Garry Holveck had to see it for himself—the remnants of his childhood home, and the only house his father has ever known, destroyed by an explosion early Friday morning.
“You wouldn’t expect them to survive that. It was just God’s hand was on them, is all we can say,” said Holveck.
Since the explosion at his parents’ home on Ike Road in Waxahachie at 2 a.m. on Friday, Holveck has been by their hospital beds. His father, Danny, is recovering from burns covering 40% of his body, along with broken shoulder blades and fractures throughout his back. His mother, Debbie, underwent surgery after suffering a mild heart attack triggered by the blast.
“Considering what happened, it’s just a complete miracle. There’s no other explanation for it,” Holveck remarked.
On Saturday, the Ellis County fire marshal stated that the explosion seemed to have been caused by propane used in the home, although the exact cause is still under investigation.
Holveck said his father was operating an electric recliner in the living room, which appears to be the epicenter of the explosion, while his mother was in another room. Neighbors helped rescue Danny from the debris, and Debbie was already standing by the time first responders arrived. Both parents remain hospitalized with a long road to recovery ahead.
“We’re just going to take it day by day and figure it out as we go, leaning on our family and friends, and pray about it,” said Garry’s wife, Mashelle Holveck.
The house had been in Danny’s family since before he was born. It was moved to Waxahachie from Cedar Hill when Joe Pool Lake was built. Now, its history, along with many family memories, has been lost.
“I don’t think until they get to where they can go see it, it’s going to sink in,” Holveck said.
At the end of the day, the couple emphasized that material belongings can be replaced. They are grateful for the neighbors who helped and, most importantly, that Danny and Debbie are still alive.
A fundraiser to support Danny and Debbie can be found here.
