The night of Taylor's accident Connell, a driver for The H.T. Hackney Company in Brandon, FL, was traveling east on State Road 60 and as he passed by Taylor's car he caught a glimpse of what we think was probably a reflector. The electrical system on Taylor's car was out and the front and rear end of his car was destroyed from it cartwheeling end over end after it rolled. But, there was one red side reflector on the side that Connell could have seen.
After he passed, Connell would later tell us, he wondered if that could have been a reflector on a car. So he slowed is rig down and looked for a break in the median so he could go back and check. He passed the area where he thought he had seen the car, made another u-turn, then began looking for the flash of light he thought he had seen. He spotted Taylor's car and called 911 before he got out of his truck. On the 911 tape we later got a copy of, Connell is talking to the 911 operator telling her he had found a crashed car when he came upon Taylor laying on the side of the road. He calmly gave his location as best he could (he's from Hillsborough county and not familiar with the area) and answered questions about Taylor's condition.
In the background, you can hear passing cars. No one other than Connell stopped. We'll never know for sure, but it makes you wonder if some saw the car and either thought someone else had already called, or if they saw the car and didn't want to get involved. What we do know is if Connell hadn't stopped, things may have turned out very differently for Taylor.
The 911 Operator said help was enroute and they hung up. And then Connell stayed with Taylor, on the side of the road in the dark until help arrived.
I spoke to Connell briefly last year to thank him for what he did, and to tell him Taylor had lived but was in pretty bad shape. I told him when Taylor was able, we wanted to meet him in person and thank him.
We've been in touch with Connell's supervisor, Skip, and told him we wanted to meet Connell but Taylor wanted to wait until he was off the cane. But then, Taylor had the facial surgery and he wanted to wait until most of the swelling was gone. Skip suggested we meet Connell at the company annual Christmas party. It was the perfect time and place to do it since Connell's wife and 3 children were there as well.
Yesterday was the party. Lauren is working a seasonal job at Macy's, so she was unable to attend. But, Taylor, Suzie and I went and was designated as the spokesman. Suzie seems to be the one that is most likely to get through the story without getting choked up, so she was the designated speaker. She told the crowd of 100 or so the story of how Connell found Taylor and how it began the chain of events that saved his life.
Skip called Connell up to the podium and Suzie called up Taylor. Suzie and Taylor hugged Connell and thanked him then Taylor gave Connell a St. Christopher (Patron Saint of safe travel) necklace. Then, Skip presented Connell with a very nice plaque recognizing Connell for being a great employee and human. Skip admitted that he's tough on employees, making
sure they keep on schedule as they travel the state making deliveries. But, he said, during times like this it's ok to be a little late.
Skip, Suzie, Connell and TaylorAs I mentioned before there needs to be a phrase other than "Thank You" that we can use in instances like this. "Thank you" is what I say to someone that hold the door at a convenience store. Using the same phrase to someone like Connell, the Paramedics, Firefighters, helicopter crew, Nurses and Doctors who all had a part in saving your son's life seems very insufficient.
Connell never knew until yesterday, but he's on the top of the list of those that played such an important part in saving Taylor and helping to return him to us in such wonderful condition. Without Connell, the others may have never had the chance to do what they did.
