Shawnee’s Northside Veterinary Hospital Recovers From April 2023 Tornado

The Shawnee community still feels the consequences of the tornado from April 2023. However, there are signs of recovery. A pair of business owners rebuilt from the ground up. 

At Shawnee’s Northside Veterinary Hospital, Tracy Trussell and Natalie Keith help animals feel better. 

“We wanted to fill a niche in the community,” Keith said.  

Lately, Trussell and Keith's team have experienced a lot of healing themselves. “There’s still hurt – but it’s coming back,” Trussell said. 

They remember April 19th, 2023 -- the night they lost their old building. “It was crazy,” Trussell said. “It’s gone.” 

They won’t forget that day. The night a tornado changed many lives. “We’re gonna have to start over,” Keith said. 

Keith remembers the morning the morning after the tornado hit. She said it still feels like yesterday – the wound remains fresh. “That’s when it hit me, I think,” Keith said. “It’s funny how trauma works like that. it just comes in waves.” 

Keith and Trussell may have owned this business, but the building owned their hearts. “It was our home,” Keith said. “We didn’t know it was gonna be gone and then it was.” 

The community provided a remedy as they began to salvage what was left. Their neighbors and clients offered their love and support. “Somebody brought us lunch every day. Nobody asked -- they just brought it,” Trussell said. “Makes you feel like you mean something to some people. You’re not doing this on your own." 

Keith has a word to describe the new space they opened a few weeks ago. “Gratitude,” Keith said. 

A new facility where they care for members of people’s families -- a place where everyone feels a whole lot better. “Just be patient it will all work out,” Trussell said. 

Keith and Trussell said many other businesses are still dealing with insurance paperwork. It takes years to recover, and they said they’re grateful to be in this position.