From miracle boy to father of five: Steven Weersing’s story of survival, legacy, and love

Steven Weersing was just 16 years old when an EF5 tornado tore through his hometown of Joplin, Missouri, nearly taking his life. Now, more than a decade later, he is the father of four—with another child on the way—and his journey from near-death to devoted dad is a powerful story of resilience, gratitude, and the enduring lessons passed from father to son.

A miracle in the storm

In May 2011, Steven Weersing became known as the “miracle boy” after surviving the catastrophic Joplin tornado, one of the deadliest in U.S. history. At just 16 years old, he was sucked out of a car and into the storm’s path. But surviving the twister was only the beginning. In its aftermath, Steven contracted a rare and potentially fatal fungal infection called zygomycosis—one of only 12 known cases tied to the disaster.

His father, David Weersing, stayed by his side through it all. Even when Steven lay in a coma, David remained constant. “He was literally with me every day,” Steven says. Thanks to the Ronald McDonald House, David had a place to stay while Steven recovered. But after meeting other families in need, David gave up his own room and instead lived with Steven in his hospital room—with no money, no phone, just pure devotion.

A father’s legacy

Though father and son often clashed, Steven never doubted David’s love. “We always butted heads, but we were still best friends,” he says. That deep, sometimes tough love became a template for Steven’s own journey into fatherhood.

David, who died in 2021 from stage 4 lung and bone cancer, left a lasting imprint. “He was very hard on me,” Steven recalls. “But he always said it was a life lesson he was trying to teach me.” Watching his father give everything without complaint taught Steven what being a dad truly means: showing up, no matter the cost.

David’s battle with cancer lasted seven years—far beyond the six-month prognosis doctors gave him. That determination became another lesson. “You just never give up,” Steven says.

Becoming a dad, fast and fearless

Two years after the tornado, on May 23, 2013—just one day after the twister’s anniversary—Steven became a father himself. He was only 17. “I adapted fast,” he says. “I just enjoyed the hell out of it.” Now 30, Steven is a father of four, with a fifth child on the way. He credits his dad for showing him how to lead with both strength and softness. “Just always be there for your kids, no matter what they do,” he says. It’s a philosophy he lives daily, trying to be present and involved in every aspect of his children’s lives.

Fame, fatherhood, and finding purpose

Steven’s extraordinary story is featured in the Netflix documentary The Twister: Caught in the Storm, released in March 2025. His kids were fascinated—and deeply moved—by the film. “They used to Google me all the time,” Steven says with a laugh. “My oldest daughter has asked me a million questions about the tornado since she was a kid.”

The emotional weight of the documentary hit each child differently. “My youngest daughter was crying, trying to hide it,” Steven recalls. “My son wasn’t really into it. But my oldest? She was like, ‘I am very touched by that.’” Her reaction was no joke—she meant it, and the film helped her understand parts of her dad’s past that he had never fully shared.

The story resonated beyond the family, too. Steven got a call from his daughter’s school shortly after the documentary premiered. “Four teachers and a bunch of kids were like, ‘I know you! I saw you!’” he says. “They were like, ‘Your dad’s the tornado guy!’”

What the storm taught him

Fourteen years after the Joplin tornado changed everything, Steven Weersing carries with him a powerful sense of perspective. The trauma, the recovery, and the loss of his father taught him what truly matters.

“You really see who’s there for you,” he reflects. “I’ve always appreciated my family since I was a little kid. If you have family, they’ll be there every day.” That awareness, combined with hard-won gratitude, fuels his approach to life. “Never give up. Just keep fighting,” he says. “We only have one life, and we need to live it. Stop dwelling on everything. Just forgive and forget.” What began as a tragedy has become a generational triumph—one rooted in presence, resilience, and love. Steven Weersing, once the miracle boy of Joplin, is now the dad who shows up, just like his father once did.