Toddler gravely injured April 27 makes remarkable progress - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & Sports

Trinity Norris does not remember the storm that destroyed her family's mobile home in Holt, Alabama. She was two-years-old on April 27, 2011 and suffered a traumatic brain injury so grave that doctors weren't sure she would survive the med flight from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham.

As that monster storm enveloped their neighborhood, the Norris family climbed into a bathtub together and prayed. Against the twister's deafening roar, Trinity held onto her mother Leslie, along with her older brother Jaylan and her baby brother Jatex. Her father Reggie shielded his family with a mattress. Leslie described the moment of impact.

"It was a big growling noise, felt like something picked us up and threw us and we were just kind of airborne being tossed inside the trailer," Leslie said. "I just remember shutting my eyes trying to escape from the situation but still holding on tight to the kids and when it was all over we were just laid out in the field, all open, no longer inside of our home. Next thing I know I hear Reggie saying, 'Oh no, my baby! Oh no I got to get my baby.'"

Trinity was badly injured and they needed help fast. Reggie picked up his little girl and walked two and a half miles to DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, the entire time telling her she would be okay. Trinity immediately underwent emergency brain surgery and the next day was flown to Children's Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham.

"She had a very severe head injury and a lot of people didn't think she was going to survive," said Dr. Margaret Winkler in critical care at Children's Hospital.

Trinity underwent multiple brain surgeries and was in intensive care for weeks. The injury to the right side of her brain caused her to lose mobility on her body's left side. She could not walk and did not talk for weeks after the storm. The Norris family stayed by Trinity's side and prayed for her recovery.

"We were worried that she wasn't going to be the same Trinity that she was before this happened," Leslie said three weeks after the storm. "But she's been showing her true colors, every day something new comes back."

Doctors were hopeful that Trinity would regain mobility through rehab, but it was going to be a long road. Still, she made remarkable progress and doctors discharged her May 19, 2011.

Today Trinity is a chattering, climbing, happy preschooler. She still goes to regular physical therapy and she's still learning to use her left arm and leg. Her mom said they've been amazed at Trinity's progress over the past year and she continues to surprise her doctors and family.

"It first started with her left leg," Leslie said. "They said she would never move it by command and she started kicking it by command and before you knew it she was walking. You know it's not the same as it was before, but she's walking. As far as her left arm, she moves it also by command, but she's not able to use it yet. She tries though, the fact that she even acknowledges it, to try, that's a big step and the fact that they said it would never happen, it's just a sheer miracle."

Trinity walks with a slight limp, but recently began to run again. She wears a brace on her left leg to keep her knee from buckling. Her physical therapists are trying new techniques to motivate her to use her left arm more. Her mother said she fed herself with her left hand for the first time this week. Every day there is progress and even at her young age, Trinity understands she's different from other kids.

"She was always like the little competitive type" Leslie said. "And when she's around other kids and they can do something and she can't, that just don't sit well with her. And the fight, I think that's also what's helping her too, it's motivating her not to give up and to keep trying and keep fighting."

How the Norris family all survived that day is a mystery. Since relocating to Sylacauga, Leslie and Reggie have married and they've joined a church. Leslie found a job teaching and the family rented a brick house close to relatives.

They now follow a severe weather plan during tornado warnings in which they all wear helmets and go to a safe place. Like other tornado survivors, they struggle with flashbacks and fear, but they count their blessings.

Trinity's recovery reminds them to never take anything for granted.

"I give God all the glory, " Leslie said. "It was nothing but God, you can't explain that. He worked a miracle."

Copyright 2012 WBRC. All rights reserved.