DeKalb County

Grandmother pushes grandkids out of the way as tree falls through home

By Wendy Corona, WSB-TV
By Wendy Corona, WSB-TV

DECATUR, Ga. — One DeKalb County woman's home, which was always considered the safe haven for her family, became a danger zone when a tree fell through her house.

Channel 2’s Wendy Corona visited the woman's Decatur home Tuesday and was told how the woman she saved her grandkids' lives.

Rosa Kitchens said she still can't believe it happened.

For more than 24 years, Rosa Kitchen’s home was the safe place to ride out storms.

“I wasn't trying to get myself out. I was trying to get them out,” Kitchens said. “It was like breaking. Sticks breaking. Planks breaking.”

For more than 24 years, Kitchen’s home was the safe place to ride out storms. But this time, Tropical Storm Irma gave Kitchens and her family the scare of a lifetime.

Kitchens, who goes by the name "Miss Rosa," was laying on a bed with her two granddaughters. She was looking up and saw the ceiling begin to crack and knew she immediately had to do something.

IRMA RELATED STORIES:

“I actually pushed them off the bed. ‘Move over, move over,’ and when they hit the floor I said, 'get out,’” Miss Rosa told Corona, saying she pushed away her two grandchildren: One a teen, the other 2 years old.

“My son came in and he had tears in his eyes. I know he thought, 'I could've lost my mom,' you know?” Kitchen said.

The tree limbs pierced two bedrooms, a bathroom, the dining room and her back porch. The damage stretched the entire back length of her home.

Kitchens was laying on a bed with her two granddaughters. She was looking up and saw the ceiling begin to crack and knew she immediately had to do something.

While Miss Rosa is a bit sore, she and her granddaughters feel blessed.

“They just looked at me and grinned. They just happy I pushed them out of the way. I thought this could've been my last day on earth. I'm so glad God saved me. I'm here for a reason. I know that.”

She does have insurance, but no one has come out to check out her damage yet.

She told Corona that she’s just hopeful the damage will get fixed before the holidays because her home is where the entire family always gathers.

Cox Media Group

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