Summer Time Tips for Water Safety

July 11, 2014 / Comments Off

By Shannon Purcell, AngelMom to Kyle and Swim Instructor

Joshua Hamrick featured in the picture, age 10

We know Angels are fascinated with water, let’s have a fun and safe summer!

1. Touch supervision…be within arm’s length of your child at all times
2. Arm floaties, noodles, and inner tubes should not be considered safety devices under any circumstance. A Coast Guard-approved life jacket is always recommended.
3. CPR is a must and saves lives. Anyone with a seizure disorder should always be monitored with one-on-one supervision
4. Make sure your pool is up to code and always make sure a minimum of a 4-foot fence surrounds the pool on all 4 sides and separates the pool from the house.
5. Be aware that drowning can happen even in very shallow water. Wading pools should always be emptied after each use.

My son, Nathan, was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome shortly after his second birthday. He didn’t walk until he was almost three years old. The prognosis that doctors gave him was grim. He wouldn’t be able to walk, talk, or do much of anything. The doctors said that Nathan would have epilepsy, constipation, feeding issues, acid reflux, and sleep issues. Therefore, he would require lifelong care.

Today, Nathan runs, says “Mama and Papa”! Nathan’s seizures, that started when he was 15 months old, have stopped due to dietary therapy. Also, he has no more acid reflux, no more constipation! His sleep disorder is under control without medication. He sleeps ALL NIGHT! We have beaten the odds of Angelman Syndrome. He is not lucky, his progress was not by chance but because I started him on dietary therapy very early. Monitoring his health very closely has been crucial. Very specific, and in-depth testing, allowed us to dial in his health like a fine tuned race car.

This is the hope and inspiration I want to share with the world! His genes are not his destiny.

By Shannon Purcell, AngelMom to Kyle and Swim Instructor

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