MY 16 YEARS at The Herald-Whig are mostly a blur now. I walked past Fifth and Jersey last night and saw the lights on the third floor and thought, "Geesh. Did I really quit more than eight years ago?" You blink and it's just a fading memory.
Every now and then you hear or see something, maybe an anniversary of an event, and it triggers memories. Since I wrote about crime and courts, not all memories are pleasant. But most are, including this one prompted by this Facebook video from the Ruxlow family to the Quincy Fire Department Engine No. 5 staff.
Almost 10 years ago, little Kendalyn Ruxlow was run over by a vehicle on the family driveway. What happened next was due to quick response from Quincy fire, ambulance and police crews. She was whisked away by ambulance and some say it's a miracle she lived or didn't have more serious injuries.
When it first happened we had a very short story in the paper. But I was curious and I kept hearing more about it. I wondered, what do the parents think? What actually happened? I managed to track them down, and at first they didn't want to talk.
For some reason, they finally relented and I met them at the old TGIF restaurant. I recall little about the interview or the story itself, and unfortunately you can't access the Whig archives and find my columns unless you subscribe.
They were very nervous at the time and I couldn't blame them. I assured them it would be fine. Turns out it was a very good column, solely because of the subject matter.
I've run into the Ruxlows a few times since and they have always been gracious and thankful for the column, and for getting through the entire experience. I actually said hello to Kendalyn a few months ago in the store, and it's hard to believe that was 10 years ago.
The Ruxlows presented a beautiful plaque for the Engine No. 5 firehouse. It expresses their gratitude to the fast response and quick thinking of the firefighters and first responders who were there moments after the call.
As Kai Ruxlow, the father, says in the video, it was the worst of days but it turned out to be one of the best. We've all blinked and it is 10 years later. What a great gesture from the Ruxlows, and well-deserved for Engine No. 5.
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