Speaking with Pelham resident Kelle Thrasher this week was one of the most harrowing experiences I have ever had.

On April 27, Kelle’s daughter, Chelsea, a Pelham High School graduate, was thrown out of the second story of her apartment complex in Tuscaloosa when a powerful tornado ripped the building apart.

Even though the event happened several weeks ago, I could tell it still weighed heavily on Kelle and her family.

“We are extremely fortunate. Chelsea should not be here,” she told me. Considering the circumstances, I am extremely happy that the incident did not turn out worse than it did.

The more I think about what Kelle told me, the more surreal it seems. I literally can not imagine what Chelsea must have gone through, as she was studying for final exams one minute and then blown to the other side of the apartment complex the next.

I spoke with Kelle a few days after I traveled to Tuscaloosa with my family to visit my brother, who is a student at the University of Alabama. Seeing firsthand the damage caused by the tornado that directly struck the apartment complex Chelsea was in really made Kelle’s story all the more amazing.

Unfortunately, many of our neighbors in Tuscaloosa, including some in the same apartment complex Chelsea was in, did not survive the devastating tornado.

After seeing pictures of the apartment complex in ruins, it’s hard to believe anyone could have survived that ordeal. Not only did Chelsea survive, she remained calm through what seemed like a dire situation. When volunteers and neighbors arrived at the scene to help her, there were forecasts of another twister only minutes away, and Chelsea could have easily been permanently paralyzed.

Thankfully, neither scenario came true. Thanks to Chelsea’s strong will, and the prompt and dedicated service of a group of people who had never met her before that moment, Pelham did not lose one of its native daughters that day.

After speaking with Kelle, I was extremely impressed with Chelsea’s attitude toward the event. After living through a terribly traumatic event, Chelsea has been working very hard to make a full recovery, and is already concerned about scheduling her classes for the fall semester.

Neal Wagner is the City Editor for the Shelby County Reporter. He can be reached at 669-3131 ext. 17 or by email at neal.wagner@shelbycountyreporter.com.