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Baby born right after McMinn Co. tornado celebrates 1st birthday

Ava Moore was born during an emergency C-section the night of the McMinn County tornado.

Celebrating a child’s first birthday is a milestone for any family. For Amber Newman, who survived a tornado and then delivered her daughter hours later, Saturday was extra special.

The night of November 30, 2016, an EF-2 tornado ripped through McMinn County. The 130-mile-per hour winds destroyed many homes, including the Newman’s. The tornado threw them more than 300 feet from their home.

"We were all at different hospitals. Ava's birth was a whirlwind. Everything happened so fast," April Newman, Amber’s mom said.

Amber Newman had an emergency C-section, bringing baby Ava Moore into this world.

On Saturday, dozens of the Newman’s closest friends and family members gathered to celebrate Ava’s birthday.

“She's such a blessing. I honestly don't know where we would be without her," Amber said.

The family said they are still struggling with anxiety, especially when other storms rumble through. They have cleared the area where their home once stood, but they’re not sure when they’ll be able to rebuild. In the meantime, they are renting a house down the street.

"We've come a long way since last year," April said, "Ava keeps our mind busy so we're not thinking of the bad, but the good."

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