BY DAWN REED

It was a scene I won’t soon forget.

Last Friday evening was our Vacation Bible School pool party. Two-year-old Ryder* was in the kiddie swimming pool. I was standing with his mom at the edge. She never took her eyes off her boy.

“Are you having a good time?” I had just asked him. He smiled brightly and nodded his head. Suddenly he tipped back and went underwater. His mom instantly stepped down and pulled Ryder from the pool. His toddler body was pale and lifeless. 

CPR was started immediately. Whitney, a friend and nurse, began chest compressions. She called the boy’s name again and again, then began praying loudly. I stood with the boy’s mom as Breanna, another nurse/friend, took over mouth-to-mouth. 

It was surreal. “How could this be happening?” I wondered to myself. We prayed where we stood. All I could whisper was “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”

Lifeguards came running. Someone called 911. 

“Come on Ryder!” Whitney continued to yell as she worked. I could see her face; she was crying. I was, too. We all were.

This little boy’s family had been through so much lately. We begged the Lord that they wouldn’t have another heartache to add. We could hear a siren in the distance.