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Subscribe to RSSStephanie Decker, who lost portions of both of her legs while protecting her kids during a recent tornado in Henryville, Ind., is released from a Kentucky hospital. Msnbc.com's Al Stirrett reports.
The Indiana mother, who lost a leg and a foot while selflessly shielding her two young children from a 175-mph tornado in Henryville, Ind., has left the hospital.
Stephanie Decker, 36, was all smiles when she was escorted out of the University of Louisville Hospital in Kentucky, two weeks after twister leveled their home in Marysville, Ind.
Decker lost one leg above the knee and the other above the ankle, and broke seven ribs, but her two children, Dominic, 8, and Reese, 5, were unharmed.
"I feel pretty awesome,” Decker said. “I didn't expect to feel this way, but I feel healthy. I feel strong.”
Mom who lost legs told kids, 'You're not going to die'
Decker said she is looking forward to the next stage in her recovery.
“I’m ready to tackle rehab. I am ready to get that part of this steppingstone over with. I feel really, really good.”
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I'm a sarcastic old fart and try and make some humor from other peoples misfortunes when I write.
This is just a great story and I wish this lady and her family the best.
She's one heck of a tough lady! I tip my hat to you.
I wish her the best, but down the line she will have to face reality for when it sits in and she's no longer able to do things like she use to do when she had her legs.
I wish her the best in life, and she is a brave woman that took care of her kids during a horrible event (tornado).
I'm sure glad when she selflessly shielded her kids with her body the kids didn't get hurt or dead anyways. I heard of that happening too many times.Brava.
She'll have a prosthetic leg and foot and should be able to do anything she could do before (with the exception of a few yoga positions, which most of us can't do anyway!
All the best to this HERO and her family!!!!
If we could just bottle that attitude and spread it around it would cure a lot of our problems.
Each of us have a good feeling about this mother and what she did . May we give back . May we find a way to rebuild their home . Check out my comment #90 on page 4 .Let us start a movement that will make all of us feel great , and put them in a new house .
RON
You rock girl . Stay positive and strong. Good luck for the future.
Stephanie Decker gets my vote for Mother of the Year!
I agree, she must be declared the mother of the year...
I'm beyond agreed! She should be recognized! I hope something wonderful will come her way. She has star quality. All the best, Stephanie!
Agreed!
Suze, I agree that she is a great mother and put her children's safety first; but really, how many mothers wouldn't do exactly the same thing? I live close to that area and happened to have my grandchildren that weekend; as soon as we were aware of tornado warnings close to our area, we showed the kids where we'd go in the house (in basement closet under steps). Just know that my husband I would have shielded them to the very best of our ability. I wonder how many other parents or caretakers of the very young did exactly the same thing. I sincerely hope her recovery isn't too painful or difficult for this lovely young mother. Anyone notice that the house they'd just moved into looked to be a solid (very expensive looking) brick house? It's not only trailers and stick built houses that are destroyed in this type of storm; there are always people who make really mean, nasty comments about people caught in trailers in tornadoes. Btw, I live in a brick house and when we get tornado warnings, I don't feel any safer that someone in a supposedly 'less substantial' dwelling.
Yes, but giimmmerr, this isn't about you or those other people who may have or did do the same thing; it's about this lady. I'm glad you showed your kids what to do; as any parent would do. :) Don't be envious of someone who made the news because she shielded her kids and lost part of both of her legs. I hope, for your sake, and your family's sake, you never make the news for these reasons.
It is good to read news of parenting and what parents do, love their children, take care of them, provide as best they can and are able. There is a bond that parents and children have. And women who have abortions regret it and deserve better than abortion/murder of their child as a solution to problems.
Stephanie Decker may be one of the bravest women of this century! In protecting her children, she not only lost one leg above the knee and the other above the ankle, but she is facing all the rehab ahead of her with a positive attitude. Her children are very fortunate to have such a wonderful mother. I wish her all the best, and as Suze the Muze said above, Stephanie definitely merits the Mother of the Year award!
I totally agree with you. She says she feels awesome, she is awesome !
You r a very brave woman and the type of mother all women who have children should strive to be like. U put ur children's lives ahead of ur own. I wish u all the best
are, not r
You, not U
your, not ur
you, not u
Navy vet--
veteran, not vet
Abbreviations, like OK, are standard in casual writing. While it may seem odd to us older folk, the younger people use texting abbreviations. Mist's writing is quite readable and understandable--and this is a discussion thread in which people are just chatting and aren't using formal English.
In 50 years or so, it might be "u" and "ur." Of course, I'm still getting used to "catalog" and "dialog," so I guess it's a good thing that I'll be dead by then. I guess this means they'll be doing it over my dead body--though I don't honestly mind.
Whatever, Navy vet-2815238. Mist-1463949's message was understood. Unlike your message, it was nice and positive.
This person is truly incredible. Some people post anything just to gt attention ; Who cares if is "u" versus "you" or whatever; This is not an essay writing contest. The point was made; it was understood and it was positive. What else matters?
Vet Were you born an a hole or are you just practicing to be one ??
A good mother will do anything for her children. Dominic and Reese are two very blessed children. Stephanie, all of my best to you and your family.
When life deals us the cards, some up the ante and some fold. You put all your cards on the line, like I wish we would all do. Thank God for the heart of a woman.
That woman has the heart of lion.
What an incredible and admirable mother and woman - brave and selfless with an awesome attitude. Wishing her good luck in rehab and that wonderful things are ahead in life for her.
Damn! Now that's a woman. Salt of the Earth and strong as the day is long. Stay strong.
What an inspiration Stephanie Decker is! May the rest of her life be filled with joy and all things good.
I hope that with the next print run the dictionaries put this lady's picture next to the definition of "mother."
The perfect example of triumph over adversity through attitude.
She's a true inspiration. Selfless was just the tip of the iceberg. This woman's positive outlook is just the kind of example all of us need
Wish her the best in her recovery from the injuries. Emotionally she seems to have things handled very well. I hope her selfless act translates to her children and they grow up to be as honorable and she is. Good luck live well.
Has anyone ever heard of someone losing their leg but was able to keep their foot? I swear the print and web media journalists are dumbing us all down.
Anyway kudos to this woman and her spirit and strength of what being a mother is all about: protecting their children at all costs, even life and in this case limb. Most of us think we have been dealt problems...
Side note: It's nice to see for once not one red-state hate post by a liberal about tornadoes ravaging red states (although the night is still young...).
Did you read---
This means she lost the right or left leg above knee and the opposite foot above the ankle.
I grant you that it is very poor wording. It should have read
Decker lost a leg above the knee and a foot above the ankle.
LOL, how does one lose a foot above the ankle? My foot is below my ankle.
Shannon I agree 100% but Brian21285 is someone that apparently thinks it is possible as he told me I was stupid for commenting on this, maybe you should ask him.
JHAWKE>>> Clearly someone or something dumbed you down long before the Indiana tornado happened along. Here's a thought for you - go back to school! Here's another - just say "no" to the drugs this time! Oh and of course, DO YOU HOMEWORK!....your reading comprehension desperately needs the tune up, you moron!
Why call JHAWKE ignorant because of less than perfect reading comprehension in your opinion, when you didn't look for typos? You said, "DO YOU HOMEWORK!" You left out the letter R.
Are all the English teachers on Spring break today? lol Go out and enjoy the weather!
I agree with all of you she si a very brave mother! I am crying , just knowing that there is a mother for the two children. She have no more her body complete, but she have her hear full of love for her kids and family. I wish her the best in her rehabilatation, and she will have a normal life after healing, and adapting herself to the new condition. You are the best of the MOTHERS....
Thanks! No I know I'm not crying alone.
There is nothing stronger than a mother's love!!!! You rock!!
Stephanie Decker, you are my hero. I hope and pray to be as selfless and smart a mother as you are.
This is what makes heros! I wish you a speedy recovery!
Mother, who lost a leg and a foot while selflessly shielding her two young children from a 175-mph tornadow.
This is what Mothers do for their kid not abort them
Abortion is murder not a choice
'
... said the superstitious non-thinker.
It's pretty obvious you ate a LOT of lead paint as a child.
0
0
I was stating this is a good mother risking her life for her
kids Compared to other so called mother killing their baby by abortion
ABORTION IS MURDER NOT A CHOICE
Congratulations--you win the non sequitur of the day award.
One cannot "abort" either an 8-year-old or a 5-year-old. Fetuses spontaneously abort every day--many embryos do not attach and are simply expelled from women's bodies. A medically-induced abortion simply mimics the process of expelling the fetus--and is followed, if necessary, by the same process doctors use on women who have miscarriages.
Unless you want to side with the charming fellow from Georgia (I hope I have the state right) who wanted to execute all women who could not prove that their miscarriages were spontaneous (that's right--he wanted to hold them guilty until they'd proved themselves innocent)--then it really is not the same thing to have an abortion in the first trimester. Some states allow abortion into the second trimester, and some allow medically-necessary ones (performed on fetuses that are not viable) in the third--but forcing a woman to give up her life for a fetus that hasn't got much of a chance for life anyway is pretty silly.
Is it "murder" when people are taken off life support? Have fun defining "murder" if you are including abortion in the first trimester, or even in the second.
I prefer birth control--but it remains a choice to have an abortion as women do not give up their right to autonomy simply because they become pregnant. It isn't a crime to become pregnant, even unintentionally, and women should not be treated as criminals who have no right to their own bodies. I'd rather women did not choose abortions--but it's really not my business what others decide to do with their own bodies. Have a great day.
No one has a right to take a life but GOD.
ABORTION IS MURDER NOT A CHOICE
Why don't you stick to the subject. Why does everything have to be politicized?
Daniel,
This story is about a brave woman who is recovering from a very traumatic experience. Show some respect, there are plenty of other stories going around about this other topic you feel passionate about. Post about it there please.
The time for "choice" is when the woman decides to participate in an act that results in the creation of a separate entity, i.e. sexual intercourse. After the baby is conceived, it's a new, separate entity-its own set of chromosomes, its own blood type, etc.
Daniel was merely stating that here is a woman who gave her life for her child, rather than a woman who took her child's life for her selfish wants. That is entirely compatible with the story. A brave, unselfish, strong woman.
Well Daniel you had to be the ass. Everyone else was postive and YOU have to bring that S^%$ into it.
I see a belief different from yours, not a negative, except in a country where people want no opinion expressed but theirs. Wouldn't that be nice. Tell me when you get out of lala land.
In regards to Daniel's original post: I see an opinion that has absolutely nothing to do with the story people are commenting on.
I don't believe bigfoot is real, but this isn't the thread to start on about it.
Who wrote this? I'm not a doctor, but I did make good grades in my anatomy class. I would love to know just exactly how you can lose one leg above the knee and the other one above her ankle. The way this is written it sounds like they had to sew her one foot to her hip and the other one is her foot and lower leg attached to her hip. I'd bet that must hurt a lot.
Ray - are you really that stupid? That's how an amputation is described, where it was cut.
Brian are you stupid! It should have read she lost her leg BELOW the knee and Below her ankle. You should read before you tell someone that they are stupid you efin idiot
Brian Duh you should be feeling kind of stupid hopefully you dont lose your head below the neck!! lol. Is your real name Forrest Gump?
I love it when someones mouth is bigger than their brain. Dont worry though, you could probably get a job writing for MSNBC as they seem to hire dummies like you all the time. Hey Forrest, could I get your recipe for shrimp creole please.
Hey Ray! Who cares how they worded it! You know what they meant. This is the problem with people now of days. They are way over critical about everything. Relax, and focus on any possible positive things you can get out of this story. This is an unfortunate tragedy and you are worried about how they worded things. Come on man!
You are obviously not a doctor. try this: call your doctor and ask him/her how amputations are commonly described. You will learn that brian21285 is absolutely right.
Ray,
She does not have her knee anymore so if you say she lost her leg below her knee, that would not be correct. She lost her leg above her knee (meaning they cut her leg off just above the knee). And her foot.....they cut it right above the ankle bone. Understand now? Think about it and quit calling people stupid please.
Wishing you a speedy recovery Stephanie! Like I said before "super hero mom!" Your family and loved ones are very proud of you, you are the most brave person I can think of! Best of luck and health, hoping you have a great life ahead of you! I hope your physical rehabilitation goes well. Best wishes all around!
Glad she's ok.I want to know what they do for a living.Orig story said storm hit their 8000 sq ft house!
The house has a large basement--if you think of it as a 4000 square foot above ground and about 4000 below ground, it really isn't all that large of a house. Big, but not tremendous.
A Mobile home with a basement???? That's the craziest thing Ive ever heard!