Newsmakers: Family survives explosion

Traverse City -- Lights glowed on a freshly cut Christmas tree in the corner of Matthew and Sarah Johnson's family room as their 1-year-old son tottered and played with toys.

It's a far cry from six months ago, when the young family lay shocked and injured amid the rubble of their new home.

The Johnsons were moving into a house in Leelanau County's Solon Township on a Saturday afternoon in June when the dwelling exploded, throwing Matthew, Sarah and their son Harrison in the air before crumbling on top of them.

"I thought I was going to die," said Matthew, 30. "My grandmother passed away a couple weeks before, and I thought, 'my family is going to have another funeral.'"

He also feared his wife and son wouldn't make it. They were somewhere beneath the debris, but he couldn't see them. All he heard was a weak whimper from Harrison.

Matthew called 911 from his cell phone and within a half-hour the three were freed and on their way to the hospital. Harrison got away with cuts and scrapes, Matthew shattered his heel, and Sarah sprained her foot and cut her head.

The Solon Township house, which was on Sarah's father's property, is now a lawn. The Johnsons lived for a while with family members and later moved back to their old house before finding a new place on South Rusch Road in Traverse City.

They've mostly recuperated from physical injuries, but the emotional damage has taken longer to mend.

Matthew was on crutches for nearly four months and still can't walk for long stretches. Harrison, who was eight months old at the time, emotionally reverted back to his newborn state and needed to be constantly held.

"He slowly got better and now he's right where he should be," Sarah said, adding his first words were "thank you."

Part of Sarah wants to forget what happened; she said Harrison is the luckiest because he won't remember. But her experience puts things in perspective.

"I need those reminders because I get caught up in the daily grind and it's important to remember everything you almost lost and God let you keep," Sarah said.

Matthew called the explosion a blessing in disguise. He's on medical leave from his job at the Cherry Growers' warehouse in Grawn, where most of the workers on his shift have since been laid off.

"It's interesting to see what God plans for you," he said. "If this hadn't happened, I probably would be laid off right now with no insurance."

He's grateful to have more time with his wife and son, and he's become more involved in church.

"The biggest thing is we're all OK," Sarah said, looking at her family in their new home. "Having some place to start over was the best thing."

Photos

Sarah and Matt Johnson and their son Harrison all survived a explosion that leveled their home. Record-Eagle

Only 8 months old at the time, Harrison Johnson survived with only cuts and scrapes when a propane leak caused his family's house to explode. Record-Eagle