She said she bonded with Annistyn during doctors visits and blood draws and said the girl liked to draw with chalk on the cement of her carport. Annistyn was a bubbly little girl, her great aunt Sandra Hooker told People . EYEWITNESS TO DEADLY KENTUCKY TORNADO DISCUSSES STATE OF COMMUNITY: WE LOST OUR HISTORY. A MOM took a heartbreaking final snap of her daughter holding onto her favorite doll to show she was safe before a series of deadly tornadoes hit the Midwest. The body of Annistyn Rackley, nine, was found in a field after the twister devastated her parents' home near Caruthersville, southeast Missouri on Friday. An extended Missouri family is grieving, after a tornado ripped through their home this weekend, claiming a young life and changed the lives of the survivors forever. Copyright 2023 ec Estudio Integral. And her grandmother assured her that she was not gonna die," continues Hooker. Hooker said Annistyn's parents learned when she was 2 months old that she had a rare liver disorder in which bile ducts don't develop properly, sometimes making it hard to fight off illness. As the storm moves to the east, Monday after 12 p.m. is expected to be mainly dry, with a slight chance of isolated showers in some areas through the evening commute. But she said Annistyn still was full of energy and delighted in donning outfits and makeup for cheer competitions and learning new dances from TikTok. "And God can give us a miracle with Meghan.". "They told her, yes, her mommy's alive. The bubbly young girl then grew up to become a dancer, a gymnast and compete in team cheerleading. ", "That Friday afternoon, everything had been canceled Christmas parties, ball games because we were expecting the bad weather," continues Hooker. Hookers account of what happened to the Rackleys came from talking to law enforcement and first responders who were at the scene after the tornado and found family members in the field. So God gave us a miracle with Anni. On the right, the Rackley family poses for a picture while on a trip to Sedona, Arizona. The National Weather Service later confirmed two "brief tornadoes" touched down in two Chicago suburbs during the storms. But update shortly after that indicated that "the severe weather threat appears to be diminishing. (Meghan Rackley/Courtesy of Sandra Hooker via AP), Memphis LGBTQ+ activists protest Gov. Annistyn Rackley, 9, poses for a picture while attending a cheerleading competition in Arizona. Rain and embedded storms will continue, mainly this morning before activity diminishes in the afternoon. Copyright 2022 KAIT. Then yesterday they took [Lani] up to the PICU and let [Ava] see her. But she said Annistyn still was full of energy and delighted in donning outfits and makeup for cheer competitions and learning new dances from TikTok. (Summer Alexander/Meghan Rackley/Courtesy of Sandra Hooker via AP), BIDEN TO TRAVEL TO KENTUCKY TO SURVEY DAMAGE FROM EXTREME WEATHER. or redistributed. After Ava reached a hospital in Memphis, Hooker said, she learned from family there that the young girl had told doctors and nurses, "I was flying around in the tornado and I prayed to Jesus to take care of me, and he spit me out and the tornado spit me out into the mud.". Annistyn, a third-grader who loved swimming, dancing and cheerleading, died, one of dozens killed in five states. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes later, Sandra Hooker said, a tornado splintered the home, carrying the family members dozens of yards through the air into a field where first responders found them in mud. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Hooker said after a prayer vigil Sunday, searchers in the field near the Rackleys house found the doll that Annistyn was holding in the photo. He wanted to turn over Annistyn's favorite blanket, thick as it was with mud stains after being found in the field. She said she talked to the girls mother, Meghan Rackley, on Friday afternoon about the possibility of bad storms. Theres debris strewn forever out in the field, and so they were sucked up into the tornado.. Hooker teaches gifted students at the same elementary school where Meghan Rackley teaches kindergarten in Caruthersville, which is nestled next to the Mississippi River in whats known as Missouris Bootheel region. Gov. EXCELENTE OPORTUNIDAD DEPARTAMENTO CNTRICO EN COSQUIN, OPORTUNIDAD CHALET VILLA MIRADOR DEL LAGO. Le Bonheur Children's Hospital doctors are now treating Annistyn's younger sister, 7-year-old Ava, with surgery scheduled Wednesday to treat broken vertebrae in her back. But whatever happens we know that God's will will be done," Hooker added. Earlier Monday, forecast models waivered on the severity of the storm, with the NWS early Monday indicating that "a brief tornado or two" could not be ruled out. Hooker said that Annistyn Rackley's family hadn't yet unpacked from their move Dec. 4 from Caruthersville to their new home along Highway J, just west of the city. She loved dancing.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Ms Hooker teaches gifted students at the same elementary school where Meghan Rackley teaches kindergarten in Caruthersville, which is nestled next to the Mississippi River in whats known as Missouris Bootheel region. COMPLEJO DE 4 DEPARTAMENTOS CON POSIBILIDAD DE RENTA ANUAL, HERMOSA PROPIEDAD A LA VENTA EN PLAYAS DE ORO, CON EXCELENTE VISTA, CASA CON AMPLIO PARQUE Y PILETA A 4 CUADRAS DE RUTA 38, COMPLEJO TURISTICO EN Va. CARLOS PAZ. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. After Ava reached a hospital in Memphis, Hooker said, she learned from family there that the young girl had told doctors and nurses, I was flying around in the tornado and I prayed to Jesus to take care of me, and he spit me out and the tornado spit me out into the mud.. She was the strongest kid. But he gets up and powers through it, and is hunting in the mud for his family. "The child psychologist came into the room and helped her grandmother tell her. Hooker said she and others are relying on their faith, especially after hearing what the surviving middle daughter Ava told doctors. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. She told 'em yes. (Meghan Rackley/Courtesy of Sandra Hooker via AP), AMAZON WAREHOUSE COLLAPSE IN ILLINOIS: ALL MISSING PEOPLE NOW ACCOUNTED FOR, POLICE SAY. Several hours later, the Tornado watches and warnings were issued. She loved life and loved people," Hooker added. Trey and Meghan Rackley and their three daughters sought shelter in a windowless bathroom in their southeast Missouri home as storms raged across the country's midsection. The familys home was destroyed as they were carried into the air by the twister, landing in a field where Hooker described Annistyn as an outgoing, loving, and creative young girl that loved dancing and cheerleading. "The loss, it is exponential," Mandi Alexander, a friend of Meghan's, said at an emotional gathering of some 200 people Sunday at a riverside park to memorialize the young girl, TV station KAIT reported. "I don't know if I was flying but to me if felt more like I was getting dragged," Rackley said. Gov. Annistyn Rackley, 9, poses for a picture while attending a cheerleading competition in Arizona. "We've talked about it several times," Hooker says. "We are believing for a miracle, so we are going to say that we are optimistic that she will pull through. In Pemiscot County in southeastern Missouri, bordering Arkansas and Kentucky, where the Rackleys live, the sheriffs office did not immediately return telephone messages Monday seeking comment about the storm that destroyed the Rackleys home. ", [6:00 AM 2/27] The severe weather threat appears to be diminishing, although gusty winds in stronger showers will be possible this morning. Ava Rackley, 7, had huddled in the bathtub with her two sisters, 3-year-old Lonnie, and 9-year-old Annistyn. And he said he could hear it coming. ", "Anni was a miracle," she says. She said she talked to the girls mother, Meghan Rackley, on Friday afternoon about the possibility of bad storms. Tight rotation in this area may produce a brief tornado at any moment. Legal Statement. But she adds that finding those three specific, tangible pieces from the girl's life are a comfort. Hooker said it was Annistyns favorite, and she called it Baby MawMaw. "She loved dancing.". See Heartbreaking Photos of the Tornado Devastation in Kentucky, Illinois and More States, Remembering Victims of Deadly Tornado Outbreak: Navy Veteran, 'Loving' Grandma of 4 and More, Texas School Shooting: What We Know About the Victims, Jason Crabb Invites Kentucky Tornado Victim and Viral Piano Player Jordan Baize to Play the Opry, Mo. "Maybe she won't be forgotten too quickly," she says. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Annistyn also attended the same elementary school where her mom and Hooker teach. Example video title will go here for this video. A candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, and an Amazon facility in Edwardsville, Illinois, were hit. And so they were readythey thought," said Hooker during an appearance on "Fox & Friends" with Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt and Lawrence Jones. Early Monday, the NWS reported the severe weather threat most likely to be at its greatest Monday between 7 a.m. and noon, along and south of Interstate 80, potentially extending into Chicago. MISSOURI GIRL, PICTURED 15 MINUTES BEFORE TORNADO HIT, FOUND DEAD IN FIELD DOZENS OF YARDS AWAY, In this photo provided by Sandra Hooker, from left, Avalinn Rackley, 7, Alanna Rackley, 3, and Annistyn Rackley, 9, pose for a picture in a bathroom in their home near Caruthersville, Missouri. The middle child, Avalinn, or Ava, had broken vertebrae in her back and was expected to undergo surgery Wednesday, Hooker said. A heartbreaking photo shows a young girl sheltering in a bathtub with her sisters moments before she was killed by a tornado as devastating storms ripped across the central US last weekend. Her husband and three daughters were thrown from the home, But he and the youngest daughter, 3-year-old Alanna Little Lani are no longer hospitalized. RELATED: Florida father & son killed on hunting trip during storms in Tennessee. Rackleys middle daughter, Ava, was seriously injured in the storm and had to undergo several spinal surgeries. Earlier reports showed the strongest parts of the storm likely to be in southern Kankakee county and into Northwest Indiana. And I texted her and said, 'The sirens are going off.' Trey and Meghan Rackley and their three daughters sought shelter in a windowless bathroom in their southeast Missouri home as storms raged across the country's midsection. Her mom and her dad encouraged her and supported her to live life to the full.". She said she talked to the girls mother, Meghan Rackley, on Friday afternoon about the possibility of bad storms. (Summer Alexander/Meghan Rackley/Courtesy of Sandra Hooker via AP), Missouri county police captain on post-storm looting and recovery efforts. She texted back, and then she texted me again. The familys home was destroyed as they were carried into the air by the twister, landing in a field where they were found in the mud by first responders. Hooker prays they'll provide further comfort when they are placed in Annistyn's casket and buried alongside her. Annistyn, a third-grader who loved swimming, dancing and cheerleading, was among dozens of people who died because of the severe storm on Friday. Hooker is the sister of Meghan Rackleys grandmother, and she said she and Annistyn, or Anni, grew close over the past four years. Hooker said Meghan Rackleys injuries included broken bones, a brain injury and a large cut, and shes asking people to pray for the 32-year-old mother. Hooker said Meghan Rackleys injuries included broken bones, a brain injury and a large cut, and shes asking people to pray for the 32-year-old mother. Hooker reflected on the 9-year-old's perseverance in her young life, following a diagnosis of a rare live disease. The middle child, Avalinn, or Ava, had broken vertebrae in her back and was expected to undergo surgery Wednesday, Hooker said. ", "But Ava had been asking about her mother, 'Is mommy alive?'" Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. See the damage of the tornado that tore through Kentucky and other states, Kentucky tornado survivors share stories of their terrifying experience, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Theres debris strewn forever out in the field, and so they were sucked up into the tornado.. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Trey and Meghan Rackley 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. After Ava reached a hospital in Memphis, Hooker said, she learned from family there that the young girl had told doctors and nurses, I was flying around in the tornado and I prayed to Jesus to take care of me, and he spit me out and the tornado spit me out into the mud.. The rain will subside in the evening, when the focus will shift to the wind, the NBC 5 Storm Team says, with strong gusts expected across most of the region. Fifteen minutes later, Sandra Hooker said, a tornado splintered the home, carrying the family members dozens of yards through the air into a field where first responders found them in mud. Hooker said Annistyns parents learned when she was 2 months old that she had a rare liver disorder in which bile ducts dont develop properly, sometimes making it hard to fight off illness. Legal Statement. When all is said and done, forecast models show rain totals are likely to clock in over an inch, with 1.18 inches predicted at O'Hare International Airport. Hooker said that Annistyn Rackley's family hadn't yet unpacked from their move Dec. 4 from Caruthersville to their new home along Highway J, just west of the city. Tornadoes also roared through both the Missouri and Illinois sides of the St. Louis area, as well as the Memphis, Tennessee, area and parts of Arkansas and Illinois. Ava was still in pediatric intensive care as of Monday afternoon. You could just tell how much it affected her. St. Charles County, Missouri police warning looters that trespassing and theft will result in prosecution as recovery efforts continue. She said she talked to the girl's mother, Meghan Rackley, on Friday afternoon about the possibility of bad storms. And she said, 'I prayed to Jesus to take care of me. "There are no words. She said it was Annistyns favourite, and she called it Baby MawMaw. Market data provided by Factset. To prove they were in their safe space with the storm approaching Friday evening, the girls mom texted her Aunt Sandy a photo of the three in and next to the bathtub all of them smiling, with 9-year-old Annistyn holding her favorite doll. As the tornado threw him outside, Rackley said he held on to his youngest daughter - 3-year-old Lani - and braced for impact. To prove they were in their safe space with the storm approaching, the girls mom texted her Aunt Sandy a photo of the three in and next to the bathtub all of them smiling, 9-year-old Annistyn holding her favourite doll. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Hooker is the sister of Meghan Rackleys grandmother, and she said she and Annistyn, or Anni, grew close over the past four years. 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