By JEREMY STEVENS

Staff Writer

Tragedy struck on Monday after an icy tree branch fell on Michelle Watson at her home in Ninnekah.

Watson, who works as a custodian at Southern Oaks Church of Christ in Chickasha, was left paralyzed from the chest down and will be unable to walk for the rest of her life.

She had gone to help her father, Dale Pope, carry water to a neighbor on Dec. 10. A tree limb, heavy with ice from the storm, fell and struck her on the back of the neck, seriously injuring her spine and crushing the bones around it. Surgery has been performed and steel plates were inserted to hold it in place.

“It has been an emotional time for me since the accident because she is such a good friend to me,” said Richard Hoover, a member of Southern Oaks who is also Watson’s neighbor.

Hoover was present when the accident occurred and along with Watson’s father helped lift the branch off of her.

“It has impacted me because I still visualize the scene over and over in my head,” said Hoover.

Watson has worked at Southern Oaks as their custodian the past five years and has also helped with the prison ministry in her time there.

Steven Parker, Pulpit Minister at Southern Oaks, spoke of how much she has meant to the congregation the past few years.

“To say that she works as maintenance or custodial would be unfair because there is nothing that goes on at this church that she doesn’t have a part in. She takes care of this place as if it were her home,” said Parker. “There really is no way to describe the role that she plays in this congregation because she touches everybody.”

This has not been the first time Watson has fallen on hard times though. A few years back she had to have bypass surgery on the arteries in her arm after losing all feeling and strength in it.

She has also had to watch as her father has battled cancer and heart problems .

“That family has been through so much,” said Parker. “I think everyone’s first response when they heard the news was why her, why this family again.”

Because of all this, Parker has no doubts that Watson will be a stronger person.