Indianapolis, IN (WTWO/WAWV) — Last Friday’s storm changed everything for a local family as a mother tried to protect her children and was caught in the path of a tornado.
Matthew McCammon of Dugger, IN, is grieving an unimaginable loss while holding onto hope for his son’s recovery.
Friday’s storm passed through in minutes. But for Matthew McCammon, time stopped.
“We were texting back and forth, and I had called her,” Matthew said. “That was the last time I heard her voice, and she said ‘there is a funnel cloud in our backyard’.”
The McCammon’s live in a mobile home and in an effort to protect their children, Allison loaded them into the car to get to safety.
“Allee was one of those people who loved her kids, and safety was her number one priority,” Matthew said. “So, she was doing the right thing,” he added.
But Allison never made it. A tree fell on the family’s car. Allison was killed.
Matthews said Allison was the kind of mom who never sat quietly on the sidelines.
“She loved to be there for her kids,” The grieving husband said. “She was screaming and hollering for them on the sidelines. She wasn’t a quiet parent.”
A stay-at-home mom who found joy in the simplest things — fishing trips, creek walks, cheering at baseball games.
“Her kids were her number one priority; there wasn’t a day that went by that she wasn’t there for them,” Matthew said.
Their wild, adventurous, fish-catching, dirt-bike-riding, baseball-loving, 9-year-old son, Tiegan, was critically injured in the accident.
His father is now at his bedside at Riley Hospital for Children.
“{It’s} very hard as a parent to sit here and watch my child in that bed on that ventilator,” Matthew said. “It’s devastating to me because you don’t know when something could go wrong. But as of right now, it’s all looking up.”
As Teigan continues his fight, his hospital room is filled with cards, balloons, and love from family, friends, and the Dugger Union School community. The principal sent a message to Matthew.
“His whole class did this video, and they said, ‘get well Tiegan,’ so every kid came through and said ‘get well’ or ‘I’m thinking of you,’ Matthew said. “It was an emotional video, and it really touched my heart,” he added.
Matthews says the only way forward is through faith — and the strength Allison left behind.
“Every day I wake up, I say a little prayer,” he said. “I pray over Teigan. I think that’s what’s getting us through these hard times.”
“I will always try to fill her shoes,” the suffering husband and father said. “She was a great mom.”
Teigan has a long road ahead. He has undergone surgery, and more surgeries are expected. Matthew asked the community to continue praying for his family.
The Dugger Union Community Schools and the McCammon’s church, Whosoever Will, are setting up several fundraisers for the family.
A GoFundMe has been set up for the benefit of the family. If you feel led to contribute or for more information, click here.
