Hero teacher protects pupils during a tornadao, and receives unexpected news not long after

Karen Marinelli was teaching first-grade when a tornado hit the town and went right through the school. 

Karen, who was at Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma, instinctively protected three of her pupils – six-year-old Liam, Damian, and Dacari – by using her body to shield them from falling debris.  

Bravely, the mum-of-five managed to keep them safe even after a 2,000 pound car fell on top of her, breaking her back and trapping them underneath.

Thankfully, the children were unharmed, but Karen suffered a broken back, fractured vertebrae and various other injuries.

In a bid to thank her for saving their kids' lives, the parents of Liam, Damian and Dacari asked the community to send her relief packages – one of which contained nappies and clothes for a baby girl.

However, Karen, who already had four boys, was not pregnant – and had no intention of having any more.

But then she had an ultrasound… and discovered that she WAS in fact expecting – and it was a little girl.

Karen named her daughter, who was born on May 8th 2014 (almost a year to the day since the tornado hit), Lily which means return to happiness.