By Lakyn Webb, American Red Cross
 

On Sunday afternoon, Kelsey came into the shelter asking if the Red Cross would allow a couple and their dog to stay. She cried tears of relief when she learned that the shelter accepted animals. Kelsey and the couple had visited three other shelters and were turned away at each.

“This dog saved her life, and she won't leave him behind," said Kelsey.

The shelter workers gathered around the couple to learn their story. Mark and Sharon Taylor were Army veterans who have known each other for decades. Kelsey asked Mark why he decided to marry Sharon the day before the tornado.

"I have loved this woman for 45 years, and I wanted to spend what time I have left showing her how much I love her," said Mark.

The couple said they were the happiest they had ever been the week of the tornado. They had just bought the first new car either of them had ever owned, and they had just become husband and wife.

On Friday afternoon, Sharon was upstairs in their apartment taking a nap with the couple's four-year-old Pitbull named Butch, and Mark was watching tv downstairs. Mark couldn't make it upstairs when the sirens started going off, so he took cover downstairs. Sharon said all she remembers was Butch jumping on top of her when the roof caved in. Mark said he couldn't believe what he saw when he could finally run upstairs to his bride.

"The roof had collapsed on top of Sharon, but Butch saved her life,” “Butch had covered Sharon with his body, and he was standing over her holding the weight of our entire roof on his back".

Mark got them both out from under the ruble. They spent Friday night in the emergency room, where Sharon had medical attention for injuries she sustained from the debris.

The couple said they didn't know where to go after being released from the hospital because they had Butch. They spent a cold Saturday night in what was left of their apartment. On Sunday morning, Kelsey and Nate were driving around Little Rock, helping those in need, when they spotted Sharon outside with blankets on. Once Kelsey and Nate learned that the couple had spent the night in the rubble of their apartment, they jumped into action.

Sharon said,

"Within ten minutes, those two angels had an entire track team at my home helping me go through our belongings and box up what we could save," said Sharon.

After talking to Kelsey, the couple agreed it wasn't safe to stay in the apartment any longer. Kelsey loaded Sharon and Butch into her vehicle and set out in search of a shelter. Mark gathered their belongings with Nate and the University of Arkansas Little Rock track team.

When the couple was finally together again that evening in the shelter, Mark said he could finally take a breath.

"I know Sharon and Butch are going to be okay now. The Red Cross will take care of us".