Anastasia Cunningham, News Coordinator

Shanelle Plummer is counting her blessings tonight after the dwelling she shares with her two children, boyfriend and four other persons was spared from disaster.

Two trees in the yard, a mango tree and an even bigger breadfruit tree, both came tumbling down due to Hurricane Sandy's strong winds.

"I was fretting," she admitted. "I was standing up on another veranda and just watching them," she said.

Plummer, who lives on Dennis Avenue in Gregory Park, Portmore, said they left the house because the breadfruit tree had started to sway menacingly.

"This is the first I've ever seen this. It was going on bad," she laughed. "The last hurricane we had, not even a piece came off of it."

The mango tree was the first to go, falling to the left of the dwelling. And then sometime after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, the bresheh tree could hold no more.

"I couldn't believe both of them miss the house," she said. "Is just a blessing."

Her neighbour, Nee Campbell, said they all feared the worst when it was obvious the trees were coming down.

"I saw the breadfruit tree sway and then, it was like a cushioning hand just brought it down beside the house," she said. "I said, 'Jesus, remember there are children in that house'. It's a wonder of God."

Meanwhile, Angela Forbes wasn't lucky enough to save her home, but she is equally glad to be alive. Forbes, who lives in Clifton, close to Bernard Lodge, said she was inside when she heard neighbours calling out to her.

"I heard them calling out about the tree, so I ran out. Not even 10 minutes later, it came down," she said. "Storm come before and nuh touch mi, Ivan, all a dem. But dis one lik me!"

Forbes, who sells small items like slippers and merinos, said most of her goods are damaged.

"Mi haffi run out lef dem. My life is more important. Material things can replace."