ELKHORN, Nebraska (WOWT) – The smallest children frequently experience the most magical aspects of Christmas.
At the Perry residence in northwest Omaha, that means A.J., where no gift is too large.
We hear it all the time: Christmas is about family. This family nearly lost four relatives.
“For them to walk away is nothing short of miraculous. “Unbelievable,” Joe Perry, a family member, remarked.
Perry’s mother, father, sister, and brother huddled in a basement storage room as an April tornado ripped through their Elkhorn neighborhood.
The rest of the house, including everything inside, was gone. The neighborhood was unrecognizable.
“My Christmas present is their presence. “That’s for sure,” Joe stated.
Jackie Perry pledged to rebuild. After all, this site held 48 years of memories.
“It was difficult. Grandpa Joe Perry stated, “We’ve known the neighbors for many, many years.”
But then reality kicked in.
“It would take too long to build. “We just wanted to move into something,” Grandpa Joe explained.
Old Coach Road would no longer be their street address. Butler Avenue was now five miles east of where I had previously lived.
“It’s more about the people than the place. “It’s still Christmas,” Angelo Perry explained.
“My sister gave me this as a keepsake. It says ‘Perry’s 2024’ and has a picture of a tornado,” Jackie Perry explained.
But there are remnants of the old place all about. Strangers discovered a family portrait in a random yard following the storm and identified the Perrys. It hangs in a visible location, filth and all.
“They said they could clean it up more, but I said I’d take it just like that,” Jackie Perry told me.
And in the basement, a portion of the old place is boldly displayed on new hinges.
“There she is. The miraculous door. “Just so happens beneath the staircase, just in case,” Joe Perry explained.