Life is slowly getting back to normal for a local 11-year-old boy who nearly drowned during a medical emergency at Krepp’s Park pool in Morgantown more than a week ago.
Hours after Jackson Pauley experienced a seizure and fell into the pool on June 8, his parents, Jason and Elizabeth Pauly, and siblings did not know what the outcome would be.
Would Jackson live? Would there be any long-term repercussions from the amount of water he swallowed or the brief loss of a pulse during the rescue?
Over the next few days, Jackson improved a little more each day and was released from WVU Medicine Children’s on Saturday – one week after the incident – with no medical restrictions.
“We’re all just kind of processing still,” Jason said. “You have feelings of relief, but you also know a lot of families that go in there don’t come out, especially under the circumstances.
“I feel like we probably reached about as far as you can go into the grief process without getting there and that bothers me because so many people have to go to that next step. It weighs on my mind a lot,” he said. “Overall, I think we are beyond grateful, just incredibly appreciative and feel very blessed.
While the Pauley family is still working through their emotions, Jason said he is determined to make sure all of those involved in saving Jackson’s life, or those who witnessed the event, are working through the experience and are recognized as heroes.
Ava Biafore, Zach Ribas and Alyssa Guerry, three of the lifeguards who pulled Jackson from the swimming pool and started CPR prior to the arrival of EMS, visited Jackson while he was in the hospital last week. Another lifeguard that day, Dakota Hinebaugh, quickly ran to call 911.
“I hope it was therapeutic for them to see him and see him laughing a little bit,” Jason said. “They went beyond what is imaginable.”
The Pauleys are determined to recognize not only the BOPARC lifeguards, staff and all of those who helped Jackson and their family that day.
“I know the EMS do that every day,” Jason said, “but they don’t get thanked enough and neither does the hospital.”
His real-life heroes weren’t the only ones who to visit Jackson, he also got a visit from a representative from the Pittsburgh Penguins and personal video messages from his favorite player Kris Letang and a bonus message from Drew O’Connor, who also plays for the Penguins.
Jackson is an avid hockey player and is eager to get back out on the ice playing with his summer league, which has a game tonight.
“We’re kind of making him go slow,” Jason said. “We aren’t letting him play, which he isn’t too happy about, but he is going to support the team. We may let him skate later this week.”
Out of respect to the Pauley family and post traumatic event procedures for lifeguards and staff, BOPARC officials closed Krepps pool for the week following the incident.
BOPARC reopened the pool Sunday and it will be open regular hours noon–6 p.m. daily.
