Eleven-month-old tornado victim heads home

In addition to the loss of his mother, Kerri, 11-month-old Kyson Stowell’s family also lost everything they owned in the devastating tornado that struck CastilianSprings, Tenn. The family appealed to the public for help today as Kyson was discharged at approximately 12:30 p.m. from the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The family briefly spoke to the media shortly before leaving the Children’s Hospital. Kyson arrived at the Children’s Hospital during the early morning hours of Feb. 6, and remained in the Pediatric Emergency Department for several hours, before being admitted for treatment of a collapsed lung. Kyson’s grandfather, Douglas Stowell, described the scene immediately after the storm. “After the first round of storms, I drove to check on my daughter. As I approached where their house used to be, I saw a firefighter crouched down in the field holding what looked like a baby, and I knew it was my grandson, Kyson,” Stowell said. “I jumped out of the truck and ran over. I ripped off my shirt and threw it on my grandson, because we didn’t have blankets or anything.” The family has set up a fund for Kyson. Donations can be made to the Kyson Miles Stowell Trust at any branch of SunTrust Bank, or by calling (615) 340-0249.