An 8-year-old Tennessee boy climbed to the top of a shed and prayed to God after floodwaters destroyed his home and swept his mother away. At the time, the brave boy shared his story with stitches on his face.
The Incident
The devastating flooding occurred on August 21, 2021, in Waverly, Tennessee.
Madden Sanders spoke about the day the flooding happened:
“I went into the living room and told my mom that the water was covering the road, so she told me to pack my bags and everything that I need.”
As the waters entered his Waverly home, the house lifted off its base and began floating away.
“Then I looked because I felt something and we were moving,” said Madden’s mother, Elizabeth Sanders. “Then I heard the house. It felt like it was collapsing in, everything was coming toward us.”
Elizabeth quickly grabbed a floating toy, just big enough to put Madden on. The Sanders’ home was carried by the floodwaters and left a block away from its original location.
“We floated out. She pushed me out too far and she went under and then I went under and then I hit the house two times,” said Madden.
Elizabeth recalled, “That was the last time I saw him and all I could hear him screaming was, ‘Mommy’ at me.” The waters tore them apart, dragging Elizabeth nearly a mile away.
It must have been a terrifying moment for Madden, seeing his mother separated from him. But God was working behind the scenes to reunite them once again.
“My mama washed away and then I found this shed and I was holding on to it and then I got an idea and I climbed on top of the shed,” said Madden. He waited on the shed alone.
As time passed, Madden began to pray:
“I said please God, don’t let me die,” said Madden. “I want to live a really good life.”
Madden stayed on top of the roof of the collapsed shed, seeking refuge for hours before he was rescued. Friends and family were searching for him, including his uncle, who tragically wouldn’t survive the search.
“I thought for sure my baby was just gone, I thought that was it,” said Elizabeth.
After a grueling four hours, Madden was rescued. Videos captured by bystanders show Madden putting on a life vest as he was pulled to safety by Waverly resident Mark Bohanon.
Elizabeth believes it was a miracle.
“I don’t know what God has planned for my boy, but I’m ready to see it,” said Elizabeth. “I know he’s got big plans for him.”
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