CITY OF LEWISTON, NY (WKBW) – December 10, 2004. This is the day that the lives of Alexis Kraft and Richard Hill changed forever.
“She was our whole world,” Kraft said.
Renee Hill was a 16-year-old sophomore at Wheatfield High School in Niagara. She was the eldest of four children.
“She was a mother bear, for sure. I could line them up very quickly, but she was lovely and everyone loved her, ”Kraft said.
“Everyone loved him,” Hill said.
Alexis Kraft
Her parents say Renee loved lacrosse. Her coach, Joe Kiszka, said she was quiet but intimidating and that she was a strong, quiet leader. He said Renee was feared on the field, but off the field she was an absolute beloved.
“We would love to go and see her play lacrosse because it was really amazing. All the parents and all the other girls on the team would call him a beast because, once he got to the field, he would only go very strong, ”said Kraft.
Alexis Kraft
But Renee’s life ended in a sudden tragic Saturday morning when she went sledding with her cousins at Clyde L. Burmaster Park in Lewiston City.
“I had gone down the hill. I had my 3 year old nephew with her. He saw the tree coming. His first instinct was to put his foot down and turn the sled so that my nephew would not get hurt. He hit the tree. His heart stopped on the way to the hospital, ”said Kraft.
Her parents said Renee died saving her 3-year-old cousin.
“Everyone calls her a hero. But that was my baby,” Kraft said.
Alexis Kraft
Renee’s parents are grateful to the community for their support during such a difficult time.
“Don’t take even a minute of course with your babies. Tell them you love them. Every minute. Every chance you get,” Kraft said.
There is a GoFundMe created to help the family.