In situations where a child’s life is at stake, emergency room staff come together to help. On January 24, Gillian Burnett and Garth Saunders were faced with the dreaded call that their 20-month-old son, Waylon Saunders, had fallen into a swimming pool at daycare and had been submerged for roughly 5 minutes. Waylon was pulled from the icy water without a pulse and was considered clinically dead.
After Waylon was found clinically dead, he was quickly transported to Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital, a local hospital in Petrolia, Ontario. Dr. Nathan Taylor was on duty at the time and reports that the hospital staff immediately sprang into action upon hearing about the toddler’s arrival. “The other doctors I work with at our family health team came running, left their offices, to help out,” he explained.
Waylon’s body temperature was so low upon arrival that the equipment was unable to detect it. He had gone into cardiac arrest, and the hospital staff, including lab techs, EMS workers, and nurses, took turns performing CPR on him for almost three hours. The whole team worked together, with lab techs using portable heaters to warm the room, EMS personnel rotating through as compressors and assisting with airway management, and nurses even running to microwave water to help with warming. Dr. Taylor also noted that they had support on the line from the team in London throughout the ordeal. It was truly a team effort to save Waylon’s life.
Dr. Janice Tijsenn, the director of pediatric care at Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, provided remote guidance to the Petrolia team over the phone. When Waylon’s body temperature rose, and his heart started beating on its own, he was transported to London Victoria Hospital for further treatment.
After surviving the night against all odds, Waylon was put into a medically induced coma to ensure his body could fight for his life while remaining relaxed. During this time, he received excellent care from a large team of medical professionals who kept him comfortable as his organs began to heal. Dr. Tijsenn stated that Waylon exceeded all expectations upon waking up.
Just two weeks later, Waylon was able to leave the hospital on his own two feet. His parents credit the medical professionals who stepped up to save their son’s life as not just heroes, but “God’s soldiers.”
On Facebook, Waylon’s mother announced that they were finally going home. Waylon will have numerous appointments and will have to remain on seizure medication, but the doctors are amazed at his rapid progress. He has exceeded expectations and left medical professionals with no explanation as to how he has progressed so well and so quickly.
Waylon is currently at home recovering and being spoiled by his family, particularly his older sister. The daycare owner has been charged with criminal negligence, and the family recently visited the doctors, nurses, and staff to express their gratitude for saving Waylon’s life. It was truly a team effort, and as the hospital stated, “They say it takes a village to raise a child, and in the case of Waylon Saunders, it also took a village to save one.”