About
Ethan is my grandson who, while attending the Salvation Army summer day camp on June 2,2009, nearly drowned. He is a bright and beautiful boy, whose spirit has not been diminished by this tragedy.
Each day, Ethan is fighting to regain control of his body and return to the happy healthy little boy he was before that fateful day.
What breaks my heart the most is what happened to Ethan was 100% preventable. It is my opinion that it seems like every bad decision that could be made that day was made.
The parents of the children who attended the day camp knew the children would be going swimming but they thought they would be going to the Amphi High School Pool, just down the street from the Amphi Corps Salvation Army. But that's not what happened, instead the decision was made to go to their own private pool at 1001 N. Richey Blvd. This meant transporting 25+ children and teen volunteers and one adult across town.
No lifeguards on duty, and no one on site was CPR certified, things that would make all the different to Ethan and my family. Ethan was found at the bottom of the 8ft section of the pool in a fetal position, by the other children. Another child sounded the alarm. A 16 yr old boy dove in and pulled Ethan from the pool, Ethan was not breathing.
Because no one was life guard or cpr certified the compressions that were administered poolside were done incorrectly, by the time paramedics had arrived Ethan had been down 6 minutes.
According to Discovery Fit and Health website :
"The difference between clinical death and biological death is small: just a few crucial minutes, in fact. Clinical death is the point at which a person's heart stops beating. At that time, breathing and blood circulation stop. Biological death occurs some four to six minutes later, when the brain cells die from lack of oxygen"
According to court documents even the defendant's (Salvation Army's) own doctor said Ethan "was not effectively resuscitated within a time frame conducive to recovery of useful brain function."
As his grandmother, I watch as his mom struggles with the burdens of caring for a special needs child. Totally unprepared for how to raise a special needs child, my daughter has risen to the occasion with the spirit of a championship fighter. She fights every day to find ways to get Ethan all the care, equipment and therapy he needs.
Why does she have to fight for his care? Because although officials from the Salvation Army came to the hospital and told me and my family that they would do "anything for Ethan" and "provide whatever care isn't covered by insurace"
They never did. Even after delivering the following letter to Rose at the hospital. 
Stories of near drowning children, make headlines, but soon the headlines fade away and the family is left struggling to put their lives back together, and somehow cope with the tremendous financial burden that now has become a part of their every day lives. Never did we realize how much is involved in the aftermath of a near drowning.
If you'd like to help, please DONATE via paypal.
God Bless!
Become one of Ethan's Buddies
Your generous donations help ensure Ethan will receive the treatments and therapies he needs. Treatments such as Hyperbaric Oxygen or HBOT are not covered by insurance, increasing the financial burden of caring for a special needs child.
Any amount you donate is greatly appreciated. Ethan would like you to offically become one of his buddies, and request an Ethan's Buddies wristband.
All I ask is on Ethan's behalf you help spread the word
about water safety and commit to always swim with a buddy and follow all water
safety rules.