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Bride, Maid of Honor Jump From Burning Building

Days before the wedding, they jumped 3 stories to survive an apartment fire
By Elizabeth Armstrong Moore,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 1, 2014 5:40 AM CDT
Bride, Maid of Honor Jump From Burning Building
Flames consume a building at Lakeview Meadows apartments Monday, June 16, 2014 in Battle Creek, Mich. Authorities say residents escaped safely during a fire at the senior citizens apartment complex that prompted an evacuation of more than 100 people.   (AP Photo/The Enquirer, Trace Christenson)

Just five days before her wedding, a Colorado bride managed to avoid a potential tragedy: She and her maid of honor jumped from a third-story window "into rocks" to escape an apartment fire, WPTV reports. Still, Lenise Ruff decided to go on with her wedding last Saturday in spite of burns to her hands and face; her roommate and maid of honor Marilyn Kruc braved two broken vertebrae and walked down the aisle in a back brace pushing a walker, reports ABC News. Ruff says that in addition to making it to the ceremony, Kruc "sent a voice message that was played over a microphone for a toast. ... I don't think there was a dry eye in room."

Ruff adds that she and her new husband, having just survived the "for worse" portion of their vows, are now looking forward to "the better," reports CBS Denver. And while the fire didn't destroy her dress (it was at her mother's house), Ruff and her best friend lost just about all their other possessions, including wedding gifts. Those interested in helping can donate through GoFundMe. (In other news, a bride who was paralyzed in a freak accident at her bachelorette party a few years ago has some happy news.)

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