Paul and Gail Cline refused to let go of each other — not even when a tornado ripped through their Kentucky home and tore their arms away.
Now, the couple in their 60s lies side by side in a hospital bed, clinging to life. Their story is both devastating and deeply courageous — a testament to love and survival in the face of unimaginable force.
Last Friday, a powerful tornado swept through Laurel County, Kentucky, leaving behind a trail of destruction that flattened homes and shattered lives. The devastation shook the community to its core, but in the wake of disaster, hope emerged. First responders, volunteers, and even high school students have rallied together to help pick up the pieces.
For Paul and Gail, the storm brought more than physical ruin — it became a fight for their very lives.
“I see an arm down the hallway.”
As the winds roared outside, Paul and Gail held one another tightly in their bedroom. Then the tornado struck. According to their nieces, Taylor Baker and Brandy Bowman, the sheer force of the storm was so intense it tore off each of their opposite arms — even as they were still clutching each other.
“She said, ‘I need help. I see an arm down the hallway,’” Brandy Bowman recalled in an emotional interview with LEX18.
What she saw was devastating — the shredded remains of Gail’s arm, torn from her body by the violent force of the tornado.
Doctors later explained that Paul and Gail had lost opposite arms because they had been holding on to each other so tightly — their final, desperate act of love as the storm tore their world apart.
A neighbor, hearing the screams, raced through the wreckage to find the couple. Risking their own safety, they managed to pull Paul and Gail from the rubble — barely alive.
Clinging to Life: Gail on Life Support, Paul in Shock
Paul has begun to show faint signs of recovery, but Gail’s condition is far more dire. According to WRTV, she was placed in a medically induced coma and remains on life support.
In addition to the loss of her arm, the storm left her with multiple broken ribs, and shards of flying debris punctured both of her lungs. Her fight for survival is still unfolding, hour by hour.
He Still Doesn’t Understand
Paul, who suffers from dementia, doesn’t fully comprehend the horror they lived through.
“My uncle still doesn’t understand what happened,” said their niece, Taylor Baker. “All I can’t get out of my head is just how terrified they both must have been. I can’t imagine the fear going through their minds in those moments.”
Still, she finds strength in who they are at their core.
“But there’s one thing about them — they are godly people,” she said, her voice full of emotion. “They’ve always leaned on their faith.”
Generations of Memories — Reduced to Rubble
The home that once cradled decades of family history now lies in pieces — a jagged skeleton of broken glass, shredded insulation, and splintered wood. The house had been in their family for generations, filled with memories that weathered every storm — until this one.
And yet, amid the devastation, some things were untouched — haunting reminders of the life that once was. A robe, still hanging in the bedroom. A quiet, chilling witness to the chaos that tore through.
“They were in this bedroom,” said Brandy Bowman, pointing to what little remains. “You can see where stuff just came crashing through. This is where they were when the tornado hit. The neighbor heard them screaming for help — he didn’t hesitate. He pulled them out, right there into the hallway.”
A Loyal Dog, Still WaitingEven their 12-year-old dog, Sadie, was swept up in the chaos. She vanished during the storm, her fate uncertain — until she was found days later, nestled in what little remained of the Clines’ bedroom.Amid the wreckage, Sadie waited — loyal, patient, and undeterred — as if holding vigil for the family she loves.
“We Played in All These Houses”For Taylor Baker and Brandy Bowman, the destruction is more than just physical — it’s personal.“We grew up being babysat by our Ma Maw in this house,” they said. “We played in all of these houses, had dinner in all of these houses. It’s hard.”The house was more than four walls — it was a sanctuary, a thread that stitched generations together. Now, it’s gone.Looking Ahead: Rebuilding a LifeThough they mourn what’s been lost, Baker and Bowman are turning their grief into action. Their focus is now on helping Paul and Gail rebuild — physically, emotionally, and spiritually.Both of the couple’s cars were destroyed in the storm, and the journey ahead will be long and expensive. But with the community behind them and the strength of their bond unbroken, there’s hope.“We’re going to do everything we can,” they said. “They held on to each other through the storm — and now we’ll hold on to them.”
A Family Holding On — and Reaching OutTo help with the overwhelming cost of hospital bills, future prosthetics, and housing once Paul and Gail are strong enough to leave the hospital, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign.The road ahead is daunting — but their loved ones believe in their strength.“If there’s one thing we know,” said Taylor Baker, “it’s that they’re strong enough to support each other through this — just like they did when the storm hit.”A State in MourningPaul and Gail’s story is just one of many from a day that forever changed southeastern Kentucky.At least 19 people lost their lives when violent tornadoes swept through Pulaski and Laurel counties last Friday, leaving a trail of heartbreak and ruin.“We have lost 19 people to this weather event — each one a child of God who will be missed by their families,” said Governor Andy Beshear in a solemn address. “Please keep praying for them, for the 10 individuals being treated at UK Hospital, and for everyone affected by these storms.”Love EnduresIn the face of destruction, Paul and Gail Cline held on — to each other, to life, and to love.
Now, as they fight to recover, their family, friends, and community are holding on to them.Because even in the aftermath of the storm, one truth remains unshaken:
Love endures.
