Toddler Lives After Being Declared Dead

Lasza · 11-08-2003, 12:07 PM

Toddler Lives After Being Declared Dead

FULLERTON, Calif. - Forty minutes after a toddler found face down in a swimming pool was declared dead at a hospital, a police investigator examining the body noticed the little girl was breathing.

Doctors who rushed to the room Friday were able to revive 20-month-old Mackayala Jespersen, and Saturday morning, the little girl was in critical condition but alive, Sgt. Sean Fares said.

"It was a very emotional moment for everyone," said Sgt. Ron Gillett, a police spokesman. "We thought she didn't make it and then she did. It was the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs."

Mackayala's mother had been at the home Friday morning when the little girl apparently slipped out the sliding glass door and into the back yard, where the pool was, authorities said.

Police officers who responded to a frantic 9-1-1 call performed CPR, and paramedics took over as she was taken to Anaheim Memorial Hospital, but doctors pronounced her dead about an hour after she had been found in the pool.

Forty minutes later, Det. Mike Kendrick was conducting a routine examination for the police report on the girl's death when he noticed her chest billowing up and down, Fares said. He summoned doctors, who were able to revive the little girl.

"We don't know if it is a miracle yet. She is doing as good as she can," a man who identified himself as the girl's grandfather told the Los Angeles Times for its Saturday editions. He said it was too early to know if Mackayala would recover.

Mark Langdorf, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of California, Irvine, said it is not uncommon for toddlers to survive drownings after showing little or no signs of life, especially if the water is cold.

What was unusual in Mackayala's case, he said, was the time involved.

"If you had said she came back to life after 10 minutes I would be surprised, but 40 minutes is just exceptional," he said.

Here is the link.

Sweet_KJ · 11-08-2003, 01:07 PM

That is amazing... but I have a feeling that she might be brain-damaged... 40 minutes without air would have a profound effect on the brain.

Fly Free · 11-08-2003, 02:07 PM

wow thats amazing and KJ is right -- she might be brain damaged

wait n see after her recovery and all that

Oddball · 11-08-2003, 02:51 PM

My heart goes to the little girl and her family. Yes, I have a same feeling that she might have a brain damage after staying afloat for 40 minutes long.

MsGiglz · 11-08-2003, 03:13 PM

wow!! its miracle!

CatoCooper13 · 11-08-2003, 05:34 PM

Wow..yeah, all we can do is wait and see how she pulls through recovery and whether there'd be any lasting brain damages or not.

javapride · 11-09-2003, 12:57 AM

my heart goes out to the family AND PRAYS that the little baby pulls thru and not have any signs of brain damages, keep us UPDATED on that one

timiceca · 11-11-2003, 06:09 PM

UPDATED:
Toddler once believed dead remains in critical condition

The Associated Press
(Published Monday, November 10, 2003, 8:35 PM)

ORANGE, Calif. (AP) - Early tests of a toddler revived after she was believed dead from drowning found no signs of serious brain damage, a family attorney said Monday, but her doctor warned that she remains at high risk.
Twenty-month-old Mackayala Jespersen has been in critical condition since she was revived three days ago and her vital signs Monday were stable, said James Cappon, one of the girl's doctors at the Children's Hospital of Orange County.

"The small progress that she has made is surprising and at some level encouraging," Cappon said.

Family attorney Brian Oxman said the girl was able to put her arms around her mother but it was hard to say if it was a hug because the girl is sedated.

She was sedated because she was thrashing her arms and legs and also grabbed at tubes in her mouth and nose, Oxman said.

A CAT scan of her brain determined that the girl would "not be in any vegetative condition, nor will she be someone who's got to be cared for for her bodily functions," Oxman told The Associated Press.

Oxman said it was unclear whether she might have lesser damage that might cause a speech impediment or leave the toddler with problems walking or grasping small objects.

"We are very hopeful that none of those things are going to be present because she is grasping at the tubes, which tells us she has the ability to make the fine movements," Oxman said. "She is holding her parents' hands and has a good strong fist."

Doctors were analyzing the scan results to see if there were any small brain abnormalities, Cappon said.

"She is at very high risk to have sustained some damage, even permanent damage, but the extent of which remains to be determined," he said.

The girl was found floating face down in her Fullerton family's swimming pool Friday morning and was rushed to Anaheim Memorial Medical Center. Doctors there pronounced her dead at 10:06 a.m., an hour after her mother called 911.

Fullerton police Detective Mike Kendrick was investigating the toddler's death and taking pictures of her about 40 minutes later when he noticed her chest moving up and down. He summoned doctors, who revived her. She was later transferred to the Children's Hospital of Orange County.

Kendrick told CNN that he was "in shock" when he realized the girl was breathing.

"This child could've been put in a body bag, zipped up and transported to the coroner's office and put in a fridge," Kendrick said. "I'm just lucky that I was there to process the child and notice that she was breathing."

11-08-2003, 12:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lasza Premium Lurker Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mile High State Posts: 2,509	Toddler Lives After Being Declared Dead Toddler Lives After Being Declared Dead FULLERTON, Calif. - Forty minutes after a toddler found face down in a swimming pool was declared dead at a hospital, a police investigator examining the body noticed the little girl was breathing. Doctors who rushed to the room Friday were able to revive 20-month-old Mackayala Jespersen, and Saturday morning, the little girl was in critical condition but alive, Sgt. Sean Fares said. "It was a very emotional moment for everyone," said Sgt. Ron Gillett, a police spokesman. "We thought she didn't make it and then she did. It was the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs." Mackayala's mother had been at the home Friday morning when the little girl apparently slipped out the sliding glass door and into the back yard, where the pool was, authorities said. Police officers who responded to a frantic 9-1-1 call performed CPR, and paramedics took over as she was taken to Anaheim Memorial Hospital, but doctors pronounced her dead about an hour after she had been found in the pool. Forty minutes later, Det. Mike Kendrick was conducting a routine examination for the police report on the girl's death when he noticed her chest billowing up and down, Fares said. He summoned doctors, who were able to revive the little girl. "We don't know if it is a miracle yet. She is doing as good as she can," a man who identified himself as the girl's grandfather told the Los Angeles Times for its Saturday editions. He said it was too early to know if Mackayala would recover. Mark Langdorf, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of California, Irvine, said it is not uncommon for toddlers to survive drownings after showing little or no signs of life, especially if the water is cold. What was unusual in Mackayala's case, he said, was the time involved. "If you had said she came back to life after 10 minutes I would be surprised, but 40 minutes is just exceptional," he said. Here is the link.

11-08-2003, 03:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
MsGiglz Finally we are Mr & Mrs.. Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: WVa Posts: 4,254	wow!! its miracle! __________________

11-08-2003, 05:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
CatoCooper13 Am attached and in LOVE! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sonoma County, California Posts: 6,418	Wow..yeah, all we can do is wait and see how she pulls through recovery and whether there'd be any lasting brain damages or not. __________________ Til I hold my bub in my arms.

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11-08-2003, 01:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sweet_KJ * Muse * Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 722	That is amazing... but I have a feeling that she might be brain-damaged... 40 minutes without air would have a profound effect on the brain.

11-08-2003, 02:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Fly Free Just me Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Wherever i want to be LOL Posts: 9,101	wow thats amazing and KJ is right -- she might be brain damaged wait n see after her recovery and all that

11-08-2003, 02:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
Oddball Wacky Oddball Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cleveland native now lives in New Jersey. Posts: 3,173	My heart goes to the little girl and her family. Yes, I have a same feeling that she might have a brain damage after staying afloat for 40 minutes long.

11-09-2003, 12:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
javapride Java's Big Island Life! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: hawaii Posts: 6,509	my heart goes out to the family AND PRAYS that the little baby pulls thru and not have any signs of brain damages, keep us UPDATED on that one

11-11-2003, 06:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
timiceca Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 35	UPDATED: Toddler once believed dead remains in critical condition The Associated Press (Published Monday, November 10, 2003, 8:35 PM) ORANGE, Calif. (AP) - Early tests of a toddler revived after she was believed dead from drowning found no signs of serious brain damage, a family attorney said Monday, but her doctor warned that she remains at high risk. Twenty-month-old Mackayala Jespersen has been in critical condition since she was revived three days ago and her vital signs Monday were stable, said James Cappon, one of the girl's doctors at the Children's Hospital of Orange County. "The small progress that she has made is surprising and at some level encouraging," Cappon said. Family attorney Brian Oxman said the girl was able to put her arms around her mother but it was hard to say if it was a hug because the girl is sedated. She was sedated because she was thrashing her arms and legs and also grabbed at tubes in her mouth and nose, Oxman said. A CAT scan of her brain determined that the girl would "not be in any vegetative condition, nor will she be someone who's got to be cared for for her bodily functions," Oxman told The Associated Press. Oxman said it was unclear whether she might have lesser damage that might cause a speech impediment or leave the toddler with problems walking or grasping small objects. "We are very hopeful that none of those things are going to be present because she is grasping at the tubes, which tells us she has the ability to make the fine movements," Oxman said. "She is holding her parents' hands and has a good strong fist." Doctors were analyzing the scan results to see if there were any small brain abnormalities, Cappon said. "She is at very high risk to have sustained some damage, even permanent damage, but the extent of which remains to be determined," he said. The girl was found floating face down in her Fullerton family's swimming pool Friday morning and was rushed to Anaheim Memorial Medical Center. Doctors there pronounced her dead at 10:06 a.m., an hour after her mother called 911. Fullerton police Detective Mike Kendrick was investigating the toddler's death and taking pictures of her about 40 minutes later when he noticed her chest moving up and down. He summoned doctors, who revived her. She was later transferred to the Children's Hospital of Orange County. Kendrick told CNN that he was "in shock" when he realized the girl was breathing. "This child could've been put in a body bag, zipped up and transported to the coroner's office and put in a fridge," Kendrick said. "I'm just lucky that I was there to process the child and notice that she was breathing."