Child's death mystifies mother'It's really bizarre,' mom says of son's drowning The Post and Courier
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
"Jon Jon" GOOSE CREEK — Cassandra Jackson is still trying to understand how her 10-year-old son could have died more than an hour after swimming in the pool at his apartment complex Sunday afternoon. But if one child can be saved because people learn from Johnny "Jon Jon" Jackson's death, her loss is more tolerable, she said. Jon Jon, a fourth-grader at Westview Elementary School, inhaled a lot of water while swimming in the Branchwood apartments pool about noon Sunday, his mother said. He seemed fine afterward, but said he was sleepy, so he lay down in his bed about an hour later, she said. A few minutes later, another adult checked on him and found white foam coming from his mouth. "His lips were blue and his tongue was sticking out," his mother said. "We called 911." He later died of asphyxiation by drowning at Trident Medical Center, Berkeley County Coroner Glenn Rhoad said. He said there was water in the boy's lungs. Jon Jon was autistic and suffered from attention deficit and a social phobia, his mother said. But doctors told her that had nothing to do with his death. Not all drowning deaths happen immediately. Other phenomena, such as secondary drowning, can occur as much as 72 hours later and without any warning signs, medical experts say. "I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this," Jackson said. "It's really bizarre." Tuesday night, she flipped through photos of her son, whom she described as a good boy and a huge wrestling fan. If he wasn't watching wrestling, he was playing a wrestling video game, she said. His daily schedule is taped to his bedroom door. It helped the autistic boy to have a routine, she said. "He was so loving," she said. The family moved into the apartment about eight months ago, and Jon Jon had begged to go swimming for months, but it was too cold, Jackson said. On a sunny day over the weekend, they gathered up their swimming gear and headed for the pool. They couldn't have imagined a tragic end to their day, Jackson said. Rhoad called the case unusual. He said adults in the group couldn't have known what was happening. It isn't clear that any actions could have saved Jon Jon. But there are some preventive measures that parents should take for more common situations, experts say. Never leave young children unsupervised around pools or swimming areas. All children should learn how to swim. If a child starts acting strangely or has trouble breathing after leaving the water, early intervention by paramedics could be crucial to saving his or her life. Any adult trained in CPR can start potentially life-saving care before paramedics arrive. Jackson, 40, said she hopes other parents will closely monitor their children after swimming, especially if a child has inhaled water. "Please check them when they get out of the pool. Just watch them like a hawk," she said. "It tears me up inside. It's a heck of a sacrifice, but if this will help someone else, then it's all worth it." In 2005 there were 3,582 accidental drowning deaths in the United States, about 10 every day, according to recent figures available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than a quarter of those victims were 14 or younger; drowning was the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for that age group, behind only motor vehicle accidents. Males were four times more likely than females to drown. Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com. Reach Noah Haglund at 937-5550 or nhaglund@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 28 comment(s)
Posted by beth1070 on June 4, 2008 at 2:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My heart goes out to this family. What a terrible thing to have to go through.
Posted by moonpie on June 4, 2008 at 6:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have never heard of this? Scary though.
My condolences to the family.
Posted by ms_lady2u on June 4, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so sorry for your loss, I myself have a 10 yr old who loves to swim,for now on my eyes will be glued on him while he's in the water,thanks for the advice,and may GOD be with you at this time of sorrow!!
Posted by grannyofsix on June 4, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
May GOd be with this family at this time. Losing a child is one of the worst things a mother can go through Try to be strong Cassandra God is with you. My Prayers are for you and your family today.
Posted by Tammie on June 4, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's hard dealing with the death of anyone but especially the death of a child. Ms Jackson, I can't imagine what you are going through right now, my deepest condolences are with you during this difficult time. I will definitely keep your family in my thoughts and prayers. God bless.
Posted by Early on June 4, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms Jackson, thank you for sharing your thought with us, I know that was hard to do so soon after a very, very tragic loss. My prayers go out to you and may you find comfort where you seek it.
Posted by jkjb3 on June 4, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel so terrible for this family.. This is truly a bizarre occurrence. This is something that the media should do an educational segment about so the rest of society can (1) be aware that this can happen and (2) take Ms. Jacksons' personal advice. This family is in my prayers.
Posted by RTC on June 4, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How terribly sad.
I have heard of this happening, but rarely.
My sincerest condolences go out to Ms. Jackson and her family.
She is a very brave and unselfish lady to warn others while her own heart is breaking.
Posted by LMA324 on June 4, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was never aware that you could drown up to 72 hours after swimming. This is a tragic story and my prayers are with this family. May God help guide you through this tough time.
Posted by jca on June 4, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
this is horrible.
my heart goes out to the family
but this seems fishy. seems like something had to have happened in the pool. like some one holding him under the water. this doesnt just randomly happen
Posted by JDV on June 4, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My deepest sympathy & heartfelt condolences to Jon-Jon's Mother & Family. I am so very sorry for your loss. ~Jon-Jon is safe in the arms of Jesus now~.
Posted by glevans on June 4, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is very sad. What a terrible thing to have happen to such a beautiful little boy. I am so sorry...
He is surely with the angels now in heaven.
Posted by CHRISJIII on June 4, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My sympathies to this family on the loss of this little boy. This story has really opened my eyes to an unusual risk when children are swimming.I hope that the family can move on successfully from this tragedy.
Posted by ln1959 on June 4, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My condolence goes out to you Ms. Jackson in your time of grief. You are such a strong woman to take time out to warn others while your own heart is hurting.
May God be with you and your family at this time.
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on June 4, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is such a sad story.And today to put a beautiful little face to the story...just heartbreaking.May God bless you and your family Ms.Jackson and bring you strength and peace.I am terribly sorry for your loss.
Posted by Girleygirl on June 4, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel like crying reading this story. I would never ever thought that this type of thing could happen after leaving the pool. Thank you Cassandra for imforming people about your tragedy even though you are mourning. You do not realize your story will help a lot of people. May God bless you during this time.
Posted by MsPiggy on June 4, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This actually made national headlines.
Check out foxnews.com
Posted by Charles_Town on June 4, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My thoughts and prayers to the family involved and the friends who knew them.
Posted by ktmcc on June 4, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"It isn't clear that any actions could have saved Jon Jon."? I don't buy it for a second. I for one am getting sick of the lack of information for the sake of avoiding lawsuits. Give the medical advice if you really want to help people, otherwise you have just given us a terribly sad story with very little resolve... My condolences to the family
Posted by justbeingme on June 4, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is just awful..I've never heard of such a thing !!!
My sincere condolences to Ms. Jackson and the family.
Posted by oldglory on June 4, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My condolences to this mother and family.
Perhaps now would be the time to begin a campaign of signs posted at the entries of swimming pools and beaches to observe your child/children closely for these symptoms following each entry into the water.
Posted by aliden on June 4, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For those of you who need medical explanations . . . Anything is possible, anytime. It simply was his time to go. This little angel has always been and continue's to be in God's hands. How lucky we are to have been touched by Johnny. My deepest condolences to Mrs. Jackson and the family.
Posted by katrenavantassle on June 4, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am going to have to do some major research on this. I cant go all summer with a pool in my back yard and 6 grandkids swimming in it without further documentations on this subject. I cant believe that I have never heard of this before...and they said up to 72 hrs. after swimming?
I just can't believe this...I will check it out.
My condolences to this family.
Posted by greensummervillian on June 4, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To his family: I am very sorry for your loss.
I'm going to tell everyone I know about what happened to Jon Jon and I am going to be vigilant with my own children if they ever do inhale water.
Posted by abitskeptical on June 4, 2008 at 6:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is very sad & strange indeed.
I wonder if the child had, in addition to his other health issues, a condition which prevented the normal & reflexive coughing that would accompany inhalation of pool water?
Normally after inhaling enough water to cause drowning, there is great & noticeable distress & uncontrollable, spasmodic coughing.
Posted by granny2 on June 4, 2008 at 9:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Condolences to the family.
Posted by patigramma on June 6, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My heart goes out to this family on the death of this child. I will be watching children in my pool LIKE A HAWK. My prayers, Blessings, and thoughts to the family. I hope by getting this message out that others are spared this tragedy.
Posted by crysdel on June 7, 2008 at 9:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My heart breaks for the Jackson family. To lose a child is just horrible. As the mother of 5 year old severely Autistic twin boys ( one of who LOVES to drink water in the pool ) this story scared me more than I can say. I know I will have to monitor my guys even more closely than I already do.
God has a special place in Heaven for little Jon Jon. My thoughts and prayers are with the Jacksons during this tragic time.
Christine Delman CT.