Tornado Strengthens Mother-Daughter Bond

Nicole is a single mom who shares a special bond with her daughter, Shiloh.

"She’s the best friend I’ve ever had,” Nicole said, “it’s like watching myself grow up.”

Nicole and Shiloh live just outside Dayton, Ohio. They’ve seen many storms, but one night as Nicole tucked her daughter into bed, something felt different.

"I heard the hail hitting the window,” Nicole said, “and right when I went to look, I heard just a crack."

"And the power went out," said Shiloh.

“I told her it’s time to get in the basement,” Nicole said, “and we all ran straight down to the basement."

"And then it hit," said Shiloh.

Moments later one of the many tornadoes that broke out around Dayton tore through Nicole’s neighborhood.

"You could hear the transformers popping,” Nicole said, “it almost sounded liked gunshots - just 'pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.’”

"It was really scary,” Shiloh said, “It’s kinda like a movie, it’s a lot to take in."

 “But you really didn’t know how bad it was,” Nicole said, “until we walked outside after it was over."

Destruction was everywhere. Nicole tries to stay strong for her daughter, but it isn't easy.

“Yesterday I was having a meltdown,” Nicole said, through tears, “I was talking to her about it, I was trying to explain it, and then she said, ‘But no matter what every day you’ll have me and I love you to the moon and back.’ I’m so proud of her.”

The love Nicole and her daughter share will get them through this, but they still had a yard filled with downed trees.

“I’ve never in my 45 years been through anything like this," Nicole said.

That’s when volunteers from Operation Blessing showed up in their neighborhood!

"They’re just here to help and it’s been an absolute blessing,” Nicole said.

"I’m so thankful for you guys,” Shiloh said, “You guys are picking up trees, you’re picking up all the debris and I’m so happy."

"It made me tingle inside,” Nicole said, “because you’re just a group of people here to help and I’ve just felt nothing but joy all day."

"I thank everybody who has ever donated to Operation Blessing,” Nicole said, “Anything that you can do makes the biggest impact in so many people’s lives. It’s ginormous and I’m so thankful."