TYLER, Texas — A Tyler family had their home of 10 years destroyed after a tree came through the two bedrooms during recent storms.
"It crashed through the living room and on to the kitchen. Then it took out both of those and we’re just really thankful that my two youngest daughters, my husband, and my mother-in-law were all unharmed. They were here when it happened. My kids and mother-in-law were sitting on this couch," homeowner Melissa Whitehead said.
Whitehead and one of her daughters were at cheer practice when her husband called with the news.
"My husband was standing right here cooking when he could hear branches falling. So he ran through the laundry room into the living room where my kids and grandma were sitting," Whitehead said.
Sifting through the rubble, the family recovered some memoires like a picture of the couples' oldest daughter with the words "I love you" on the back. Love is exactly what the family is finding in the aftermath of the storm.
"We’ve just had so many people come over and do so many things that I don’t even think we would even be able to thank everybody -- people we didn't even know," Whitehead said.
The family said they are thankful and counting their blessings.
"The shock of it all has kind of worn off. We’re just grateful everybody is OK. Overall, we know it can be rebuilt and replaced and family can’t," Whitehead said.