Drowning tragedy - 'I can't believe this happened to me'
Two short minutes changed everything. Mom tells her story
As parents we have all watched the news to see a sad story where a child was injured or died. And we’ve also been that parent who thought in the back of their mind, “That is so sad. I am so grateful it’s not me.” Or even “I can’t imagine. At least nothing like that will ever happen to us.”
Well, I was that parent too. And then one day everything changed in the blink of an eye.
It takes a while to come to terms with the fact when “that would be so terrible” turns into “I can’t believe this happened to me.” Shock and disbelief take a long time to get over.
On August 6th, 2012, we lost our 4-year old son Xander to drowning. The day our lives changed tragically forever, we were now that family. On a summer day playing with my three children and our friends in the pool, two short minutes changed everything.
The kids and I had met my friend and her three children for an afternoon at the community pool in her neighborhood. We all swam numerous times a week and were in the water all the time.
Immediately I was confused by the layout of this pool and the sight obstructions from many angles. I said to my friend, we would just have to watch them closely in this odd pool configuration. We began our day of swimming after a quick lunch. My two older girls could swim proficiently and we were still working on Xander jumping in and getting his face wet. He didn’t love water on his face but we were making strides.
All day my son was attached at the hip to my girlfriend’s daughter, who was 3, they were inseparable; he was very smitten that day. Always a very loving boy, compassionate and wanted to take care of everyone.
After following Xander with his friend on his hip around the bend of the shallow lazy river, my middle daughter asked me to help her get watermelon out of the cooler, so I asked my girlfriend to watch the little ones. Her son called her a couple feet away and when she turned back around, the little ones had stepped too far where the slope starts to get deeper.
I’m sure Xander panicked when the water touched his face and couldn’t turn around. When my friend turned around his face was under and he was holding his little friend up above the water, which pushed him down. It all happened in less than 2 minutes.
They were pulled out immediately but he had slipped unconscious. We were amazed that there was a nurse at the pool that day with her children who began CPR right away. Unfortunately, it took too long to get a heartbeat, his tummy was full of lunch. Paramedics finally got a heartbeat after what proved to be too long. We were immediately flown by CareFlight to Cook Children’s in Ftort Worth, Texas where we could not have asked for better care. They did everything they possibly could and took amazing care of our son in his last days.
In the grief and suffering and disbelief of losing our third-born child, baby and only boy, our hearts and minds have been so expanded by the knowledge and love of the amazing nurses and doctors at Cooks Children’s. The support system they have is amazing. When they told us he would never wake we immediately agreed for our son to be an organ and tissue donor, we are proud that he went on to save so many lives. And we are grateful for the love and support we received from Cook Children’s and LifeGift donation care at an unimaginable time of our lives.
Do not buy the misconception from the movies of drowning. There is no splashing or screaming. It is silent and it happens FAST. My mission as his mother now is to carry on what I’ve learned in his name and work for safety and knowledge for parents and children.
It can be a pool, bathtub, toilet, sink or even a pail of water. I am now a fierce advocate with Cook Children’s and the Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition to spread the word of the importance of water safety. I will honor my son until the day I die and I hope I’m teaching my girls to do the same. Even two seconds is too long to turn your back on a child in the water.
Unfortunately, I learned the hard way but I hope our story helps even one family be more aware. I would give anything in this world to kiss and hug my baby boy again. I pray no one ever has to feel what we have. Please be aware and cherish every single moment you have with your children.
i always wanted to do something in our son's name. i am trying now to get started. i am in Pennsylvania. not too many local sites come up under drowning support groups.
thank you for listening,
tammy Kuestner
Thank you for your courage, it has helped me along my journey. My deepest condolences
She finally work up in the morning with no fever and 100% herself! I do believe it was a miracle as she has no sequelles and is fully herself. Up to now, I still have these images of her little body floating in the water and her blue face and her difficulties breathing and me singing to her and talking to her and kissing her and praying god to save her.. and she fought and she won and she survived! we are some lucky parents and we are so extra careful today.
To all parents who went through a loss or who, like me had a miracle, drowning happens so quickly but we cant blame ourselves for what happen as it will not help us. like other parents, I am still fighting those horrible images out of my mind and reading all your stories help me go through all this and me also I want to do something about this and help other parents.. how? deepest condolences to all of you
People have already past judgement on us, calling my husband and I irresponsible. It hurts but, I'm not mad at them. I understand. I do not wish this tragedy on anyone, anyone. Our intent was to bring joy to our grandsons, like we have since we began having them. Playing with them in the pool, in our back yard, in our home. Our lives forever changed by this and lessons learned.
I'm going to join a Drowning Prevention Coalition and Advocate, Advocate, Advocate to spread the word of the importance of water safety. It only takes seconds.
Thank you for sharing and allowing me to share. I needed to write this.
Unfortunately, we could not view the body due to the damage I guess. It is now coming a year that I could hardly believe my heart, my heart was gone.
Your story drew me to talk about it and thank you for sharing.
I have always been leary of children in the water. But you never know when something so tragic can happen to anyone.
Your baby was only 4 and had not even experienced life. My heart goes out to you.
The thought goes on constantly- never stops. Think I am going nuts.
He was 48yrs old. Trying to save his two lab pups. In a icy
Lake.