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Doctors say it’s a miracle 7-year-old girl struck by lightning survived

DECATUR COUNTY (WISH) — A 7-year-old girl from Decatur County continues to recover after she was struck by lightning in southern Indiana.

It happened outside of her grandmother’s home on July 26 in Decatur County.

The family of Madison Davis said she’s making progress day by day. Her grandmother thought she lost her that morning when she couldn’t find a pulse.

Doctors told the family it’s a miracle that she survived.

“She wants to get out of the bed and she’s been squeezing on command,” said Rebecca Davis, grandmother.

Madison is still recovering at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health.

“She’s confused and doesn’t know what’s going on and she can’t hold her head up yet or anything,” said Davis.

Davis said she’s still traumatized by what happened to her granddaughter.

“It’s just so heartbreaking because she just got out of cheerleading,” said Davis. “Just a strong healthy little girl, always has been.”

Davis said the two were getting into the car when she heard a crack of lightning. She looked over and saw Madison on the ground.

“I didn’t even notice the burns, then it was her eyes were rolled back and she was white,” said Davis.

Davis said she feared for the worst.

“When I carried her in I thought what I am doing she’s gone,” said Davis. “But it was God. Kept saying keep going, keep going.”

Davis didn’t give up despite not knowing how to perform CPR.

“I couldn’t find a pulse, I didn’t even know if I was doing it right,” she said. “There was no breathing, nothing. It was just they just kept saying do 30.”

She said dispatch told her what to do until firefighters arrived on scene.

“Next to God, she’s what I wake up for every morning, she’s what I wake up for,” she said.

Davis and her family have been relying on their faith as they watch Madison’s progress.

“My daughter Misty was talking to her and said I love you she said I love you back she said tell mamma I love her,” she said.

Doctors told the family Madison beat the odds.

“All the doctors say she’s a miracle child you know because anyone else they should be gone you know but by the glory of God she’s not,” she said.

Madison is still recovering in the burn unit. Her next step will be physical therapy.