Re: Sad newspiece: 3 yr old with DS died

[Guest guest]

Same thing happened with once when she was about 6 or so. We couldn't

find her, my brother in law was a wreck, she was outside with him and then just

gone. When she was found, she was in the back seat of my mothers car, also

reading books. Her face was red, she was sweaty, pale around the mouth. We

also now lock our cars all the time. So, so scary.

Sharon H.

Mom to , (14, DS) and , (10)

South Carolina

Re: Sad newspiece: 3 yr old with DS died

It's an easy thing to happen....... we were very lucky that we got a

" heads up " that this could happen to anyone. When was about

4, we were all outside, in our yard doing yardwork (us) and playing (all

the kids). The yard is completely fenced, and since we had already had

experience with leaving to visit the neighbors, the gates were

either locked or chained so she couldn't escape :-) Totally safe,

everyone enjoying the beautiful warm day. Without our knowledge,

left the playset and went over to the car, got in, and started

looking at her books (there were always books in the car by her seat).

Since we were out there, I noticed pretty quickly that she wasn't on the

swing anymore and went to find her........ looked everywhere, outside

and inside..... started to panic, since the gates were still securely

closed. Finally, I was walking by the car and saw her in there, sitting

in her carseat with a book. She was very hot and sweaty, but happily

" reading " away. Besides a few gray hairs for me, it turned out OK and

now we lock the cars, but it still happened once more time when someone

was visiting....... she slipped outside and got into their unlocked

car. Again, we noticed her missing very quickly and she was fine, but I

always shudder to think of what easily might have happened to her.

I think about the scary things that have been " first time " antics

(running, hiding, etc) for many of us parents, and am extra thankful

today that most of these turn out to be a lesson for us, and how we

often need to be extra vigilant. Sadly, this family learned about the

DS " escaping " gene the hard way. I cannot imagine their pain, yet they

have to courage to share their painful experience with others, hoping

that this does not happen to another child.

, mom to (10), (8 DS), and **Sammy (6)

** note the change of name..... I have been informed (by her) that she

is a tomboy and she wants to be called Sammy (with a " y " , not a cute " i "

or " ie " ) or Sam :-)

mommie2dsangel wrote:

>I got the from another board and thought I would share

>

>The original text can be found at:

>http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=4963236

>

>I just don't understand how an accident like this could happen.....

>

>May 30, 2006

>

>KNOXVILLE (WATE/AP) -- The Knox County medical examiner confirms

>Tuesday the death of a three-year-old boy found in a sweltering car

>Sunday was accidental. And the family says other parents can learn

>from what happened.

>

>Three-year-old Womack slipped out of his house and into an

>unlocked car in his family's driveway.

>

>When he was found, the temperature in that car, according to

>investigators, measured 169 degrees.

>

> had Down Syndrome and was born with a heart condition. He had

>open heart surgery as an infant.

>

>Now, his mother, , is agonizing over what happened. " We didn't

>just not notice he was gone. As soon as we were up, which we always

>slept in on the weekends, almost every weekend, every Sunday at

>least because I was off, we always slept in with him. He usually

>slept with us but for some reason that morning, he went outside. "

>

> " I just... I don't think he suffered. I have to think he didn't

>suffer. I have to think that he fell asleep. He didn't feel the

>heat. He didn't feel anything. He was just asleep. "

>

> " He was a happy, happy kid. He felt safe. He always felt safe. He

>always knew that one of us would get there. We just didn't make it

>in time, " adds.

>

>A friend found 's body in the car just after 1:00 p.m.

>Sunday. " He just screamed and it was an awful scream. The worst

>thing that you would ever want to hear, just oh my God, he's in the

>car, " says.

>

> " This last year, he was the happiest kid I ever saw in my life, "

>says his grandfather, Jerre Gibson. " He was an explorer. He loved to

>explore and he loved to pretend drive. "

>

> says she was up late with Saturday night because of a

>power outage. " He got scared. We sang songs and told him we would

>draw a picture, sang 'Jesus Loves Me' and then we put him to bed. "

>

>The next day, everyone except slept in.

>

>Now the grieving family is reaching out so it in hopes it won't

>happen to anyone else. " No matter where you live, no matter how safe

>you think you are, lock your car doors, " says.

>

>The Department of Children's Services and the sheriff's office

>investigated 's death.

>

>The temperature in a car can reach deadly levels in minutes, even if

>the windows are open a little.

>

>Safety tips for keeping kids safe include:

>

>Keep vehicles locked at all times,even in the garage or driveway.

>Never leave keys in children's reach.

>Teach children never to play in or around vehicles.

>Make sure all young passengers have left your car after it is

>parked.

>When a child is missing, check vehicles and trunks immediately.

>If a child is locked in a vehicle, get him or her out as quickly as

>possible. If the child is hot or appears sick, call 911 or your

>local emergency number immediately.

>According to the web site kidsincars.org, as of March, 23 children

>in Tennessee have died in vehicle related incidents. And nationwide

>in 2006, 22 children have died.

>

> Womack's family will receive friends Wednesday night from 6:00

>to 8:00 at s Mortuary in North Knoxville.

>

> will be buried Thursday morning at 10:45 at Lynnhurst Cemetery

>at 11:00.

>

>The family asks that memorials be made to:

>

>Down Syndrome Awareness Group of East Tennessee

>P.O. Box 53575

>Knoxville, TN 37950

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

>

[Guest guest]

I just don't understand how an accident like this could happen.....

We are another family, who have had the 'fun' of searching high and low for

our precious child to discover him playing in the car. For Trent though it

wasn't just a nice quite read, he was acting out Jurassic Park - the scene

where the kids are in the car, lying on their back hands and feet up towards

the roof in the hope of stopping the dinosaur from squashing the roof down

onto them!

At least for us it was winter time although early morning the extra worry

for us was at the time we were living on a farm, plenty of open paddocks and

dams nearby. Fortunately we found him before we started searching the

paddocks.

That was probably about when I started locking the car all the time - and

still do although Trent is well aware were I keep the keys and knows how to

unlock the car - these days at least he has outgrown playing in the car,

just brings things inside which I like to keep in the car - like my

backpack.

The thing is never under estimate the intelligence and capabilities of our

kids - just because they don't show interest in something doesn't mean they

don't understand and will try it at a later date to prove independence.

Keep smiling

Jan, mother of Trent 21yo w/DS from the LandDownUnder

[Guest guest]

This brings up an interesting point. We double gate Myah's door (one on top

of the other) because she is not a kid who would come to our room when she

wakes up (and with her sleep habits that could be ANY time-day or night). I

have always said (despite some questions about it) that I felt this was best

for her safety. We also have locks on the tops of our exterior doors. This

probably isn't the best plan for fires, but I think it's needed. Call it a

cage if you want-in my opinion it's the way it has to be.

, mom to Myah DS 5, and Shianne 20mo

RE: Sad newspiece: 3 yr old with DS died

I just don't understand how an accident like this could happen.....

We are another family, who have had the 'fun' of searching high and low for

our precious child to discover him playing in the car. For Trent though it

wasn't just a nice quite read, he was acting out Jurassic Park - the scene

where the kids are in the car, lying on their back hands and feet up towards

the roof in the hope of stopping the dinosaur from squashing the roof down

onto them!

At least for us it was winter time although early morning the extra worry

for us was at the time we were living on a farm, plenty of open paddocks and

dams nearby. Fortunately we found him before we started searching the

paddocks.

That was probably about when I started locking the car all the time - and

still do although Trent is well aware were I keep the keys and knows how to

unlock the car - these days at least he has outgrown playing in the car,

just brings things inside which I like to keep in the car - like my

backpack.

The thing is never under estimate the intelligence and capabilities of our

kids - just because they don't show interest in something doesn't mean they

don't understand and will try it at a later date to prove independence.

Keep smiling

Jan, mother of Trent 21yo w/DS from the LandDownUnder

Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

[Guest guest]

---------------------------------

I am so saddened by this story - it is one of those that I keep thinking about,

but I am so grateful that this family let us all learn a lesson by sharing this

tragedy with us. I will be locking our car doors from now on, too.

I usually think our house is pretty safe for our kids, but sometimes these

things you don't think about (for me, anyway) can pose a danger. I haven't had

to deal with the bedroom doors yet, but we have seen how Olivia can wander

around at night, and now she is tall enough to flip the light switches. I bet

she'll be trying the front door soon. Our back door sticks so bad, the big kids

have trouble with it.

There was a young girl in our community who I read about, she was 20, and last

year she died of " unexpectedly, of natural causes. " I always wonder, when I hear

something like that, what happened? Can this happen to Olivia too?

One other thing: maybe some of you remember, around 3 years ago, my son, 4 at

the time, " disappeared. " The police and our entire neighborhood went looking for

him - he was sleeping in the boy's house (in the boy's bed!) where I thought he

was all along. The reporters who came out here got basic facts wrong about the

story. So, I have seen how there can be more to a story than what is told. And

since that incident, even though thank God, was ok, every time the

" anniversary " of that day comes around - right around his birthday too - my dh

and I remember how terrifying that was.

Take care everyone,

Patty, in Ohio

maybe I can write an update soon on Olivia, her glasses and preschool, which

just finished for the school year!!

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I can...I have a 13 year old with Down's and she is a roamer....we have tried

everything to keep her in. At 13 she can even work those door knob things. At

3 we didn't know she was going to roam yet. If she had tried it would have been

easy.

Hugs

beth

http://www.tracheostomy.com/trachkids/kids2/brittany.htm

I am the " special needs " child. I am your teacher. If you allow me, I will teach

you what is really important in life. I will give you and teach you

unconditional love. I gift you with my innocent trust and my total dependency. I

teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for

granted. I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams. I

teach you giving. Most of all, I teach you hope and faith. ~Author Unknown~