Ep. 25: Down in a Hole
In October 1987, the world held its breath when 18-month-old toddler Jessica McClure, known to millions as Baby Jessica, fell 22 feet down a narrow well in a backyard in Midland, Texas. What followed was a tense 58-hour rescue that captured the attention of the entire country. Television crews gathered outside the site while engineers, oil field workers, and rescuers worked around the clock. Across the nation, people watched and waited, hoping the small voice coming from deep underground would be heard safely above ground again.
In this episode of Medicine, Mystery, Mayhem & Murder, Andrea and Crystal walk through the extraordinary rescue operation step by step. They explore how responders worked through dangerous conditions, the medical concerns surrounding a trapped toddler, and the emotional toll on everyone involved. It became one of the first live breaking news events that truly united viewers across the country in real time.
The story also opens the door to a broader discussion about dramatic rescues that captured global attention. From Baby Jessica’s ordeal to the incredible survival and rescue of the trapped miners during the 2010 Copiapó mining accident in Chile, these moments remind us how determination, engineering, and human compassion can converge when every second matters.
Join Andrea and Crystal as they revisit the rescue that kept the world watching and proved that sometimes hope can reach even the deepest places.
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Welcome to M4 Medicine, mystery,
mayhem, and sometimes murder.
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I'm Andrea Marciano and RN with
35 years of experience across
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various fields.
From direct patient care in
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hospitals to home health,
geriatrics, and injury medicine,
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I face life, death, and
everything in between.
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And I'm Crystal Miller and RN
with 13 1/2 years of experience.
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My work spans home health,
Hospice, emergency care,
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geriatrics, and occupational
health.
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From the chaos of trauma based
quiet moments with patients,
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I've seen stories that defy
explanations.
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We've been friends for over 25
years and as nurses we've shared
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countless stories that have left
us and our families speechless.
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Now we're bringing those stories
and many more to you in
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medicine, mystery, mayhem, and
sometimes murder.
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Each week, we'll uncover cases
that challenge the boundaries of
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medicine, sharing the human
stories behind the science.
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From puzzling medical mysteries
to shocking real life crimes,
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we'll bring you stories that'll
leave you questioning everything
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you thought you knew while.
We're both experiencing these
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nurses.
We want to make it clear we're
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not here to give medical advice.
This podcast is about
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storytelling, education and
exploration, not diagnosing or
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treating medical conditions.
This is medicine, mystery,
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mayhem and sometimes murder.
Let's dive in.
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Hey Crystal, how are you doing?
I'm doing pretty well.
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How are you?
I'm very well, thank you.
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I'm enjoying the beginning of
spring, starting to plant my
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garden, and watching my garden
grow.
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Speaking of spring, I've got
baby bunnies in a nest in my
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front yard, in my front garden
actually, and I'm so worried
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about them because it's been
raining really bad.
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There's been flooding all around
me.
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We didn't have any flooding but
we definitely had some heavy
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rain and some standing water for
a while.
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And I'm so nervous that they
didn't survive it.
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And I have no way to check
because if I disturb their nest
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then their mother will probably
abandoned them and I'm so
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worried about it.
That's the worst we had.
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I looked in the back of our
cabin, we have a gazebo and I
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saw a cute little nest that a
bird had built in the top.
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It was clearly empty.
It they all flew off already.
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And we've got some little baby
geese.
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I mean, excuse me, duck, ducks
in our pond.
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I said geese for some reason.
But ducks.
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We have some little chicks and
some of them have succumbed to
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the chicken in the sky, but we
have some that are surviving.
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Yeah, it's funny how how spring
really is like baby animal time.
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This is the first time I've ever
had any baby animals in my yard.
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We also found, well, Lula, my
cat found a toad in my house the
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other day, so that was
interesting.
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Yeah, just a little, but he's a
chocolate chip cookie standard,
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like chocolate chip cookie.
That's fine.
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Did she bring the frog in?
That no, she doesn't go outside.
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So she just, she just cornered
it for us.
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She hadn't heard it though.
She just cornered it for us and
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she was able to grab it and
release it.
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That's hilarious.
She probably had no idea what
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that thing was.
We have a bunch of a bunch of
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toads in the back.
I hear them singing all the time
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and sometimes they stay, but
usually they migrate.
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There's across the street from
us.
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There's a retention pond that
doesn't get any action.
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Ours gets very little, but it's
still sometimes they just, they
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come out of the Creek and they
go across the street to the
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pond.
I don't know why they don't just
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stay in our pond because it's a
lot friendlier, but they don't.
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So.
Anyway, well, good.
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So what do you have for us
today?
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Today I wanted to tell the
story.
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This is probably a pretty
familiar story to a lot of our
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listeners.
It may not be as familiar as to
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younger generations necessarily,
but I want to talk today about
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Baby Jessica or the baby in the
well.
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Let me tell you what my sources
are really quickly.
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I'm scrolling down to it.
My apologies.
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I used the an article from Texas
Monthly called Jessica Mcclure's
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Well of Hope, a story from the
Smithsonian Magazine called The
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Story of Baby Jessica. 30 years
later a story from People
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magazine The Rescue of Baby
Jessica New York Times after
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baby Jessica a life spent
struggling the Today show an
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interview of Jessica McClure
Jessica McClure before the
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headlines, before the cameras,
before she became America's baby
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Jessica she was just.
Jessica McClure, a curious 18
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month old girl from Midland, TX,
a little girl who loves singing
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nursery rhymes, exploring
backyards, and making her
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teenage parents laugh.
I want to make sure that our
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listeners understand that we
want to give, we want to make
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sure that we keep our, I think
we've said this before, but we
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want to make sure that we keep
our stories humanized when, when
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there are human beings involved
and not, you know, relegate them
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to just statistics.
And so I do have a little bit of
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some back story about Jessica's
parents and kind of her first 18
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months of life.
Her mother, Sissy, was just 17
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when Jessica was born.
Her father, Chip, was barely 18.
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They were two young kids trying
to build a life in the middle of
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West, TX oil country.
They lived modestly, surrounded
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by extended family, love and the
kind of quiet hope that says
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maybe tomorrow will be better.
Jessica's world in October 1987
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was simple.
Her mom's daycare, her aunt's
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backyard, the wide Texas sky.
But then, in one moment, in a
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single blink of distracted time,
everything changed.
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So are you familiar with this
story?
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Oh my gosh, I remember living
through it and watching the news
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and just being so worried.
That was two years before my
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first child was born, and I
didn't know yet how quickly
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someone that age can move.
Just the moment of not paying
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attention.
And I remember how some of this
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played out.
It was very tense for everyone.
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So I was in college by then, and
it was just, yeah, I just
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remember watching it all the
time on the TV.
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It was one of the first things I
remember watching live.
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That's interesting you say that
because actually it was in the
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infancy of CNN, which was the
basically the original 24 hour
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news cycle television station.
And so CNN was was actually
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broadcasting it live 24/7.
Yeah, I remember that.
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Were you old enough to remember?
I mean, given the 10 years I was
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11.
Yeah, but do you remember it?
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Yeah, absolutely.
And I remember that.
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I just remember how dirty she
looked when she came out.
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And I was not prepared.
I was not prepared for that,
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which is so funny.
But I was 11, right?
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I was expecting just a baby to
come out.
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Yeah, not a.
Dirty, broken baby.
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Yeah, yeah.
It was very intense.
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It really was.
What were you just reading from?
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What was that source?
Do you remember?
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Oh, that's my own writing from
all the sources.
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Oh, OK, great.
I kind of write.
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I kind of writing to read man, I
got to use it.
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Yeah, you do.
Carry on, OK?
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On the morning of October 14th,
1987, Jessica was playing
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outside at her aunt's house,
where her mother, Sissy helped
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run a home daycare.
The backyard was dusty,
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cluttered with all toys, and
somewhere near a fence line, a
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forgotten relic and abandoned
well casing.
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Only 8 inches wide, just big
enough for a toddler's foot to
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slip inside.
So I wanted to give you a visual
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of what 8 inches wide is.
It's about the size of a dinner
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plate.
OK, The well had once been
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capped by a large rock or cement
piece, and a few days earlier
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someone had moved it, planning
to fix it later.
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And like so many dangers in
ordinary life, it was forgotten.
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It was one of those I'll get to
it situations with not a thought
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to any possibility of danger to
anyone.
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I mean, obviously the thought
had been there at some point
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because the rock was put there
or the cement block was put
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there.
But whoever moved it for
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whatever reason, they just, it
did not occur to them that the
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importance of putting it back.
And I want to emphasize also
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that this rock was absolutely
not removed out of malice or
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forethought of anything.
It was just as just a sad
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mistake.
When I if I remember correctly
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in the original story, they were
looking to reactivate this well.
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They were looking to see if it
was still a good well on the
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property.
I didn't hear.
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It's not, it was not actually a
water well.
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It was an old, an old oil
detecting well.
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That's not the right word, but I
believe I have it in my story.
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But yeah, so it was.
It's called a, it's called a
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well casing.
And they use it to see, to see
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if there's oil and when.
OK, let's, let's talk about her
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falling.
So Jessica was wondering, just a
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few steps from the other kids at
this home daycare run by her
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mother and her aunt stepped onto
the spot and vanished.
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Her fall was silent.
The first anyone knew was when
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the other children screamed.
Sissy ran outside, scanning the
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yard and saw nothing until she
heard it.
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Jessica's tiny cries coming from
beneath the earth now did you?
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Do you remember hearing Jessica
in the Well?
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Yeah.
Yeah, that's one of the things
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that's a, that's a core memory
for me is.
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And we're going to get to the
most endearing part in just a
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minute, but.
Yeah, I, I think I remember what
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it was probably.
Do so.
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The 911 call came fast.
So fast the dispatcher first
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thought it was a prank.
My baby fell down a well.
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It sounded impossible, but it
was real.
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Jessica McClure was 22 feet
underground, wedged inside a
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crumbling shaft that was never
meant to hold life.
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And what's interesting about
this also is that Welsh that
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well casing was not actually 22
feet deep.
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The ground was so unsettled and
not compacted that she actually
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broke through the bottom of the
well and fell an additional
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number of feet.
I don't know how many exactly,
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but she was far below the bottom
of the of the well.
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So first first responders
arrived within minutes, but they
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quickly realized this was not a
normal rescue.
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The well was too narrow for any
adult to descend.
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Like I said, the surrounding
soil bit that's Hard Rock mixed
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with sandy loam was dangerously
unstable.
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Yeah.
Because I remember them being
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really worried that if they
tried to send anything down to
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her, not only was she small
enough not to really be able to
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grab something, but they worried
they were going to collapse it
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more.
Yep.
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So one wrong move.
I think might have just said
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this could trigger a collapse.
They couldn't pull her straight
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out, so they would have to.
Well, actually, I'm going to
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back up a little bit because
they did try putting down a
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rope.
Yeah.
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She was too little to know what
to do with it.
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So they decided that they were
going to dig a parallel, well
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essentially next to the the one
that she was in and tunnel
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sideways to reach her.
They knew it would be dangerous.
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They knew it would be slow, and
they also knew that Jessica
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didn't have forever.
You know, it's a simple plan in
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theory.
Dig a parallel shaft, then a
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horizontal tunnel.
Excuse me, to her location.
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But nothing about the reality
was simple.
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Equipment failed, compressors
broke, drills jammed against
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unexpected rock layers, and time
was running out.
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Here comes the sweet part.
Jessica's breathing, heard
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faintly through microphones
lowered into the shaft, changed
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over the first hours.
She whimpered.
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She called for her mother.
And then she started singing
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faint broken songs, Winnie the
Pooh melodies drifting up from
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the dark.
And that, that is a core memory
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for me.
Just that sound of hope.
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00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:42,200
Frankly, just phenomenally
unbelievable and endearing.
220
00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,800
Can you imagine having been
there and hear this teeny tiny
221
00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:49,360
little voice and just know it
was there, but then also know
222
00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:51,480
that, as you said, the time was
limited?
223
00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:56,040
They had sent an air tube down.
They were pumping oxygen in,
224
00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:57,400
yes.
They were worried about her
225
00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,720
being so compressed that she
could not fully breathe.
226
00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,240
Yep, they pumped oxygen in the
whole time.
227
00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,760
CNN, like I said, aired near
continuous live footage.
228
00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,560
Every major network network
picked up the feed Across
229
00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:11,760
America, televisions flickered
with updates, right?
230
00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,440
I mean, those of us who didn't
have CNN because their moms and
231
00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:19,120
dads wouldn't buy them cable
were able to watch it on the
232
00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,320
local news.
And maybe not in real time, you
233
00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:25,120
know, as much as CNN, but just
in practice, practically or
234
00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:29,320
relatively real time.
Yeah, I remember we had it.
235
00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:32,840
I was, if it was 87, I was
already at college.
236
00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:36,040
And so we had, I'm sure we had
all the cable stuff because, you
237
00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:40,560
know, we wanted it.
And I, I just remember it being
238
00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,120
available and I was watching it
and it was summertime, I think,
239
00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:45,400
wasn't it?
What was the month?
240
00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:47,960
October, OK.
Because I couldn't remember if I
241
00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:52,000
was in college classes or not.
And I work too, but I remember
242
00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:53,960
watching it as much as I
possibly could.
243
00:12:54,520 --> 00:13:03,160
Yeah, You know, churches prayed,
schools held vigils, people held
244
00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,800
memorials, vigils.
You know, I said that with
245
00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:08,880
candles and things like that
staying up all night.
246
00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,280
And then behind the scenes,
rescuers started discussing
247
00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,320
darker options if tunnelling
failed.
248
00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:19,160
An explosive experts explosives
expert was standing by to blast
249
00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:22,080
an opening, the last desperate
measure that could easily have
250
00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:25,120
killed Jessica in the process.
It was a choice no one wanted to
251
00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:31,200
make. 20 hours passed, then 30,
then 50.
252
00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,120
Now consider this.
We're at 48 hours is 2 days.
253
00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:39,080
So 50 hours were two whole days
into this baby in a well.
254
00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,760
The rescuers battled exhaustion,
dehydration and despair.
255
00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,760
Not only were they battling
their own exhaustion and
256
00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:50,560
dehydration, they were battling
Jessica's dehydration and
257
00:13:50,560 --> 00:13:53,280
exhaustion.
You know, men wept openly when
258
00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:55,440
setbacks delayed tunneling the
tunneling process.
259
00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:59,080
Jessica's faint cries rose and
fell like the beat of a fading
260
00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:03,560
drum.
Finally, after 58 agonizing
261
00:14:03,560 --> 00:14:06,440
hours, a team of miners,
engineers and paramedics
262
00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:07,800
finished tunnelling close
enough.
263
00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:12,440
The final push fell to a young
paramedic paramedic named Robert
264
00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,160
O'Donnell.
He crawled through the narrow
265
00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,640
shaft wedged against sharp
rocks, moving inch by inch
266
00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:22,800
towards Jessica's trapped form.
When he finally reached her, she
267
00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,520
was barely conscious.
Her tiny body was twisted, her
268
00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:29,680
right foot pinned painfully
against her head, her skin
269
00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:33,920
bruised and scraped.
Robert whispered to her, gently
270
00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:38,640
shifted her, lubricated her with
petroleum Jelly and pulled.
271
00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:43,240
And Jessica McClure, against all
odds, emerged into the light.
272
00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:52,280
Bruised, scared, scarred,
crying, weakly but alive.
273
00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:56,200
And everyone else was crying
very strongly and going
274
00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:58,960
hysterical.
Yes, yes, absolutely.
275
00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:00,880
I was crying.
I mean, it was such an
276
00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:02,920
emotional, you know, just so
emotional.
277
00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:06,520
Like I said, she came out just
looking so pathetic.
278
00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:10,960
And of course I mean pathetic in
the sense of just helpless and
279
00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:13,640
broken, you know, I already said
it.
280
00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:17,400
And so it was just, it was
really, it was really
281
00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:22,360
heartbreaking to watch, but then
also so uplifting and relieving.
282
00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:24,760
It is real, a real dichotomy,
you know.
283
00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,240
Yeah.
So Jessica was rushed to the
284
00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:29,320
hospital.
She suffered severe bruising,
285
00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,520
dehydration and circulatory
damage to her foot.
286
00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:36,640
Surgeons worked to save her leg,
ultimately amputating only a
287
00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:38,800
single toe.
Jessica would carry a scar on
288
00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,800
her forehead for the rest of her
life, a tiny dent left by the
289
00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,320
pressure of the well walls.
But the bigger scars would be
290
00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,800
less visible.
Jessica's parents, Sissy and
291
00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,280
Chip, were hailed as heroes.
But the reality behind closed
292
00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:55,240
doors was different.
The media circus was relentless.
293
00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,680
Offers flooded in.
Interviews, endorsements, movie
294
00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:00,080
rights.
And with them came judgement.
295
00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:04,840
Locally in Midland again, a
place that says we take care of
296
00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:07,920
it ourselves, not everyone was
supportive.
297
00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,480
Whispers blamed Sissy for
negligence, blamed Chip for poor
298
00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:15,360
judgement.
Small town rumors, cruel and
299
00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,840
inevitable, the young couples
marriage buckled under the
300
00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:22,120
weight of fame and trauma.
Within a few years, they quietly
301
00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:24,360
divorced.
Jessica grew up out of the
302
00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,400
spotlight, shielded as much as
possible.
303
00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:29,760
She said she doesn't Remember
Remember the rescue at all.
304
00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,080
The only scar that reminds her
it happened.
305
00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:35,760
Sorry, it's only the scar that
reminds her it happened.
306
00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:39,280
When she turned 25, she gained
access to the trust fund
307
00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:43,000
established in her name, once
valued near $1,000,000.
308
00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:48,560
Market downturns, including the
2008 recession and crash, left
309
00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:50,360
it a fraction of its former
size.
310
00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:53,320
Jessica used it to buy a modest
home.
311
00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:55,440
Nothing flashy, nothing
Hollywood.
312
00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:57,600
She married, had children of her
own.
313
00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:01,440
Live quietly Today.
Jessica McClure Morales, which
314
00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:04,760
is her married name, is a
private woman grateful to live a
315
00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,359
life.
Most people don't recognize her
316
00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:09,359
end.
When asked if she believes that
317
00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:13,359
she's a hero, she says I was
just a baby.
318
00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:16,440
Yeah, which I think was.
Really hilarious it's.
319
00:17:17,079 --> 00:17:19,760
Like duh.
Nope, Nope.
320
00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:21,319
I fell in a well, I'm.
Not.
321
00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:25,440
Yeah.
Unfortunately, not everyone
322
00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:27,839
touched by Jessica's story
survived.
323
00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:31,360
Robert O'Donnell, the paramedic
who pulled her from the well,
324
00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:35,000
suffered years of PTSD and
depression after the rescue.
325
00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:39,080
Unable to escape the flashbacks,
unable to rebuild a peaceful
326
00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:43,840
life, Robert died at his own
hand in 1995, just eight years
327
00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:47,000
after the rescue.
His hero, his heroism, saved
328
00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:51,120
Jessica, but the memory of those
58 hours cost him everything.
329
00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:53,360
Wow.
Well.
330
00:17:54,360 --> 00:18:00,400
And that's actually amazing to
me because he saved her life.
331
00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:05,400
And he actually, if I remember
correctly, he was selected
332
00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:07,960
strictly based on his size
because he was the smallest.
333
00:18:08,120 --> 00:18:11,080
They wanted to get someone there
as fast as possible.
334
00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,320
And so the smallest person is
the one who went.
335
00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:17,320
Did it say in there what it,
what was the PTSD issue?
336
00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:21,640
I mean, I I wonder what it was
that affected him that way.
337
00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:26,920
It didn't really go into it, it
just said that he struggled for
338
00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,440
years after the rescue.
He found it nearly impossible to
339
00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,840
return to normal life, haunted
by what could have gone wrong.
340
00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:37,120
Oh sure, in 1995, the world lost
him to suicide.
341
00:18:37,120 --> 00:18:40,440
A reminder that sometimes the
trauma of saving a life can cost
342
00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:42,040
your own.
Yeah.
343
00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:44,440
Wow.
Well, in trauma, people, I
344
00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:47,280
think, look at trauma as being
only something that was a
345
00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:51,640
negative thing, but it has to be
a negative thing to be a trauma.
346
00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:55,240
It can be a very significant
positive thing as well, but in a
347
00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,680
traumatic sort of way.
Like that, that, yes, she
348
00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,400
survived.
And as they talked about that,
349
00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:03,960
the marriage of her parents did
not happen.
350
00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,960
And I look at that too and think
they were 17 to 18 years old,
351
00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:11,600
for heaven sakes.
Yeah, Like, I mean, I Remember
352
00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:15,200
Remember how I was when I was 17
or 18 and to be going through
353
00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:19,120
all of that and I remember as a
parent making decisions that
354
00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,440
certainly could have ended up
equally terrible.
355
00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:24,680
I didn't have a kid in a well,
but I mean.
356
00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:29,640
I fell into an ice fishing hole.
My my best little girlfriend.
357
00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,160
We were four years old.
She fell into I don't know if
358
00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,400
you remember, and maybe you
never saw it because it was old,
359
00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:38,320
old, old, but Payson downtown
used to have a canal that run
360
00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:40,680
ran in front of the stores on
Main Street.
361
00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,400
It was a walking street, and it
had actual canals that ran right
362
00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,720
in front of the stores.
And there'd be bridges you'd get
363
00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,320
between, you know, over the
canal.
364
00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:53,000
And one time my friend Hannah
fell into that canal, and my dad
365
00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:56,760
had to race forward like 3 or 4
bridges so that he could, you
366
00:19:56,760 --> 00:19:59,120
know, reach down and catch her
as she came out from under that
367
00:19:59,120 --> 00:20:01,560
bridge.
It was horrifyingly scary.
368
00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:04,920
I'm sure.
And she survived, and nothing.
369
00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,280
She survived.
And does that mean that my dad
370
00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:10,360
or her dad or whoever was there,
I, at 4 years old, had been
371
00:20:10,360 --> 00:20:11,280
negligent?
No.
372
00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:15,880
It meant that a child was
curious and did a curious thing
373
00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,760
and it ended up in an accident
that could have been horrible.
374
00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:22,800
Yeah.
You hear, you hear all the time,
375
00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:24,600
all the time.
These stories of.
376
00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,760
I just turned my head, right.
I just looked away for a second.
377
00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:29,720
I went.
To the bathroom, for heaven's
378
00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:31,320
sakes.
I went to the bathroom, right?
379
00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:35,080
It, it actually reminds me.
It's a similar sort of thing.
380
00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:37,400
Babies and children who die in
hot cars, right?
381
00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:40,920
One change in routine.
Mom always takes the kids to
382
00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,520
daycare on Monday, But this
Monday, mom has something.
383
00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:47,200
Dad's taking them to daycare.
One simple change.
384
00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:49,600
Dad says, I know I'm taking them
to daycare.
385
00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,120
Dad gets in the car.
Dad decides to stop at
386
00:20:52,120 --> 00:20:54,960
Starbucks.
Dad gets into his routine, goes
387
00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:59,040
to work, it comes out hours
later to a dead kid, right.
388
00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:01,240
Like and there yes, there are
cases where it's been
389
00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:04,800
intentional, it's been homicide,
but the majority of them are not
390
00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:09,200
the majority are just accidents.
And it it scares the hell out of
391
00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:11,400
me.
I mean, less so now that my kids
392
00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:15,040
aren't little and I they have
other concerns, obviously, but
393
00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:19,240
not of them slipping and falling
into a pond necessarily.
394
00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:21,960
Or not a pond, but.
Not being able to get out.
395
00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:23,640
Yeah, Canal.
Yeah, exactly.
396
00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:28,120
I feel really, really terrible
for her parents, and small towns
397
00:21:28,120 --> 00:21:31,040
can be brutal.
I wish that her town, their
398
00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,000
town, had been kinder to them
and more supportive instead of
399
00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:38,680
gossipy and unkind and
judgmental and that sort of
400
00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:42,400
thing, you know?
Yeah, it's such an easy thing to
401
00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,920
fall into, I think talking about
something like that.
402
00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:49,800
And then if we look at how she
survived for all that time, I
403
00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:52,880
remember that they had talked
about trying to get her some
404
00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,240
food or water.
But again, based on her age,
405
00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:58,680
they didn't think that they were
worried about her drowning
406
00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,040
really because of not being able
to drink it properly.
407
00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:03,600
And they couldn't start IB, of
course, or anything like that.
408
00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:08,520
And so as I remember, they tried
a couple things to get her some
409
00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:11,880
water but she she couldn't grab
it because we're arms were or
410
00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:13,840
something.
I can't remember exactly but if
411
00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:16,160
you recall.
OK, let me think about it,
412
00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:17,400
'cause I don't want to tell it,
right?
413
00:22:18,360 --> 00:22:21,640
Was it her arm or her leg that
was basically bent all the way
414
00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:23,400
up?
Her leg because her foot was
415
00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:25,240
basically up by her.
Ear Yep, that's right.
416
00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:25,600
That's.
Right.
417
00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:27,880
Yeah.
And so I imagine if her foot was
418
00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:31,760
up like that, even if she had
her arms up, I don't think she
419
00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:33,280
could have moved anything to her
mouth.
420
00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:35,240
I imagine she was very wedged,
yeah.
421
00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:37,920
Yeah, she was because I remember
seeing pictures and also at the
422
00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:42,760
time them showing the diameter
of a tube and putting a doll in
423
00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:46,280
there and just showing how tight
it was and how it would be
424
00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:48,680
impossible.
The fact that there for other
425
00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,640
kids that saw it and responded
was huge too.
426
00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:55,480
Even though her outcome she
stayed in there for so long
427
00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,480
didn't change.
If they didn't know where she
428
00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:01,200
was and she was searching it
would it could have delayed
429
00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,280
things for hours and hours even
further and gone beyond her.
430
00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:08,040
Because it's fairly well known
that a person can survive for 72
431
00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:10,280
hours without water.
But when you're talking about an
432
00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:13,680
18 month old person who has no
real reserves, that's a
433
00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:17,080
different thing than an adult
person who has some reserves,
434
00:23:17,360 --> 00:23:19,080
right?
One of the things things also
435
00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:25,480
that I want to talk about is how
resilient babies are and
436
00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:30,960
children are and the fact that
she was able to self soothe and
437
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:35,760
kind of protect herself from
whatever panic or that sort of
438
00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:41,360
thing might might come up along
by singing songs from Winnie the
439
00:23:41,360 --> 00:23:45,560
Pooh and babbling to herself and
you know, all of that sort of
440
00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:47,200
thing.
And I just, you know, if that
441
00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,640
had been, if that had been an
adult, I think that the odds are
442
00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:53,800
very high that they would panic
and they would not self soothe,
443
00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:55,520
right?
And they would put themselves in
444
00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:59,000
further danger because of that
panic and that fear.
445
00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:03,560
Yeah, and the good thing about
her age is she didn't know all
446
00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:05,200
the possibilities.
Right.
447
00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:07,080
Which helps a lot, like you
said.
448
00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:10,320
Basically what you're saying is
that she she didn't know about
449
00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:13,640
being claustrophobic.
She didn't know that being
450
00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:16,240
wedged that way was likely to
have at least part of her leg
451
00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:18,800
lost.
She didn't know all of those
452
00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:21,320
things.
And that, I think, can really
453
00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:24,080
help if the possibilities are
unknown.
454
00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:29,080
I think it's a little easier not
to panic thinking about all the
455
00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:31,840
possibilities.
And I remember them talking
456
00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:35,080
about how she was singing the
lullabies to herself that her
457
00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:38,080
mom used to sing to her or sang
still did.
458
00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:43,960
I mean, she was not used to I
she sang to her and I imagine
459
00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:47,600
that's one of the reasons they
knew she was OK is when she
460
00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:50,760
would start making sounds again
because she would stop making
461
00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:53,640
sounds for a while and they
hoped that she had fallen asleep
462
00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:57,800
versus died, but they didn't
know until she started making
463
00:24:57,800 --> 00:24:59,640
sounds again.
Also, I was thinking about it
464
00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:01,960
too.
Can you imagine the sounds that
465
00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:05,360
must have been around her and
how how magnified they were
466
00:25:05,360 --> 00:25:07,680
underground?
Some of them would have been
467
00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:10,880
muffled, but some of them would
probably have been magnified as
468
00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,960
well.
One of the things that they were
469
00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:19,240
working out was how far below
her did they need to dig to make
470
00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:23,000
the horizontal tunnel and how
far away from her the vertical
471
00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:25,040
tunnel without compromising
everything else.
472
00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:27,160
And they couldn't put anything
into support it.
473
00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:29,600
They couldn't do anything.
I remember that being a huge
474
00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:33,200
discussion going how do we do it
and give her the best chance of
475
00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:35,400
survival, even just getting to
her.
476
00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:41,120
Yep, exactly.
And just the yeah, we talked
477
00:25:41,120 --> 00:25:46,680
about the paramedic, I believe
it was Robert O'Donnell and how
478
00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:49,600
it was so stressful for him and
I'm.
479
00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,800
And he wasn't even the one doing
the drilling and you know, that
480
00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,000
sort of thing.
He was just, like you said, the
481
00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,600
smallest person to go down into
that newly dug.
482
00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:03,680
So just the stress of, well, I'm
sure being the the one
483
00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:05,800
responsible for her ultimate
survival, right?
484
00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:09,720
Because you're the one that has
to pull her out and get her up
485
00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:11,880
to safety.
If you don't, that's on you,
486
00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:14,800
right?
And even, I mean, even if let's
487
00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:19,760
say the new, sorry, I guess well
got well that they dug, even if
488
00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:24,320
that had collapsed unrelated to
anything that Robert had done,
489
00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,480
it's still probably would have
been, you know, what did he do
490
00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:31,320
to 'cause that?
And I can imagine that that, you
491
00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:33,600
know, like I said, that's kind
of where he got caught up and is
492
00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:35,840
all the possibilities that could
have happened if it had gone
493
00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:38,720
wrong.
And I feel really sad that he
494
00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,720
could not just be happy with the
outcome that did happen.
495
00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:45,920
Because it just, it just makes
me sad.
496
00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,720
I'm I, I'm kind of speechless,
which is terrible for a podcast,
497
00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:52,440
but it just really makes me
really sad because, you know,
498
00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:56,360
that's something to be proud of
and that's something that is
499
00:26:56,520 --> 00:27:00,040
amazing and truly miraculous.
And it's just a bummer.
500
00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:03,960
Well, and also in a totally non
judgmental way, not like we're
501
00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:06,160
like what a jerk.
We're not doing it it.
502
00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:08,800
I can't even imagine.
And also thinking of it from his
503
00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:12,720
point of view, he had to go down
this hole and cross the ways and
504
00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:14,200
if it had collapsed, he would
have died.
505
00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:20,120
So there was that part too,
which probably was, I mean, it
506
00:27:20,120 --> 00:27:25,120
had to have been on his mind,
but I imagine his, his desire to
507
00:27:25,120 --> 00:27:27,480
save Jessica was a higher
priority.
508
00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,960
And just, I mean, I guess
talking this part out of it, I
509
00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:36,240
can see how this would be very
difficult if he had.
510
00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:38,520
I don't know if he was old
enough to have his own kids.
511
00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:41,800
I can't remember how old he was,
but also if they had.
512
00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:45,800
I imagine as a paramedic, if it
was eight years later, I doubt
513
00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,960
he was a 15 year old paramedic,
so he was probably children.
514
00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:52,920
I don't know if he had children.
Yeah, and if he had his own
515
00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:55,640
kids, that would also lay
another layer on it.
516
00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:58,840
That's one of the reasons I
couldn't work Pediatrics or
517
00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:01,920
NICU, because I had small
children when I first started
518
00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:03,880
nursing.
And I knew I was already
519
00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:07,720
concerned enough because I think
of, oh, OK, this could happen.
520
00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:09,800
This could happen because I'm a
nurse and I already know all of
521
00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:11,480
that.
But if I had watched it in the
522
00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:15,960
hospital and watch kids to come
from things that I didn't want
523
00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:18,480
to have to be worried about that
for my own children, I, I just
524
00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,840
felt like I couldn't do it.
It wasn't a fit for me.
525
00:28:21,120 --> 00:28:22,640
But there's so many layers on
this.
526
00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:27,640
Yeah, OK, so I looked it up and
the saddest part about Robert's
527
00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:31,240
tragic death that I'm quoting a
Facebook page for Baby Jessica.
528
00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:34,680
The saddest part of Robert
Roberts tragic death was that he
529
00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:38,160
left behind two young sons,
Chance and Casey O'Donnell.
530
00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:42,880
Yeah, so that's a bummer.
That is.
531
00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:46,280
Jessica McClure captured the
world's heart because she fell
532
00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:49,200
into the unimaginable and
somehow lived to tell the story.
533
00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:52,800
She wasn't the 1st and she
wasn't the last, and she won't
534
00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,120
be the last.
There's something about a cry
535
00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:57,840
from beneath Earth, something
ancient, something primal that
536
00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:01,320
pulls at us even now.
So I want to share a few other
537
00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:03,320
stories.
Stories of survival, of
538
00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:06,040
heartbreak, and how sometimes,
despite everything, we keep
539
00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:09,080
reaching for the light.
Before baby Jessica, there was
540
00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,120
Kathy Fiscus.
Have you ever heard of the story
541
00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:13,880
of Kathy Fiscus?
The name sounds familiar but I
542
00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:17,440
can't place it right now.
OK, in 1949 in the small town of
543
00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:21,120
San Marino, CA, 3 year old Kathy
was playing with friends in a
544
00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:23,680
field.
There, like in so many places,
545
00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:27,080
shaped by human hands and
forgotten by time and old well
546
00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:30,240
waited, uncovered, open,
waiting.
547
00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:33,160
Kathy fell in.
The well was 14 inches wide,
548
00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:35,200
wider than Jessica's but just as
deadly.
549
00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:38,400
Rescuers worked feverishly for
nearly two days to reach her
550
00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:41,360
while the entire West Coast
listened listened live on the
551
00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:43,360
radio.
So this was live broadcast on
552
00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:47,080
the radio because it was 1949
rather than CNN.
553
00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:50,160
But it was the first time
America followed a disaster
554
00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:53,560
unfolding in real time.
Millions waited, prayed, cried.
555
00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:55,800
But when they finally reached
Kathy, it was too late.
556
00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:59,400
She had died hours before rescue
crews had even arrived.
557
00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:03,120
Kathy's death shattered her town
and changed America.
558
00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:05,760
Wells were sealed.
New emergency protocols were
559
00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:08,760
imagined.
But as you know, memory fades.
560
00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:12,920
And by 1987 in Midland, TX,
another forgotten well would
561
00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:15,280
wait.
Yeah, wow.
562
00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:21,280
To know that that lid was off
most of the time, I don't think
563
00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:25,080
people would have thought that
the hole that Jessica went into
564
00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:28,280
would even be big enough to
cause a problem, maybe break an
565
00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:29,320
ankle or something.
But right.
566
00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:31,560
That's what I was to say.
Maybe even like, yeah, like a
567
00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:33,400
sprain, A groin or something,
right?
568
00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:36,280
Yeah, but but why would a kid be
there?
569
00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:39,840
Why would you?
All the things and it's just a
570
00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:43,320
second of I, I just keep coming
back to my daughter.
571
00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:46,840
And I think I've shared this
with you Crystal before, but not
572
00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:50,680
our listeners, that when she was
about Jessica's age, well,
573
00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:53,560
probably smaller because she
wasn't really crawling yet.
574
00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:56,120
So she would have been maybe
eight or nine months old.
575
00:30:56,640 --> 00:30:58,120
And she was at my sister's
house.
576
00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:00,480
My sister was watching her.
I had come over.
577
00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:02,240
It was after work and so we were
just visiting.
578
00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:05,080
Juliana was taking a nap on my
sister's bed.
579
00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:07,800
My sister surrounded her with
pillows because she was still
580
00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:11,000
not really moving that much,
whatever age that was for her.
581
00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:16,240
And I went in there and we had
to go and she had had an hour or
582
00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:18,160
whatever I thought was long
enough, and so I went in to
583
00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:20,560
check her.
The child was hanging from her
584
00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:22,920
head between the wall and the
bed.
585
00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:27,360
Oh, jeez, Just hanging there,
not crying, doing nothing.
586
00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:29,680
And I was.
Oh, my gosh.
587
00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:32,640
And so I grabbed her.
She was happy as the clam.
588
00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:35,480
She just, hey, what, You know,
she just was all gibbly.
589
00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:39,160
Gibbly, Yeah.
Gibbly she was so Gibbly Gibbly
590
00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:42,800
Gibblets giblets she.
Was just laughing and and
591
00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:45,440
visiting with me and stuff and I
was just like you were just
592
00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:48,880
hanging from your head kid.
And she was perfectly fine.
593
00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:50,280
There was no bruising, there was
nothing.
594
00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:53,320
I have no idea how long she was
hanging there, not very long
595
00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:56,760
because I had checked her when I
got there, but literally it
596
00:31:56,760 --> 00:31:59,400
could have been an hour because
I checked her when I got there
597
00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:01,320
she was sound asleep.
So I went and visited with my
598
00:32:01,320 --> 00:32:04,080
sister and there she was just
hanging there and no one was at
599
00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:05,440
fault.
I mean, we didn't expect her to
600
00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:08,880
be able to move and I still
don't know how she did, but
601
00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:12,400
there she was hanging and and
not even just move, but get to
602
00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:16,480
the point that she was hanging
by her head and it was just
603
00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:17,760
wild.
Yeah.
604
00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:20,240
And it wasn't.
Nobody did anything wrong.
605
00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:22,720
It was, it seemed, reasonable.
All of it, Yeah.
606
00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:25,920
What's the word I'm looking for?
It was just a freak accident of
607
00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:28,240
a freak.
Appearance and fortunately it
608
00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:30,320
turned out OK.
Yeah, thank goodness.
609
00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:33,080
Did you have any other examples?
I do.
610
00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:35,680
I have.
I wanted to talk about also the
611
00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:40,320
Chilean miners. 60 years after
Kathy's fall, another survival
612
00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:44,120
story unfolded, deeper, darker,
but filled with the same
613
00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:48,120
desperate hope.
On August 5th, 201033 miners
614
00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:51,640
were working underground at the
San Jose Copper mine in Chile
615
00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:56,280
when the earth shook, tunnels
collapsed, walls caved in and
616
00:32:56,280 --> 00:33:00,040
the miners, ordinary men,
fathers, brothers, found
617
00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:05,320
themselves trapped in nearly
sorry excuse me, nearly 2300
618
00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:13,640
feet beneath the surface.
For the 1st 17 days, 17 days, no
619
00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:15,320
one even knew if they were
alive.
620
00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:18,920
Families camped outside the mind
mouth.
621
00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:25,760
Flags flew, candles flickered,
songs of survival and prayers of
622
00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:30,480
hope filled the desert.
Finally, after 2 1/2 weeks, a
623
00:33:30,480 --> 00:33:33,800
drill broke through.
Attached to the drill, a simple
624
00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:37,840
note scrawled in in thick red
letters.
625
00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:43,600
Estamos bien en El refugio Los
tresu dente.
626
00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:46,960
We are well in the shelter.
The 33.
627
00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:48,440
Yeah.
Is it?
628
00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:53,800
Did I say right?
No, but well, I tried it's.
629
00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:59,480
Not German, what do you know?
What followed was one of the
630
00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:01,440
most astonishing rescue
operations.
631
00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:06,760
Remember, they were down there
for 17 days and there were,
632
00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:08,600
gosh, I just forgot the number
of how many there were.
633
00:34:08,639 --> 00:34:12,239
That's embarrassing. 30
something I forgot 33.
634
00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:15,080
I just said the 33.
Silly girl.
635
00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:17,880
So what followed was one of the
most astonishing rescue
636
00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:21,080
operations in modern history.
Small capsules built to fit
637
00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:24,480
through narrow shafts designed
to bring up the men one by one
638
00:34:24,480 --> 00:34:27,840
through a 2000 foot climb in
near darkness.
639
00:34:28,199 --> 00:34:35,520
After 69 days underground, all
33 men were pulled to the
640
00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:37,960
surface alive.
Yeah, and the whole process.
641
00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:41,440
Oh, I'm sorry, I was going.
To say miracle born from pain.
642
00:34:42,120 --> 00:34:44,320
Right.
And the whole process of getting
643
00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:48,719
them things to survive and, and
water and air and.
644
00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:53,199
I mean they didn't even reach
them for 17 days.
645
00:34:54,679 --> 00:34:55,920
They didn't even.
Yeah, that's right.
646
00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:57,440
They.
Didn't even know they were
647
00:34:57,440 --> 00:34:59,320
alive.
And actually, I don't even know.
648
00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:02,040
Finally after 2 1/2 weeks.
See, I I'm not even following my
649
00:35:02,040 --> 00:35:02,960
own facts.
Good heavens.
650
00:35:05,240 --> 00:35:07,040
Getting all my numbers mixed up.
Yeah.
651
00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:11,640
So after 2 1/2 weeks.
So 2 1/2 weeks is 7 + 7 is 14.
652
00:35:12,040 --> 00:35:14,520
When 28 days?
No, 18 days.
653
00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:16,360
Oh, it's the same.
OK, this is all done.
654
00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:21,760
We don't math.
OK, so they were there 2 1/2
655
00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:23,400
weeks before anybody knew they
were alive.
656
00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:27,840
It's wild.
And you know, I have another
657
00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:30,720
story I want to tell you that's
a little bit different, but it's
658
00:35:30,720 --> 00:35:33,080
another.
You could consider it a survival
659
00:35:33,080 --> 00:35:35,200
story.
But you know, sometimes survival
660
00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:37,960
stories don't end in rescue.
Sometimes they just.
661
00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:41,280
Yes, please.
May I interrupt because I
662
00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:45,400
remember one of the things being
talked about with the 33 is
663
00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:48,360
frankly, how much effort are we
going to put into this?
664
00:35:48,720 --> 00:35:50,840
Right.
Because it was Because.
665
00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:52,400
What are the odds?
Right.
666
00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:55,320
There were such a low chance
that that these folks had
667
00:35:55,320 --> 00:36:00,440
survived and there there was a
lot of money spent and of
668
00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:02,080
course, time and resources and
things.
669
00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:04,880
And at a point they're going,
what are the odds that they're
670
00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:06,360
alive?
It's probably very low.
671
00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:08,640
They probably aren't.
So we're just going to go and
672
00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:11,200
find their bodies.
But then people said yeah, and
673
00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:15,120
we need to go find their bodies.
Yeah, we need that closure.
674
00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:17,120
Go ahead, I just remember that
being a discussion.
675
00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:20,800
No, that's OK.
Again, you know, sometimes,
676
00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:23,000
sometimes survival stories don't
end rescue.
677
00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:24,200
Sometimes it just didn't
mystery.
678
00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:27,600
And I think we may have talked
about this another time.
679
00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:31,320
I honestly can't remember.
But this is about Brandon
680
00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:35,840
Swanson, who drove into a
shallow ditch late one night in
681
00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:39,720
Marshall, MN, in May 2008, who's
19 years old.
682
00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:41,280
And he called his parents for
help.
683
00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:44,400
Sounding calm, embarrassed even,
but not panicked.
684
00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:47,520
They stayed on the phone with
him as he tried to walk toward a
685
00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:51,120
landmark they both knew.
For almost 45 minutes, Brandon
686
00:36:51,120 --> 00:36:52,960
chatted lightly.
I'm almost there.
687
00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:55,760
I see the lights.
And then suddenly he said, oh,
688
00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:58,320
shit.
And the line went dead, and
689
00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:02,080
Brandon was never seen again.
Extensive searches turned up
690
00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:04,080
nothing.
No sign of struggle, no
691
00:37:04,080 --> 00:37:07,520
clothing, no remains.
It was as if he had simply
692
00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:11,600
vanished.
Many people believe he fell into
693
00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:16,360
an unmarked well or fluttered,
fluttered, flooded cistern
694
00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:19,200
hidden in the fields.
Others believe the ground simply
695
00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:21,480
swallowed it up a hidden river
or steep ditch.
696
00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:25,240
Brandon's story reminds us that
not all rescues come in time,
697
00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:27,640
and not all cries are heard soon
enough.
698
00:37:28,240 --> 00:37:31,760
Yeah.
Forgotten wells are truly a
699
00:37:32,040 --> 00:37:35,480
hidden epidemic.
Since baby Jessica's rescue,
700
00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:38,360
dozens of children around the
world have fallen into abandoned
701
00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:41,920
wells, cisterns and shafts.
Not all were as lucky.
702
00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:46,520
Regulations improved after 1987,
but forgotten wells still dot
703
00:37:46,520 --> 00:37:50,800
rural landscapes, unmarked,
unsealed, unwaiting.
704
00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:53,640
Each year, stories still
surface.
705
00:37:54,120 --> 00:37:57,800
A toddler in India pulled from a
bore well after 58 hours.
706
00:37:58,200 --> 00:38:01,520
A child in Tunisia, lost inside
a collapsed irrigation shaft.
707
00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:04,920
Farmers falling into cisterns
hidden by overgrowth.
708
00:38:05,880 --> 00:38:08,600
The Earth keeps its secrets
well, and the Earth doesn't
709
00:38:08,640 --> 00:38:13,760
always give them back.
I have one more that's a little
710
00:38:13,760 --> 00:38:16,280
bit different.
Again, this is about Alfie
711
00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:18,840
Evans.
Sometimes the trap isn't beneath
712
00:38:18,840 --> 00:38:22,040
our feet, sometimes it's inside
our own bodies.
713
00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:25,760
Alfie Evans, born in Liverpool
in 2016, suffered from an
714
00:38:25,760 --> 00:38:28,680
undiagnosed neurological
disorder that left him in a semi
715
00:38:28,680 --> 00:38:30,880
vegetative state for over a
year.
716
00:38:30,880 --> 00:38:34,080
His parents fought doctor's
court, even political debates
717
00:38:34,160 --> 00:38:37,400
and ethical questions.
At its heart, it was the story
718
00:38:37,400 --> 00:38:40,360
of two parents refused to stop
fighting for their child's next
719
00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:43,480
breath.
Alfie passed away in April 2008,
720
00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:47,800
but not before his story changed
medical law and but and not
721
00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:50,600
before he made the world look
again at the fight between
722
00:38:50,600 --> 00:38:54,440
survival and suffering.
Just come across stories about
723
00:38:54,440 --> 00:38:57,680
more than a girl in a whale.
It's about all the moments when
724
00:38:57,680 --> 00:39:01,120
humanity holds its breath,
reaching it, reaching down into
725
00:39:01,120 --> 00:39:04,880
the dark with nothing but hope.
Sometimes we pull them out,
726
00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:09,920
sometimes we don't.
But we should always try because
727
00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:13,720
that's what survival demands.
Not perfection, not victory,
728
00:39:14,160 --> 00:39:16,640
just the stubborn refusal to let
go.
729
00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:19,920
And I think that's exactly what
you were kind of alluding to
730
00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:21,640
with those Chilean miners,
right?
731
00:39:22,720 --> 00:39:26,160
We can't just assume that it's a
tomb.
732
00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:28,080
And I did not mean to make that
rhyme.
733
00:39:29,680 --> 00:39:34,800
And I think that's one of those
miraculous stories because 3333
734
00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:38,080
people is a lot of people, a lot
of people.
735
00:39:38,600 --> 00:39:43,920
And for all of them to survive
for what was it 60 something
736
00:39:43,920 --> 00:39:48,840
days on, on, I don't know what
then, you know, 69 days and
737
00:39:48,840 --> 00:39:52,160
maybe they had food with them.
I imagine 69 days is a lot of
738
00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:53,800
days.
Nobody had that much food.
739
00:39:54,880 --> 00:39:57,160
Yeah, true, because this is AI
got lunch boxes.
740
00:39:57,200 --> 00:40:01,600
I didn't actually, I didn't
actually look into their full
741
00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:04,640
story as far as like.
Like how they survived.
742
00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:08,280
But yeah, it's, it's crazy.
Yeah.
743
00:40:08,280 --> 00:40:13,920
And if I remember that's there
was some either active or
744
00:40:14,040 --> 00:40:19,200
recently active air tube that
they were able to get some stuff
745
00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:22,920
down or they were able to dig
something big enough to put some
746
00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:25,400
supplies down and some air.
Because that's the other thing
747
00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:28,560
they were worried about is what
fumes were building up in the in
748
00:40:28,560 --> 00:40:31,760
The Cave that could be killing
these folks.
749
00:40:31,760 --> 00:40:34,400
Because even if they were alive
at the beginning, could they
750
00:40:34,400 --> 00:40:37,400
have survived all of the gases
that are happening under the
751
00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:40,880
earth all the time?
So interestingly enough, when
752
00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:44,240
they were first found and they
sent up the note, the 33 of us
753
00:40:44,240 --> 00:40:47,080
are in the shelter.
The 33 of us in the shelter are
754
00:40:47,080 --> 00:40:51,960
well, they started sending
letters through it says doves,
755
00:40:51,960 --> 00:40:54,200
quotation mark doves.
I'm not sure we know what doves
756
00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:57,880
are in the old time miny, old
time, old timey, good timey
757
00:40:57,880 --> 00:41:01,120
mining, but I'm not sure.
I doubt they're actually birds
758
00:41:01,120 --> 00:41:03,560
because it's in quotation marks.
But.
759
00:41:04,080 --> 00:41:06,640
They never Canaries anyway.
True, you're right.
760
00:41:08,200 --> 00:41:12,480
Canary full mine dumb though.
Then Then later they were able
761
00:41:12,480 --> 00:41:15,280
to send down or send in.
I don't know if it's the only
762
00:41:15,280 --> 00:41:18,400
power was a fiber optic line
which enabled phone calls and
763
00:41:18,400 --> 00:41:20,920
video conferencing.
Doctors also passed down a
764
00:41:20,920 --> 00:41:23,760
biometric belt which allowed the
miners to monitor and transmit
765
00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:26,520
their vital signs using wireless
technology.
766
00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:29,280
Once they were discovered, the
men quickly established a
767
00:41:29,280 --> 00:41:32,040
regular meal schedule, including
breakfast, lunch, dinner and an
768
00:41:32,040 --> 00:41:35,680
afternoon tea.
Supported by a 500 Watt power
769
00:41:35,680 --> 00:41:38,840
line, they installed lights to
simulate day and night to
770
00:41:38,840 --> 00:41:41,400
diminish the impact of their
eventual return to the service.
771
00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:45,440
Physiologists set up obligatory
exercise schedules to keep the
772
00:41:45,440 --> 00:41:48,280
men fit for their trying passage
of the escape shaft, which they
773
00:41:48,280 --> 00:41:51,200
may have to hold the same
posture for as much as an hour.
774
00:41:51,280 --> 00:41:54,080
The miners began to help with
the drilling process, taking
775
00:41:54,080 --> 00:41:57,280
shifts to clear away debris that
fell into the tunnel of the
776
00:41:57,280 --> 00:42:00,960
mine.
They entertained themselves by
777
00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:05,000
setting up small quote UN quote
casino where they played cards,
778
00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:10,520
Domino's and dice games.
They also were able to install a
779
00:42:10,520 --> 00:42:16,000
live feed of games like Chile's
friendly match against Ukraine
780
00:42:16,440 --> 00:42:20,320
using a small projector.
I have no idea how they did that
781
00:42:21,240 --> 00:42:23,360
because that was before I
believe that was before they
782
00:42:23,480 --> 00:42:26,320
were found.
Let's see, despite maybe maybe
783
00:42:26,320 --> 00:42:27,800
that was after they were found
just.
784
00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:29,360
Yeah, they had to have known
where to send it.
785
00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:33,880
Well, and the crazy thing too is
when you talk about being
786
00:42:33,880 --> 00:42:37,040
underground and and they sent
the lights, which almost seems
787
00:42:37,040 --> 00:42:40,080
silly.
They need one of the biggest
788
00:42:40,080 --> 00:42:43,840
challenges is the mental piece.
And if they were on there and
789
00:42:43,840 --> 00:42:47,080
they had no idea that we was
trying to help them, even if it
790
00:42:47,080 --> 00:42:50,320
was a shorter period of time, I
can't even imagine the mental
791
00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:53,120
stress and strain that it would
take just to be OK.
792
00:42:53,240 --> 00:42:57,520
Just to not really lose your
mind down there in the dark and
793
00:42:57,800 --> 00:43:02,680
have no hope and maybe not even
really knowing what direction
794
00:43:02,680 --> 00:43:04,400
they needed to be going or
moving.
795
00:43:04,400 --> 00:43:06,720
Should we dig up?
Should we decide dig sideways?
796
00:43:06,840 --> 00:43:08,320
Do we just wait here?
What do we do?
797
00:43:09,800 --> 00:43:13,240
Because they had to have had
some sort of tools, but I
798
00:43:13,240 --> 00:43:16,200
wouldn't have thought everything
they, certainly everything they
799
00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:19,520
needed wasn't available.
Here's an interesting fun fact.
800
00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:23,760
At one point they sent up 8
hours of their favorite jokes on
801
00:43:23,760 --> 00:43:30,680
film.
Oh my God, what again, this is
802
00:43:30,680 --> 00:43:33,640
this is similar to to baby
Jessica and it actually
803
00:43:33,640 --> 00:43:37,120
contradicts what I said earlier
because they just just chose to
804
00:43:37,120 --> 00:43:42,280
keep hope and not just hope, but
to maintain as best they could
805
00:43:42,280 --> 00:43:46,040
their their mental health.
It's such a beautiful story
806
00:43:46,040 --> 00:43:48,880
about survival instinct.
And it takes a pretty powerful
807
00:43:48,880 --> 00:43:51,560
person to be able to do that.
And maybe the fact that there
808
00:43:51,560 --> 00:43:54,080
were 33 of them, they could whip
each other into shape.
809
00:43:54,720 --> 00:43:58,600
But if a person was down there
by themselves, I would be
810
00:43:58,600 --> 00:44:01,160
surprised if they would be
mentally OK when they got out.
811
00:44:02,120 --> 00:44:03,000
Yeah.
Oh, for sure.
812
00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:05,000
Because you hear about.
Things or even if they would get
813
00:44:05,000 --> 00:44:06,840
out.
Yeah, and you hear about things
814
00:44:06,840 --> 00:44:10,640
in prisons where the person is
in solitary for X period of time
815
00:44:10,640 --> 00:44:12,200
and they start losing it all
together.
816
00:44:12,640 --> 00:44:17,360
Even even though they knew that
they were air quote safe, they
817
00:44:17,640 --> 00:44:20,760
still didn't have the
stimulation, didn't have anyone
818
00:44:20,760 --> 00:44:24,440
to talk to.
And if it there was light issues
819
00:44:24,440 --> 00:44:27,760
or cold issues or whatever like
that, people will lose it all
820
00:44:27,760 --> 00:44:29,880
together and they're in a
situation like that.
821
00:44:30,440 --> 00:44:33,080
Yeah.
So listeners, we would love to
822
00:44:33,080 --> 00:44:38,360
hear any stories that you have
that are stories of how one
823
00:44:38,360 --> 00:44:43,400
moment changed your life forever
or how one accident changed your
824
00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:45,600
life forever.
Or even how you just have a
825
00:44:45,600 --> 00:44:47,680
survival story.
Or even just, yeah, just a
826
00:44:47,680 --> 00:44:52,560
survival story, or if you have
stories of people in your
827
00:44:52,560 --> 00:44:55,760
neighborhoods or just send us
stories if you'd like to, you
828
00:44:55,760 --> 00:45:03,840
can send those to field notes,
FIELDNOTES at our M4 pod.com.
829
00:45:04,160 --> 00:45:09,360
So that's OUR letter M the
#4pod.com.
830
00:45:09,960 --> 00:45:15,520
Again, that's field notes at our
M4 pod.com.
831
00:45:16,600 --> 00:45:18,640
Excellent.
I'm looking forward to seeing
832
00:45:18,640 --> 00:45:20,840
some of those things.
Thanks for that, Crystal.
833
00:45:20,840 --> 00:45:24,160
It's nice to have those little,
little vignettes, if you will,
834
00:45:24,360 --> 00:45:27,640
about things that people have
survived.
835
00:45:27,640 --> 00:45:31,200
And as you said, some of the
stories don't include survival.
836
00:45:31,280 --> 00:45:34,600
And every time I think these
things happen, we have an
837
00:45:34,600 --> 00:45:36,920
opportunity to learn something,
whether something about
838
00:45:36,920 --> 00:45:40,320
ourselves, about the will to
live, about ways that we maybe
839
00:45:40,320 --> 00:45:43,400
we want to be prepared.
You listen to stories about
840
00:45:43,400 --> 00:45:45,680
people have been buried in the
snow and you're supposed to take
841
00:45:46,040 --> 00:45:49,160
a giant breath and put your arms
out as far as you can to make
842
00:45:49,160 --> 00:45:52,560
your space as big as possible.
And there's other things that I
843
00:45:52,760 --> 00:45:54,760
if I were in the snow area
anymore, I should know.
844
00:45:55,280 --> 00:45:58,560
But there are techniques in
those spaces and times that if a
845
00:45:58,560 --> 00:46:02,800
person is aware enough when
something's happening, then they
846
00:46:02,800 --> 00:46:05,800
can do it.
My question for myself would be,
847
00:46:05,800 --> 00:46:07,400
would I even think of it or just
go wow?
848
00:46:09,600 --> 00:46:13,080
I think the propensity would be
to scream, which is letting air.
849
00:46:13,160 --> 00:46:16,240
Out.
Instead of pulling it in right.
850
00:46:16,320 --> 00:46:18,720
Well, I think I've talked.
I, I think I said this before, I
851
00:46:18,720 --> 00:46:24,240
marvel at some survival stories
because like I broke my ankle a
852
00:46:24,240 --> 00:46:31,360
couple years ago and it hurt a
lot and I cried a lot, even like
853
00:46:31,720 --> 00:46:34,440
barely touching.
It hurts so bad.
854
00:46:34,880 --> 00:46:38,120
And then you hear stories of
people who like walk 15 miles on
855
00:46:38,120 --> 00:46:41,880
a broken leg and a broken ankle
and a broken arm.
856
00:46:42,160 --> 00:46:44,520
And I'm just like, I don't think
I could do that.
857
00:46:44,520 --> 00:46:47,440
I mean, I've, I don't want to be
put in this situation either,
858
00:46:47,440 --> 00:46:49,960
but obviously I've never been in
a life or death situation to
859
00:46:49,960 --> 00:46:54,920
that extreme.
But I just, oh man, I, I marvel
860
00:46:54,920 --> 00:46:59,680
at that having experienced
exactly what that feels like.
861
00:46:59,680 --> 00:47:03,280
I know what it feels like to
have a broken ankle, you know, a
862
00:47:03,280 --> 00:47:06,360
trimaliolar fracture, which
means breaks in my ankle as well
863
00:47:06,360 --> 00:47:08,760
as my tibia broken.
I know how that feels.
864
00:47:08,760 --> 00:47:12,120
And so the idea of I was
transported by ambulance on a
865
00:47:12,120 --> 00:47:13,720
stretcher.
I didn't have to walk anywhere
866
00:47:13,880 --> 00:47:15,680
until I got home, but that's a
different story.
867
00:47:15,840 --> 00:47:20,400
I, I can't even, I can't even
imagine walking five feet on
868
00:47:20,400 --> 00:47:22,960
that ankle, let alone 15 miles
or whatever.
869
00:47:22,960 --> 00:47:27,640
You know, it just, I mean, my
hat's off to them because I just
870
00:47:27,640 --> 00:47:30,360
don't know if I could do it.
I don't know if I if I would do
871
00:47:30,360 --> 00:47:32,280
it.
When I feel like there's some
872
00:47:32,280 --> 00:47:34,920
people that have a stronger
survival instinct than others,
873
00:47:34,920 --> 00:47:39,960
just by nature and attitudes,
they come into things and just
874
00:47:39,960 --> 00:47:41,920
know, well, I got to do it.
So here I am.
875
00:47:42,800 --> 00:47:44,960
Yeah.
And, well, don't know how that
876
00:47:44,960 --> 00:47:46,920
would happen.
I mean, obviously, you know,
877
00:47:46,960 --> 00:47:50,560
with a lot of pain, it can, it
can really stop things.
878
00:47:50,560 --> 00:47:53,000
And also our survival can
decrease if we're in a lot of
879
00:47:53,000 --> 00:47:56,800
pain because we're in that whole
panic moment and our bodies are
880
00:47:56,800 --> 00:47:59,160
hyper, hyper acting, if you
will.
881
00:47:59,160 --> 00:48:00,720
Yeah.
Yeah, and that can make a
882
00:48:00,720 --> 00:48:02,360
difference too.
Another thing that can make a
883
00:48:02,360 --> 00:48:05,440
difference, I was just thinking
is if it's my child that's in
884
00:48:05,440 --> 00:48:08,800
danger, like I'm going to have a
whole different reaction if it's
885
00:48:08,800 --> 00:48:11,640
my child than if it's myself.
I even had a whole different
886
00:48:11,640 --> 00:48:13,680
reaction.
And then I think I would for
887
00:48:13,680 --> 00:48:16,800
myself with my brother who
passed away 19 years ago.
888
00:48:16,800 --> 00:48:17,760
Almost.
Yeah.
889
00:48:17,760 --> 00:48:21,720
I just, I don't know, it's, it's
fascinating survival.
890
00:48:21,920 --> 00:48:23,920
Obviously we're not sponsored by
them or anything, but if you
891
00:48:23,920 --> 00:48:27,600
like survival stories, come back
to our podcast for more of them.
892
00:48:27,600 --> 00:48:31,680
But there's also a show called I
Survived that is quite good and
893
00:48:31,680 --> 00:48:33,800
is all about survival stories,
believe it or not.
894
00:48:33,880 --> 00:48:36,880
I know it's hard to tell from
the title, but that's what it's
895
00:48:36,880 --> 00:48:37,960
about.
What?
896
00:48:37,960 --> 00:48:41,360
It's a descriptive title.
Well, thanks, Crystal.
897
00:48:41,360 --> 00:48:45,080
I look forward to our next
recording, our next interesting
898
00:48:45,240 --> 00:48:48,040
episode of our M4 podcast.
I do too.
899
00:48:48,160 --> 00:48:50,800
All right, if you've made it
this far, clearly you like a
900
00:48:50,800 --> 00:48:52,480
little mayhem with your
medicine.
901
00:48:52,760 --> 00:48:55,280
Or you just enjoy hearing us
ramble about weird medical
902
00:48:55,280 --> 00:48:57,480
mysteries.
Either way, we'd love you for
903
00:48:57,480 --> 00:48:59,680
it.
So hit that follow or subscribe
904
00:48:59,680 --> 00:49:01,080
button wherever you're
listening.
905
00:49:01,200 --> 00:49:03,240
And toss us a rating or review
while you're at it.
906
00:49:03,520 --> 00:49:06,080
Helps other curious weirdos find
the show.
907
00:49:06,760 --> 00:49:08,880
And we know there are a lot of
you out there.
908
00:49:09,200 --> 00:49:11,720
Oh so many.
Come join the chaos.
909
00:49:11,760 --> 00:49:14,920
Thanks for listening to
Medicine, Mystery, mayhem, and
910
00:49:14,920 --> 00:49:17,560
sometimes Murder.
Do you have an idea for an
911
00:49:17,560 --> 00:49:20,440
episode of this podcast?
Just want to say hi?
912
00:49:20,800 --> 00:49:23,840
You can get in touch with us at
our M4 pod.
913
00:49:24,320 --> 00:49:30,800
That's OURM
thenumberfourpod@gmail.com.
914
00:49:31,400 --> 00:49:35,320
We read every e-mail, and
sometimes we even respond just
915
00:49:35,320 --> 00:49:38,120
like real professionals.
Because we are.
916
00:49:38,240 --> 00:49:43,000
Old friends with new twists and
lots of body bags.