I recently learned that my cousin Navid Zaidi, a doctor in Joplin, Missouri, just had his house torn to shreds in yesterday’s horrific tornado tragedy. What was once a sturdy and welcoming brick home that my wife Shahina and I stayed at a few summers ago on our way to St. Louis, is now an empty frame void of anything other than my family’s memories of where they once lived.
Since Navid is on 24/7 call at the hospital treating his fellow Joplin residents who were tormented from the devastation, I spent today speaking to his daughter, Sidra Zaidi. A senior at Loyola University – Chicago, Sidra has been posting minute-by-minute updates on Facebook. She’s clearly in shock, as everything she knew since she was six years old has just been taken away from her. Sidra no longer has her baby pictures, personal items or any other cherished treasure the tornado took from her.
Two days ago, my relatives inhabited seven homes in Joplin. But, as of now, only one remains. My relatives’ homes may have been lost, but our family members are alive and are about as well as they can be given the circumstances.
The worst part of the nightmare is that one of Sidra’s friends is still missing. Namely, Will Norton.
Will Norton just graduated Joplin High School yesterday afternoon, May 22, at a ceremony held at Missouri Southern State University – merely a few hours before tragedy struck. It has been confirmed that Will Norton was in a car crash with his father, Mark Norton, on the way home from Will’s graduation ceremony. While Mark Norton has been found, his son Will has not.
There are also reports that Will Norton may have been airlifted to a hospital in Springfield, Missouri, but that belief has not been confirmed. An avid tennis player, standout student, and active member of the “Future Business Leaders of America,” Will Norton is 6,’4″, with brown hair and green eyes.
There is a Facebook Page dedicated to finding Will Norton, titled
“Help Find Will Norton.” Please join it and spread the word.
Innocent victims of Mother Nature’s wrath deserve our help, so I thank you in advance for helping in any way you are able to. Big or small, all helping hands are deeply appreciated.
I am going to send out multiple posts about the residents of Joplin, Missouri who are directly affected, so stay tuned, think positive thoughts, and thank you for helping.
The following photos are the remains of my cousin’s home.
Photos courtesy of David Wilcox.
