As we start to hear stories from survivors of Hurricane Helene, this one about a dad’s devotion to making it to his daughter’s wedding will get you in all the feels. David Jones left his home in South Carolina for what should have been a two-hour drive to Johnson City, Tennessee, but it quickly became an epic journey. Many would have given up, but he was supposed to walk his daughter, Elizabeth, down the aisle, and he didn’t want to let her down.
Jones was diverted multiple times on Interstate 26 and when he finally reached the Tennessee state line around 2 a.m., a state trooper told him that was the end of the road. The interstate and other roads were impassable, but this dad didn’t stop. He estimated it was less than 30 miles to his destination, so he took off on foot. The thing is, he was in total darkness with only his cell phone light to guide him as he trekked over seven-foot-tall mounds of debris from the deadly hurricane.
For five and a half hours, Jones kept walking. At one point, he got trapped in the mud, lost a shoe and was nearly hit by a backhoe from crews clearing the road. Fortunately, an acquaintance happened to drive by and gave him a ride the last eight miles of the trip. The dedicated dad made it to the wedding on time and gave the bride and groom a souvenir - the reflective stake he carried for safety. And he downplays his efforts, saying, “it’s what any dad would do.”
Source: NEWS NATION NOW