In a chilling incident on December 9 in Tennessee, a destructive tornado wreaked havoc, tearing through a mobile home and leaving a trail of devastation.
Sydney Moore and Aramis Youngblood, parents to a four-month-old baby boy, recounted the terrifying ordeal they faced when their child was engulfed by the tornado.
Sydney vividly recalled the disastrous moment when the tornado descended, ripping off the roof of their mobile home. In the chaos, she witnessed the tornado lifting the bassinet with her baby, Lord. Her boyfriend, Aramis, desperately tried to protect the toddler in vain.
“The tip of the tornado came down and picked up the bassinet with my baby, Lord, in it. He was the first thing to go up,” the 22-year-old mom shared with Australia’s 9 News.
One of the first at the scene, Lt. Steven Bryant of Clarksville Fire Rescue, recounted the chaotic sequence following Sydney’s desperate plea, having traveled over a mile looking for help. Aramis shared the harrowing experience of clinging to the spinning bassinet amid the tornado’s rampage.
Reacting on instinct to protect her one-year-old son, Princeton, Sydney described an urgent impulse that guided her to run and leap on top of him. She explained that the swift decision was made to shield him from the collapsing debris.
In the midst of chaos, Sydney and her son Princeton emerged from the rubble safe and sound. They began the search for Lord afterward, with Sydney recounting the incredible sight of Aramis bringing their son back in the most spectacular fashion.
“I saw [Aramis] walking through the woods, carrying Lord in the pouring down rain, and all of his clothes were ripped. It was like a scene in a movie,” said a relieved Sydney.
Lt. Steven Bryant referred to the scene like it was a war zone. Speaking to GMA, Bryant expressed relief: “She came running to me and gave me the baby, and I could hear the baby crying, so I thought, that’s good.” Lord, fortunately, did not suffer life-threatening injuries either.
When Sydney and Aramis discovered Lord, cradled in a tree with a few minor scratches. In the midst of the pouring rain, the parents witnessed nothing short of a miracle.
“I thought [Lord] was dead. I was pretty sure he was dead, and we weren’t going to find him. But by the grace of God,” said Sydney.
“I will die for my kids. That’s not even a question. And my boyfriend would do the same thing,” the young girl added, showing her commitment and resolve.
In the face of the utter devastation wreaked upon Sydney’s vehicle and residence, Caitlyn Moore, Sydney’s sister, initiated a GoFundMe drive to aid the family. The infant, Lord, sustained minor injuries, including a cut on his ear that needed gluing and a slight concussion. Caitlyn remarked that he appeared as though he was carefully positioned on the tree, as if an angel had placed him in that spot safely.
The GoFundMe campaign quickly surpassed its initial goal, accumulating nearly $105,000 as of December 20, 2023. The goal was for Sydney’s family to buy a new car and refurnish their home.
Miracles do happen in real life, don’t they?