NASHVILLE, Tenn.
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A 3-year-old stayed low to the ground, covered his head and managed to survive a west Nashville duplex fire that left five others dead on a cold January morning.
Two of Tedarrel Brooks Jr.'s sisters died in the flames, and his mother and father were also killed. Mom Stephanie was discovered at a door clutching Alexis and Tedarrica in her arms. A family friend also died.
A sister, Jasmine, survived after being thrown from the window by her dad.
Michael True is raising his brother's two surviving children. Jasmine, 7, didn't get a scratch on her and is back in school. But her 3-year-old brother inhaled a lot of smoke. He spent the past month recovering at a hospital in Atlanta and is now home.
"They said he wasn't supposed to walk. He wasn't supposed to talk. He was supposed to basically be a vegetable," True said.
Not only is Tedarrel walking and talking, but he's also roller skating.
When firefighters found the boy, he was terrified and trembling underneath his bed. His father was inches away with outstretched arms. Firefighters believe the child survived because he was low enough to ground to avoid much of the fire's toxic fumes.
"They said what saved him was he had his blanket with him and covered up with his blanket," said True.
But his uncle said what smoke Tedarrel did take in harmed him. His motor skills are off, and he needs speech therapy.
"It's been hard, but we've been blessed," said True.
Tedarrel's uncle said if the boy is asked who combed his hair today, he answers, "My mother did it."
A fund has been set up to help the Brooks family. Donations can be made at any US Bank.
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