MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C.,None — Days after three children now known as the “miracle babies” were sucked from their home by a tornado and survived, the family told Eyewitness News more miracles are coming out of the destruction.
Three of Latonya and Tyrone Stevens' children were sucked out of the house and into the back yard. Her son, 7-year-old Jamaal, was thrown about 350 feet and landed dangerously close to Interstate 485.
The children's father showed Eyewitness News a table covered with family photos of his children.
"These are priceless, they truly are," said Stevens.
SLIDESHOW: Miracle family survives EF-2 tornado
Stevens said amazingly, his family members found the photos more than 350 feet away on the other side of Interstate 485 from their house. One of the photos was in a glass frame, found intact.
The unbroken photo is a symbol of a family determined to rebuild their lives, but they will not have to do it alone.
While Eyewitness News was with the Stevens family, Microsoft employee Lex Thomas dropped off a brand-new Xbox Kinect video game system and stuffed toys for the children.
The University City Hilton where Stevens has worked for eight years is offering the family a place to stay, collecting cash and organizing volunteers to help the family clean up.
COMPLETE COVERAGE: See stories, video and pictures from the tornado in Charlotte and across the country
The hotel's general manger, David Glass, said, "We think of our employees here as a family. We are the Hilton family and we obviously try to take care of our own people."
Stevens said, "It helps a lot with the healing process. We lost the house and everything but we still got each other."
Donations can be made to the family through the Stevens Family Tornado Victims Fund at any Wells Fargo bank branch.
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<strong>How To Help The Stevens Family:</strong>
The family has asked anyone who wants to assist to contact them by email. Their email addresses are below, along with some information about their children.<br/>Jamaal is 7 years old and in elementary school. Ayanna is 4 years old and is in a Pre-K program. Ashley and Amber are 3-year-old twins.
Reach the parents, Latonya and Tyrone Stevens, at either of these addresses: Latonyagstevens@gmail.com or Tyronestevens@hotmail.com
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Previous Stories:
- Miracle babies to return home as tornado cleanup begins
- Children thrown from home during tornado, return home
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