A family in Minneapolis, North Carolina is facing an unimaginable tragedy, and they need our prayers and thoughts now more than ever. Melissa Guinn, a devoted mother of four, was tragically swept away by the raging waters of Hurricane Helene right in front of her husband, Jamie, and 8-year-old son, River. It is truly heartbreaking to see the impact of recent storms across the United States. Many people have lost their lives, and countless homes have been destroyed by two back-to-back destructive storms, Helene and Milton. On September 27, the Guinn family sought shelter in their home in Minneapolis, N.C., but Hurricane Helene would destroy their lives in an instant. The family lived in a house overlooking a river, a location that proved fatal when the storm triggered devastating landslides. As the storm gained strength, the house began to collapse and fall down the hillside, as reported by Fox News. Tragically, mother of four Melissa Guinn was swept away right in front of her husband and 8-year-old son, River.
“It sounded like a cannon went off. I just remember being crushed by the collapsing house,” Jamie told WRAL. “And I remember screaming for my little boy, and I could hear him screaming. Somehow we dug through the collapsed house almost to the river, and I found him.” Melissa, however, was nowhere to be found. Her final words echoed in the chaos: “Honey, watch out!” she screamed. “Daddy, I think Mommy’s gone” In a desperate act of bravery, Jamie threw River onto an embankment, away from the collapsing house. But when they looked back, Melissa was gone. “I ran right after my little boy, calling for my wife because I couldn’t hear her anymore,” Jamie said. “He looked at me and said, ‘Daddy, I think Mommy’s gone.'” According to Jamie, he heard his wife screaming from where their house once stood, but then she disappeared.
The husband fears another landslide swept her into the river. Unfortunately, the ordeal was not over. Jamie and River had to navigate through rubble, rushing water and mud for several hours to get help. Jamie himself was injured, suffering a broken back and a cut on his head. But the physical pain paled in comparison to the heartbreaking realization when he received confirmation of the unimaginable: his beloved wife and mother of his children was dead. Her body was found by authorities on October 7 – ten days after the tragic accident. The couple were about to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. A devoted wife and loving mother “I don’t think I’m getting it yet,” he said. “Part of me feels like I’m still in shock, trying to understand what happened. I think I’m just now trying to realize what really happened.”
Melissa was a devoted wife and loving mother to her four sons: Brandon, Sebastian, Ethan and River, whom she leaves behind. “She was my absolute best friend. I really don’t know how I’m going to make it without her. We spent every day together. Everything I did, she was as involved as anyone,” Guinn told Fox News. According to a GoFundMe fundraiser set up by one of Jamie’s co-workers, Melissa excelled in every role she played – a great mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend to everyone in her life. Described as beautiful, strong, passionate and generous, she embodied the qualities of a truly sweet soul. God bless her! Such a heartbreaking story! We pray that they all find comfort and peace!
