Cat Who Survived Tenn. Tornado Saved from Debris After Rescuer Spots Pet 'Curled Up on a Pillow' (Exclusive)
Sandy the orange and white feline reunited with his family and is now recovering at home after having his vet bills covered by donations
Courtesy of Ricky Sessum
Sandy the cat curled up on pillow after surviving a tornado in Madison, TennesseeSandy the cat is back with his family after surviving a tornado thanks to sharp-eyed rescuers.
According to WKRN, one of the multiple tornadoes that ripped through Tennessee over Dec. 9 and 10 — extreme weather that killed at least six individuals — destroyed the orange and white cat's home in Madison while his family was away.
On Dec. 10, Erica Williams, a Good Samaritan who is "passionate about helping animals," was "scrolling through social media looking for areas that were affected by the tornado" and ways she could help people and pets impacted by the disasters, she tells PEOPLE.
"After tornado disasters, I seek out neighborhoods to bring water or food. I also help search for missing people and animals," Williams explains.
During her search, Williams found a video recently posted by her friend Ricky Sessum, who was assisting in relief and search and rescue efforts in Madison.
Sessum told PEOPLE in a statement that he posted the video on social media to "show the devastation" in an attempt "to gain more volunteer help in the area."
When Williams saw the video, she noticed something out of place amongst the debris in Sessum's clip.
"I noticed what looked like an animal curled up on a pillow. I took a screenshot of his video and zoomed in. Sure enough, it was a kitty curled up on a pillow in the rubble," Williams recalls of what she saw in Sessum's video. "I frantically started messaging him on every social media outlet and texting him in hopes he was still there."
Courtesy of Ricky Sessum
Sandy the cat curled up on pillow after surviving a tornado in Madison, TennesseeThankfully, Sessum was still in the area and received Williams' messages. After seeing her notes about the cat, he returned to where he filmed the video "and found Sandy half buried in rubble."
Sessum told Williams he had the cat and moved the feline into his truck to keep the pet warm.
"I dropped everything I was doing right then and headed to go get the cat and get him to a vet. I love animals and could never know an animal might be hurting or needing help and sit by and do nothing," Williams says of how she reacted to Sessum's news.
Courtesy of Ricky Sessum
Sandy the cat with Ricky Sessum"When I got to the site, Sandy was curled up in a ball in Ricky's truck. He wasn't moving at the time and had shallow breathing. I put some food in front of his nose, and that perked him up some," she adds.
After taking the cat from Sessum, Williams says she "loved on" the feline for a few moments before driving him to Livewell Animal Urgent Care to see a vet.
While Williams took the cat for medical treatment, Sessum posted about the feline on lost and missing pet social media sites for the area. It didn't take long for Sandy's owner, Abi, to identify her pet. Sessum put her in touch with Williams, who verified Abi was Sandy's owner and then told the pet parent that Sandy was stable and receiving care at the animal hospital.
Thanks to Williams and Sessum's quick thinking, Abi reunited with Sandy at Livewell Animal Urgent Care. Sandy received treatment at the animal hospital for several health issues but is now "back with her family," according to Williams.
Williams adds that Livewell Animal Urgent Care covered the cost of Sandy's x-rays, and she helped raise money to cover the rest of the cat's medical expenses. Williams also helped gather supply donations for Sandy's family, who lost their home to the tornado that spared their pet.
Courtesy of Erica Williams
Sandy the cat at the vet after his rescue following a tornado in Madison, Tennessee"I couldn't imagine one of my babies out in the rubble and cold, waiting for someone to find them," Williams, the pet parent to two cats, says of what inspired her to help, adding, "It was the right thing to do."
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
For animal lovers looking to help pets affected by tornadoes in Tennessee, Williams recommends donating to Nashville Humane and Livewell Animal Urgent Care, which has a fund to cover medical expenses for pets in need.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
