Book Launch Party - Inside the Well By Lance Lunsford | The Cathedral

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Join us for the official book launch of Inside The Well by author Lance Lunsford and published by Texas Tech University Press. The rescue of an 18-month-old girl from a backyard water well in West Texas in 1987 held the world in suspense for 58 hours, but in the aftermath emerged a dark shadow that followed many of the rescuers and volunteers for years. Inside the Well: The Midland, Texas Rescue of Baby Jessica, covers the world-renowned rescue as it unfolded from the moments before Jessica McClure fell 20 feet down a murky well shaft to the triumphant moment she emerged in the arms of a firefighter. Through hundreds of interviews with the news reporters and first responders who were on the scene, author Lance Lunsford examines the conflict between factions of firefighters, police, and volunteers as well as the struggle following the rescue to truthfully document the event for a made-for-TV drama. The book focuses on the life of Robert O'Donnell, the firefighter-paramedic who dislodged Jessica from the well by crawling through a narrow lateral shaft chiseled into layers of cement-like rock. O'Donnell's heroics were celebrated in the months and years following the rescue, but as the limelight faded, troubling issues emerged as adversaries emerged among fellow firefighters and police. The lives of others are examined closely to explore the stigma of PTSD at the time and what happens when priviledged positions of authority crowd out opportunities for accountability. This book launch event will include discussions and copies available for purchase. Join us, and get your copy signed. Information Source: Lance and Michelle Lunsford | eventbrite