An Alabama community is rallying behind a man who has been dealing with his wife’s declining health and a damaging tornado that severely damaged his property on the same day.
Frank Senn, 76, of Wetumpka, made the decision to take his wife of more than 42 years, Glenda Nichols Senn, 72, off life support on Tuesday, WSFA-TV reported. While the retired veteran wrestled with that decision at a Birmingham hospital, Tuesday’s storms, which likely included a tornado, severely damaged his home and property, the television station reported.
Glenda Senn fell down the stairs two weeks ago, and the fall broke her neck and severed her spinal cord, according to WSFA. Glenda Senn remains alive but will spend her final days at a care facility, according to the television station.
“The doctor came in (Tuesday) and said there was nothing else they could do and took her off of life support,” Frank Senn told the television station. “My world is gone.”
By Wednesday, the Wetumpka community sprang into action.
“There were vehicles lined up with folks coming to help,” the couple’s elder son, Jon Senn, told WSFA. “The love and outpouring of support that’s come out to help my father and our ranch farm has been amazing.”
Several churches, residents and tree removal companies reached out to help.
Mike’s Tree Service in Elmore County spent the better part of Wednesday cutting apart and hauling away trees, the television station reported. They plan to spend several more days on the property to complete the job.
“We came out, cut down probably six or seven trees so far. Going to come back tomorrow. Still got about probably two days worth of work,” David Stafford of Mike’s Tree Service told WSFA. “We all pray that everything works out.”
“I tried to feed them earlier and they said they didn’t come out here for food, they didn’t come for drink, they didn’t come for money. They come to help a neighbor,” Jon Senn said.
Frank Senn was still in Birmingham when the cleanup began, staying with the woman he married in the spring of 1979.
“He was going to come down here and look, but he had to get up there with my mama,” Jon Senn told WSFA.