a category 1 storm, was expected to escalate quickly into a category 4 by the time it made landfall in Florida. The official forecasts described the potential consequences as “catastrophic,” “life-threatening,” and “unimaginable.”
You Won’t Believe How This Woman with a Rare Skin Condition Found Her Soulmate!
With the rise of social media, we’re constantly seeing images of perfect-looking people, making the world seem even more focused on appearances.
For those who don’t fit this “perfect” mold, life can be tough, with strangers feeling the need to criticize others based on their looks.
Karine de Souza knows this all too well. The Brazilian woman has a rare skin condition that requires her to cover her skin in SPF100 sunscreen, even when she’s indoors.
At age three, Karine was diagnosed with Xeroderma Pigmentosum, a rare condition that makes her very sensitive to sunlight and puts her at high risk for skin cancer.
This condition, which has no cure, means her skin can’t repair damage from UV rays. Just a few minutes in the sun can lead to very painful sunburns for her. As a child, she had to stay inside most of the time because being outside was too dangerous.
She explains, “I don’t feel anything right away when I’m in the sun, but later on, I get painful lesions that need to be removed because of cancer.”
Karine has had 130 surgeries to remove lesions caused by the sun, including parts of her lower lip and nose.
But her challenges go beyond physical pain. She often gets stared at and has faced verbal abuse both in person and online.
Despite all this, Karine stays positive and happy. She even found love with her husband, Edmilson, whom she met through social media. Edmilson was drawn to her story and strength, and he’s always been by her side, knowing he wanted to spend his life with her.
He also decided to embrace Karine’s three children from her previous relationship, which of course, meant a lot to Karine.
”He came and he showed me that I could live a true love story”, she says.
But after posting photos of them together online, Karine was once again exposed to a whole host of offensive comments.
”We have already read many offensive comments calling me a monster, deformed, a zombie,” Karine said, as per the Daily Mail.
Other comments suggested that their relationship wasn’t genuine and that Karine was a ”sugar mommy,” and that she must be very rich.
”Because of the fact he’s a young man and pretty, that caught people’s attention and they didn’t believe that he was with me because he really liked me,” Karine said.
A photographer who captured the couple after they got engaged posted a selection of the images online and wrote:
”In a world where appearance matters more than the feeling, they met not by chance, but by a gathering of souls, an encounter of acceptance and character and love emerged when their souls met and today you are the inspiration to so many people who do not believe in themselves, in life and especially in love.
“THANK YOU every day for being who you are. STOP complaining for being like you are. HUG LIFE, and accept yourself. Much gratitude for teaching me so much. You guys are AMAZING. You are the missing hope in so many people. Thank you for the big hug, and for the wonderful day we experienced together. I carry your smile with me forever.”
His heartfelt words and beautiful images he captured of Karine and Edmilson went viral, and thousands of people commented, congratulating the couple.
Karine wants others to realize the importance of being positive.
”Be happy, smile, because life happens only once,” she said.
In 2023, Karine and Edmílson welcomed a baby girl into the world, and they couldn’t be happier! Their daughter, Zaia, was long awaited – Karine and her husband had been trying for a baby since 2020.
Karine has been through so much but thanks to her positive attitude she has found the happiness she deserves.
Her story is inspirational so help us inspire others in similar situations by sharing this story with your friends and family.
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