HIGHLAND, Ill. – Kristin Hagopian blew bubbles with her three-year-old son on the back porch of their Highland home Monday night. Myles was all smiles as he chased after each bubble, hoping to catch them before they popped.
The sound of her son’s voice was something the ICU nurse feared would be gone forever when Myles nearly drowned during a June pool get-together with co-workers at the house of one of their friends. She was with her three children, co-workers, and their children.
“It just happened so fast,” Hagopian said.
Myles was found near the bottom of the pool and Hagopian’s co-workers sprang into action. They pulled him from the water and instantly began performing CPR.
“With every ounce of my being, I thank my coworkers for what they did,” she said. “I’ll never really be able to tell them how grateful I am.”
Myles was rushed to an area hospital, where he remained for a couple of days. Doctors have since found no ill-effects from the near drowning.
“Nurses do amazing things,” Hagopian said. “They really do, and I don’t think that they often get the recognition they deserve.”
Hagopian is sharing her story because she hopes parents will learn from her son’s near drowning. According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1-4.
In addition to reminding parents about being safe near water, Hagopian also encourages everyone to learn CPR.
“If you can know what to do in these kinds of situations, you absolutely should,” she said.
