| About me: |
I was a surivior of OLA school, in room 212 at the time of the fire. With some of the rest of my classmates, I also jumped out of the window, I don't remember how exactly I got to the window as I was in the second row, third to the last seat. I only remember getting ready to close our books, and we started to smell the smoke and I saw some smoke coming from the front transome glass above the door in front of the classroom. I thought the firemen were trying to get us nervous and see what we would do. Right after that I wished it were only a test! I do remember getting more nervous and everyone starting for the windows, as I saw sister in front of the classroom she was at the front door, I think I called to her and I remember her telling me to get to the window and get out, but I don't remember how I did get towards the window only that by that time black smoke (very hot) was floating just above our heads. it was hard trying to breathe I was having a hard time as there were alot of the kids there already, I unfortuniatly remember having pulled a boy's head back and I put my head out just to get a breathe of air and it was so hot, the next thing I remember as I was trying to get out and some of us were so tight it was difficult to do anything. The next thing I remember is that I was hanging on the outside of the windowsil with my hands barely hanging on. My hands hurt and it was hard to hang on. The smoke and flames then started to come from the first floor below me, and I could feel the brick being so warm, I thought I was going to start on fire or the whole side of the building was going to collaspe with me holding on, I could see the firemen coming but they could not reach us and so I just let go, the next thing was I looked up and down fast and then I was laying on the ground. A girl Rosemary I suppose had just fallen next to me and her face was all red, with blood. I tried to get up but my right leg was hurting, (did not realize it was broken) when I took off my shoe I tried to get up again, I couldn't. Then I looked back at the building and saw Charlene up at the window standing there, all of a sudden her grandma was there and she was calling to her. Then she came falling down. As Charlene said her grandma went quickly and picked her up. I called to her and she said that she'd come back for me. Someone then carried me off into the candy store,and set me up in a chair. I saw all of us kids crying and calling out to each other. Someone put a blanket around me, and then they picked me and some others up and set about 4 to 5 of us in a paddy wagon (black police van) then they took us to Franklin Blvd. Hospital. I was put on a chair and I kept on seeing kids being brought in with broken limbs and it looked to me like skin flaking off them, as with most of our bodies all blacken by the smoke. At that time, I realized later that it was burned flesh hanging from them. We spent a lot of time there then we were taken to rooms if available. Later we were all put on one floor, I was released just a few days before Christmas, and I had to go back now and then for checkups, as I had broken my right ankle they said with five broken bones. I had to have other cast put on later as the setting was not working, being that the first one had been done when my leg was so swollen, the bones were not being kept in place.
I had two brothers going to many hospitals checking the morgues as they could not find me anywhere. Unfortunately, they had my name down as John(boy), with all the commotion that was going on all over. During this time a very nice person a switchboard lady from ILL Bell told my mother to stay off the phone as no one could get though and she would be able to check the hospitals and found a John Mass(boy) at Franklin Blvd my family figured out that this must be me. I was found by my Ma and siblings at around 8:00 pm. that evening.
I now live in Aurora, IL, with my loving husband (Domenico)of 41 years together and counting, I'm blessed with two wonderful sons Dominic and John. John is married to Sue who is such a wonderful daughter-in-law whom we love dearly. The best thing is we have a beautiful granddaughter named Marissa, 11 years old,and now we have a grandson named John, 2 years of age,and we cherish every moment with our family. God did bless me with a great family to care for, and that is what my life is, in doing what I can for them.
I am retired now from a Senior Center in Downers Grove, IL. After some 11 years. My life was full of helping those for whatever I could help with. If it wasn't for some health problems of my own now I would love to still help people. My son Dominic is (special needs) and we are now full time still taking care of his needs.
We have a memory during the time of our lives when all of that time should have been only good memories. But who said life is always good. I call myself a survivor victim, as I'm sure alot of you agree. I would like to keep intouch with all of you, sorry to say I do get a little emotional at times, mainly when I get close to my birthday in Dec. I do not look forward to them as it reminds me too much of the sad time in 1958. I had my 11th birthday in the hosiptal.
My family husband, sons, daughter-in-law, grandchildren are my life and we are strong together. Maybe that is why God choose not to take me that cold day in December, maybe he still has some plans for us we still don't know yet! For me to be here to help others, but this is my life and I'm glad to be alive.
I would love to hear from my former classmates or who is interested and please keep my informed on upcoming get togethers.
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