A viral photo. A doctor on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle. And a tornado
By
Monica Danielle, AccuWeather Managing Editor
Published Mar 30, 2020 3:48 PM EDT
After the photo of an Arkansas doctor seeing his son while on a break from helping coronavirus patients went viral, the internet rallied to raise money after a tornado destroyed his home.
The photo of an Arkansas doctor seeing his one-year-old son while on a break from working the coronavirus front lines has been seen by millions of people around the world.
Dr. Jared Burks, a resident physician, has been working around the clock at a hospital, including in the emergency room, for weeks. He was able to take a quick break to see his wife and son, Zeke, but only through the glass door of their home. The family had been living separately for more than two weeks while he treated patients.
The photo, a heartbreaking sign of the times, immediately went viral after Alyssa Burks posted it to her Facebook page on March 25.
"Look who we finally got to see today! Not going to pretend that I didn’t bawl like a baby when he left to go back to work. We miss him, but we are doing what we have to do. ð¢â¤ï¸ Count your blessings. That’s what’s getting us through this!" she said in the post.
"As soon as he saw his dad, he just raced to the door," she told KATV. "He got up on the glass because I think he wanted him to hold him, so it was sad, it was cute, but it was really heartbreaking because it's hard."
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
Just a few days later, the Burks' family home was destroyed by a tornado while Jared was inside. "I saw it coming towards the house and I was like, 'Oh it's probably time for me to get to the closet.' So, by the time I got in the closet, it was about 30 seconds, and I just started hearing glass breaking, the walls started shaking, my ears started popping and the house felt like it lifted up and fell back down," Burks told ABC 15 News in Alabama. The doctor was home on a break while his wife and son were at her mom's house. "I was thinking, 'Oh God, I don't want to die,'" he said.
Jonesboro, Arkansas, took a direct hit from an EF-3 tornado on Saturday evening. The tornado ripped through Race and Caraway streets, destroying many homes and businesses, including the Mall at Turtle Creek. At least 22 injuries were reported.
Moments after the twister struck, Burks climbed out of the closet to discover his home completely destroyed.
"We are all safe. Our house is gone. Jared was inside, but he survived by the grace of God. Zeke and I were at my mom’s house. Please pray for us as we begin to pick up the pieces â¤ï¸," Alyssa Burks posted on Facebook Saturday evening.
Evan Clower, Alyssa Burks' best friend, created a GoFundMe on Sunday to help the family rebuild after the tornado. "They are going to need help picking up the pieces so that they can find another place to live, collect their items, rebuild, all while Jared is working and fighting for those who health may be compromised," she shared.
The response has been staggering. By Monday, just a day later, more than $80,000 had been raised by nearly 2,000 donors from as far away as London and South Africa. "Dear Lord I saw the news on BBC London news. Can't wish you enough love & support during this dreadful time," Beverley Swanson messaged on Facebook.
"We have been so very blessed with the most amazing support from people we don't even know," Alyssa Burks wrote. "There is no way for me to even slightly express my gratitude."
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Severe Weather
A viral photo. A doctor on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle. And a tornado
By Monica Danielle, AccuWeather Managing Editor
Published Mar 30, 2020 3:48 PM EDT
After the photo of an Arkansas doctor seeing his son while on a break from helping coronavirus patients went viral, the internet rallied to raise money after a tornado destroyed his home.
The photo of an Arkansas doctor seeing his one-year-old son while on a break from working the coronavirus front lines has been seen by millions of people around the world.
Dr. Jared Burks, a resident physician, has been working around the clock at a hospital, including in the emergency room, for weeks. He was able to take a quick break to see his wife and son, Zeke, but only through the glass door of their home. The family had been living separately for more than two weeks while he treated patients.
The photo, a heartbreaking sign of the times, immediately went viral after Alyssa Burks posted it to her Facebook page on March 25.
"Look who we finally got to see today! Not going to pretend that I didn’t bawl like a baby when he left to go back to work. We miss him, but we are doing what we have to do. ð¢â¤ï¸ Count your blessings. That’s what’s getting us through this!" she said in the post.
"As soon as he saw his dad, he just raced to the door," she told KATV. "He got up on the glass because I think he wanted him to hold him, so it was sad, it was cute, but it was really heartbreaking because it's hard."
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
Just a few days later, the Burks' family home was destroyed by a tornado while Jared was inside. "I saw it coming towards the house and I was like, 'Oh it's probably time for me to get to the closet.' So, by the time I got in the closet, it was about 30 seconds, and I just started hearing glass breaking, the walls started shaking, my ears started popping and the house felt like it lifted up and fell back down," Burks told ABC 15 News in Alabama. The doctor was home on a break while his wife and son were at her mom's house. "I was thinking, 'Oh God, I don't want to die,'" he said.
Jonesboro, Arkansas, took a direct hit from an EF-3 tornado on Saturday evening. The tornado ripped through Race and Caraway streets, destroying many homes and businesses, including the Mall at Turtle Creek. At least 22 injuries were reported.
Moments after the twister struck, Burks climbed out of the closet to discover his home completely destroyed.
"We are all safe. Our house is gone. Jared was inside, but he survived by the grace of God. Zeke and I were at my mom’s house. Please pray for us as we begin to pick up the pieces â¤ï¸," Alyssa Burks posted on Facebook Saturday evening.
Evan Clower, Alyssa Burks' best friend, created a GoFundMe on Sunday to help the family rebuild after the tornado. "They are going to need help picking up the pieces so that they can find another place to live, collect their items, rebuild, all while Jared is working and fighting for those who health may be compromised," she shared.
The response has been staggering. By Monday, just a day later, more than $80,000 had been raised by nearly 2,000 donors from as far away as London and South Africa. "Dear Lord I saw the news on BBC London news. Can't wish you enough love & support during this dreadful time," Beverley Swanson messaged on Facebook.
"We have been so very blessed with the most amazing support from people we don't even know," Alyssa Burks wrote. "There is no way for me to even slightly express my gratitude."
Report a TypoKeep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.