Tornado victim hospitalized, happy to be alive

Page 3

Nancy Desjarlais is the "happiest person in the world right now because my son is alive, I'm alive . . . and I just want to continue with my life."

Desjarlais and her son narrowly escaped the tornado which cut a swath of devastation through areas of Edmonton on July 31.

More than 300 people were injured and another 26 were killed by the tornado which destroyed everything in its path.

"I'll still always have a haunting feeling," Desjarlais said, referring to that Black Friday. She is currently in the Royal Alexandra Hospital being treated for a fractured hip and pelvis and a deep, ten inch laceration in her right leg. Her son Aeron did not sustain any serious injuries.

Assistant Director of Nursing Karen Polowich reported Desjarlais is in "satisfactory condition."

The shattered remains of the Desjarlais home, at the Evergreen Mobile Home park (on 167 Avenue and 10 Street in northeast Edmonton), is the scene where 15 tornado victims were found amidst the rubble.

Before the terrible storm ravaged her trailer, Desjarlais day began like many others. "After I put my son to bed, I started watching my soaps as usual . . . I looked outside and it was really, really dark. I saw a big funnel coming."

Desjarlais quickly wrapped her son in a thick blanket and grabbed a bed post, clinging for her life. Then she said a prayer that must have been heard.

"I heard all the boards cracking, windows breaking . . . the trailer was coming apart," she said in a steady voice.

"I felt myself rolling and my son flew out of my arms."

When it was over Desjarlais immediately hollered for her son. Covered in a heap of board only one foot away, he answered her.

Desjarlais was in a sitting position but unable to move because she was pinned down by rubble. She was helpless and couldn't help her son.

She explains: "I let the rain run into my mouth and face so I wouldn't faint before help came . . . all I could hear was kids screaming, and I saw people running around."

Minutes later a bystander took her son and then Desjarlais to his vehicle where "one lady was screaming because she lost her baby in the storm."

She describes the now devastated area: "All you could see was boards everywhere. The vehicles didn't have any windows, and the trees were totally gone. They were torn away like a piece of paper.

When she is released from the hospital in a month, Desjarlais and her son will stay with relatives.

"I'm doing really well., A little sore and bruised, but I'm fine.

Desjarlais concludes, "God was there and He helped me."