After losing multiple family members — including her two youngest children — in a tornado, Kuri Bolger is talking about her recovery and her family’s legacy.
Bolger and her husband, Michael, along with their three children, eight-year-old Brysen, three-year-old Kinlee, and two-year-old Owen, were visiting her mother and stepfather when a tornado came through Winterset, Iowa on March 5. She also lost her mother in the tornado.
The tornado left a 70-mile path of destruction, the longest since a tornado hit in 1984, which made a path 117 miles long, according to the Associated Press.
Bolger and her son Brysen survived but sustained injuries. The family was huddled together in a pantry during the storm.
Bolger’s stepfather and one of her brothers who were in the home at the time also survived.
“It’s a roller coaster of emotion. I think there’s going to be really hard days and days that it’s a little bit easier, but just remembering that you just have to keep going,” Bolger told “Good Morning America.”
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Although she is grieving the loss of her other children, Bolger is grateful to have her son.
“I have Brysen,” she said, adding, “Thank God he made it through and everybody was able to save him because, at this point, he’s my rock.”
Bolger said that although she was excited to be reunited with her son, it was also bittersweet.
“I was so excited to have him, but also so sad that it was just us. The rest of our family was gone,” she shared.
Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”, and that’s how Bolger and Brysen plan to continue their family’s legacy.
“I’m going to try and carry their lights out. It’s a lot, but I’m going to do it,” Bolger said.
After enduring this tragedy, Bolger said, “It just reminded me to be kind.”
“I know everybody says life is short but you just never know. You never know,” she said.