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Dawn Whitlock | Northern Star
Ethan Hall, 9, became a local hero when he alerted authorities saving his elderly neighbor's life.
Young boy helps save life of elderly woman
Ethan Hall just wanted to do the right thing.
Acting on instinct, 9-year-old Ethan, of Sycamore, contributed to the rescue of 92-year-old Evelyn Kikkebush.
Hall shares a Daily Chronicle paper route with his 10-year-old brother Nathanial.
On Saturday, Ethan noticed that Kikkebush had not picked up her newspapers since Wednesday, leaving three papers on her doorstep, including Saturday’s.
Ethan’s mother, Michelle Hall, said Ethan came to her and told her the woman did not pick up her papers in a few days. Hall said Ethan knows the woman lives by herself and doesn’t leave her house much, raising a red-flag.
“We contacted the police non-emergency number and checked to see if an ambulance had been dispatched to the house previously,” Michelle said. “When they saw there wasn’t, they asked me if I would like someone to check on the house, and I said ‘Yes.’”
Police responded as they normally would.
“The Sycamore Police Department receives similar calls often, identified as ‘wellness check’ calls,” Sycamore Police Chief Don Thomas said.
The officers looked in the windows and walked around the house, but could not see anything because of the drapes. They eventually heard a woman mumbling inside.
When Kikkebush did not answer her phone or get up to answer the door, police entered the house.
“We would not have been at this house except for the young man,” Thomas said. “Without him, the woman might have laid there for days.”
When Kikkebush arrived at the hospital, she was severely dehydrated.
“We believe he saved her life,” said Thomas.
Sycamore Mayor Ken Mundy feels Ethan is a positive example of a good community member.
“That’s about as great a community service you can provide,” Mundy said.
Other members of the community agree.
“We’ve received many inquires on where to send congratulations to this young man,” Thomas said.
Ethan’s mother is, to say the least, proud of her son.
“My heart is overfilled with pride,” Michelle said. “Most parents have to wait until their kids are in their late 20s or early 30s to find out what kind of person they’re going to turn out to be; I found out at 9.”
Ethan is having trouble understanding why he is receiving so much media attention.
“It’s a good feeling and I want other people to do good things, too,” Ethan said.
He just sees it as doing the right thing, Michelle said.
“My teacher said I’m helping my classmates and being a role model,” Ethan said, adding that when he went to school, his classmates wanted him to sign their bags, shoes and homework.
“I didn’t because I thought it was too crazy,” he said.
Ethan and his family are invited to attend and share his story with the Sycamore City Council and the community at the May 19 council meeting, Mundy said. The council will thank him for his heroism.
Ethan continues to share the paper route with his older brother and plans to visit Kikkebush when she gets out of the hospital.
“He has to deliver her the paper that Friday anyway,” Michelle said, adding that they bring Kikkebush’s mail and the paper to the hospital every day.
“That’s just what neighbors do,” she said.
Mail can be sent to:
Ethan Hall
General Delivery
Sycamore IL, 60178
Jerry Burnes, Amanda Podgorny, Jessica Sabbah and Sam Brunell contributed to this article.
» Next City Article: Tenant landownder group to discuss proposed ordinances with city council