UPDATE - Your generosity and support means the world to Michael's whole family! From the donations, to the shares, to the people sending him Arrowheads, your kindness means so much! Please continue to share and donate if you can; these contributions are helping more than you know - not just financially, but it's healing to the soul to know that so many care! From the bottom of our hearts.........

The 4th of July should have been a day for celebrating our great nation, but unfortunately, our family was woken early in the morning with devastating news. The oldest grandchild, my sister's oldest child and only son, our oldest nephew, Michael Luttrell... had lost his home, his car, and all of his belongings. Michael was unfortunately a victim of the devastating flood in Kerr County.

Michael was one of approximately 112 people camping at HTR (this is the number we have heard). From what we know, he is one of maybe 3 who was able to get out.

They found the mat and mangled metal which may well have been his RV. His sister told us that while they visited the area Sunday, they were able to see the distance Michael had to travel to get out and it was actually a long way and steep at the end. She was amazed at the strength it had to have taken him to get himself and Apollo that distance. He was only one of very few people who made his own way out of HTR campgrounds in Ingram. They have so many missing just from his campground alone.

The simplified version: Apollo woke him up while it was pitch black outside (Michael is normally a heavy sleeper), then Michael heard what sounded like a young 30ish man down inside his camper telling him to get out (no words, but GOD). There was water in his camper and it had already started to move. He threw on a bright yellow shirt to make it easier to be seen, put Apollo’s leash on, and headed out, pushing Apollo in front of him the whole time, trying to make his way to higher ground. He managed to reach some other building where there was a father/daughter who threw a rope down to him. My understanding is they had to break windows to get the three of them out of there. Thank God for their timing. Logan stated the area he would have had to make his way up, with the water and the mud, was actually pretty steep. Not sure how he managed to get himself and Apollo up there. There were flipped RVs, people screaming for help, debris... A car passed right beside him… He does have some lacerations, a cut under his eye and a gash on his leg. He’s a little banged up, but he’s here!

The strength that it took him to do this, the smarts, the determination to live, it amazes me. I can’t imagine what he went through. The emotion, the fear… it hurts my heart to think about it. I look at him and still remember that he’s the one who made me realize as a newly 12-year-old aunt, that I loved babies. He’s the first one I ever held. Our family is so beyond thankful. I’m amazed at Michael and I know God’s hand is all over his survival.

Another minute and we’d be one of the people searching, praying, crying. My sister’s first baby, the one who made us all aunts and uncles, the first grandchild in our family… we nearly lost him. I still can’t believe this really happened.

My heart hurts so much for all of the missing people out there and their families who are either mourning or still wondering the fate of their loved ones. That was nearly us.

Michael is having to replace everything. He came out of his camper with the clothes on his back and his baby, Apollo. His parents are trying to help replace what they can - new car, clothes, hopefully soon his home, everything.

In an effort to take some financial strain and worry off of all of them, we'd love to be able to help raise funds for them. If you can help in any way, donating, sharing this post, it would be greatly appreciated and mean more than you would know. Please help us help Michael! No amount is too small!

Please pray for the other victims - the ones who got out, the ones who didn't, the ones who have yet to be found and for their families who are mourning. Please pray for their peace and join us in thanking our God who truly had Michael Friday morning!

For those who may not know, I am Michael's aunt, his mother's youngest sister and I am trying my best to help them and Michael replace everything he has lost. I live in the neighboring town of Fredericksburg Texas, so we've seen firsthand the devastation. Michael's mother, Carla, has a savings account at her bank where the funds will be saved for him to use to replace everything.

Thank you for helping us!