11-Year-Old West Virginia boy survives near-drowning thanks to heroic efforts of lifeguards and medical team

(WTRF) A West Virginia boy is recovering after a family trip to the pool led to an 11-year-old boy almost drowning during a family outing gone horrifically wrong.

According to WVU Medicine news, Elizabeth Pauley was swimming with her son when she heard three piercing whistles from the lifeguards. She looked and saw a boy being pulled from the pool and instantly recognized them as her son, Jackson.

WVU Medicine says that Jackson is a typical 11-year-old who loves hockey and fighting with his siblings. But five years ago, WVU Medicine says Jackson was diagnosed with epilepsy five years ago when he was in kindergarten.

Pauley’s motherly instincts kicked in, she rushed to grab Jackson’s seizure rescue medicine out of her bag and ran to the lifeguards working on Jackson who didn’t appear to be breathing.

Shortly after administering the rescue medication, the lifeguards and on-off-duty pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) nurses started life-saving efforts to save Jackson.

Pauley tells WVU Medicine that the coordination the crew showed pulling Jackson out of the pool, performing CPR, drying him off to administer the AED, and coordinating with EMA all while handling crowd control was “nothing short of amazing.”

She applauded the Krepps Pool lifeguards for “expertly handling” the situation.

According to WVU Medicine Jackson, Jackson arrived at the WVY Medicine Jon Moore Trauma Center at Ruby Memorial only minutes later.

The boy was scanned for head injuries and placed on a ventilator until he was able to breathe on his own. He stayed at Ruby Memorial until it was ruled out that he did not have head trauma and was transferred to WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital Pediatric ICU.

It is reported that Jackson was alert during his transport to the ICU; he was able to squeeze his mother’s hand when prompted; he was alert and aware but was very uncomfortable with the machines being used to keep him breathing. His sedatives were increased to keep him comfortable until he was able to be unhooked from all the apparatuses and tubes that were in his throat.

Jackson’s Parents praised the professionals at Ruby, saying their “professionalism was off the charts.”

According to WVU Medicine, Jackson was still on ventilation when his care team began checking for his brain activity. His parents were preparing for the worst, but his doctors confirmed his vitals looked good, even though they were pulling a lot of fluid from his lungs.

It is reported that Jackson developed a fever on Sunday morning, and his oxygen decreased. Doctors say bacteria had formed in Jackson’s lungs; later in the evening, respiratory therapists were extracting algae-green fluid.

The Infectious Diseases team tested and confirmed the bacteria was solely from the pool, which allowed for antibiotics to be administered around the clock, making Jackson’s prognosis much brighter.

Jackson’s father Jason says the nurse’s, doctor’s, neurologist’s, and everyone they encountered were amazing and very transparent. He said he knew his son was in great hands. He was told by many of the care workers how much they were praying for him.

According to WVU Medicine, Jackson was somewhat of a celebrity by the time he recovered enough to be moved to the ninth floor.

Jason was told by the pediatrician that the doctor’s and nurses had been getting updates on Jackson, and could not wait for him to be well enough to be able to be care for by them. Elizabeth Pauley told WVU Medicine that it was just like they were talking of taking care of their own child.

The Pauley’s also commended the Child Life program as well, not only for the way the took care of Jackson, but for how they cared for them as well.

WVU Medicine says the next steps in Jackson’s recovery is to continue to monitor his cognition through a neurologist, as well as a medicine specialist and to get more information about his seizers.

When Jackson was finally about to leave the hospital, WVU Medicine says his doctor’s did not put any restrictions on him and allowed him to resume any normal activities he felt ready for.

Jackson’s parents told WVU Medicine that Jackson wanted to ride his bike around the neighborhood and play in a hockey game the weekend after his hospital release.

The Pauley’s say Jackson suffering from a seizure is nothing new, but having one occur before 6 or 7 p.m. is not like his normal episodes, and for that reason, he will be visiting a pediatric neurologist very soon.

Jason Pauley added that even had the circumstances been different and the outcome been negative, he would still be praising all the wonderful people associated with WVU Medicine.

The Pauley’s say Jackson does not recall much of the day’s event’s. They say he remembers going into the pool, and can remember what shirt he was wearing. They also say they know he is feeling back to his old self by ‘arguing with his siblings again.”

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