Tragic Loss of a Young Girl During a Storm

A nine-year-old girl, celebrated as a resilient “miracle baby” who overcame two collapsed lungs at birth, died after being struck by a falling tree during a severe thunderstorm in Wisconsin. Her mother described her as a lively and energetic child who loved dancing, softball, and video games.

While outside her Green Bay home around 3:30 p.m., Rose Elizabeth Hendricks was hit by a neighbor’s tree that had toppled in the storm. She was trapped underneath the debris for nearly ten minutes until neighbors assisted and firefighters used a car jack to extricate her. Despite efforts to save her, she succumbed to extensive injuries, including brain trauma, skull fractures, and damage to her heart and lungs.

Her mother, Jayme Denamur, recalled her daughter’s fight to live, stating, “She was very strong. She fought until she couldn’t anymore.” She added that Rose had defied doctors’ predictions, surviving far longer than expected after her difficult birth.

The incident occurred after the family had returned home from errands amid the storm. Rose’s brother, who narrowly avoided being hit, is now coping with the tragic loss. “It’s so hard on us,” Denamur shared, noting her son’s anguish and recent pleas for his sister’s return.

The family has kept a piece of the fallen tree as a keepsake and has started a fundraiser to help cover funeral costs, which has already garnered nearly $17,500 in donations.