Daniel Pinna
What Ever Happened to the "Well-Baby"?
The following was published by PBS on October 30th 2017
In May 2015, following the broadcast of our Chicago episodes, the inheritor of this 1931 Carnegie Hero Medal, Patrick Maloy, says he felt inspired by his ROADSHOW experience to seek out Donald Venema and get in touch.
Donald, now 91, is the Nebraska retiree whose misadventure as an 18-month-old served as the dramatic backdrop for Patrick's appearance on ROADSHOW. One August day in 1927, in Wallingford, Iowa, little Don happened to slip into the hole of a damaged well. Relatively unhurt by the fall, he was nonetheless trapped on a ledge some 30 feet below ground. The opening of the well was unstable near the surface, and despite there being a helpless toddler in distress, several men refused to climb down for fear of prompting an even more dangerous collapse. Stranded for more than an hour, and doubtless terrified, Don was ultimately saved by a man named Edward Maloy, who happened onto the scene and intrepidly volunteered to descend the hole by rope and find the baby.
Donald’s son Dave tells us that after surviving such a harrowing accident at his life's very beginning, his father went on to serve in World War II, and then spent his career working for the federal government.
Unsurprisingly, Donald says he has no memory himself of the ordeal so many decades ago — but as mementos his family have preserved the little red outfit and one of the shoes he was wearing on the day of his dramatic accident and rescue. Still going strong today at age 91, Donald is the proud patriarch of five children, 10 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
As for our guest, Patrick, his family continues to honor the memory of their brave ancestor, Edward Maloy. On the 90th anniversary of his act of heroism, the family gathered to affix the Carnegie medal to his grave.
In May 2015, following the broadcast of our Chicago episodes, the inheritor of this 1931 Carnegie Hero Medal, Patrick Maloy, says he felt inspired by his ROADSHOW experience to seek out Donald Venema and get in touch.
Donald, now 91, is the Nebraska retiree whose misadventure as an 18-month-old served as the dramatic backdrop for Patrick's appearance on ROADSHOW. One August day in 1927, in Wallingford, Iowa, little Don happened to slip into the hole of a damaged well. Relatively unhurt by the fall, he was nonetheless trapped on a ledge some 30 feet below ground. The opening of the well was unstable near the surface, and despite there being a helpless toddler in distress, several men refused to climb down for fear of prompting an even more dangerous collapse. Stranded for more than an hour, and doubtless terrified, Don was ultimately saved by a man named Edward Maloy, who happened onto the scene and intrepidly volunteered to descend the hole by rope and find the baby.
Donald’s son Dave tells us that after surviving such a harrowing accident at his life's very beginning, his father went on to serve in World War II, and then spent his career working for the federal government.
Unsurprisingly, Donald says he has no memory himself of the ordeal so many decades ago — but as mementos his family have preserved the little red outfit and one of the shoes he was wearing on the day of his dramatic accident and rescue. Still going strong today at age 91, Donald is the proud patriarch of five children, 10 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
As for our guest, Patrick, his family continues to honor the memory of their brave ancestor, Edward Maloy. On the 90th anniversary of his act of heroism, the family gathered to affix the Carnegie medal to his grave.
