NOTE FROM THE MACS STAFF

Preston's story was written before he passed away. We will update his story as soon as we receive more information from his family.

Preston was born on June 21st, 1990. He was a happy and healthy baby and grew up as a normal child.

On July 8th, 1995, Preston, nearly drowned, just 2 weeks past his 5th birthday. We do not own a pool, this accident happened at someone else's home while we were attending a barbecue party. No one was in, around or near the pool when Preston ran out to put a toy in the toy box near the pool, tripped and fell, bumped his head and rolled into the water. He actually did DROWN and was totally gone with no heartbeat and no respiration after being in the water for 3 - 5 minutes.

CPR was preformed immediately with no success. The paramedics used paddles over and over along with every other method known, to bring him back. After about 10 minutes they had a breath. He was taken by Bayflight (helicopter) to All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL. where he was not expected to live more than 72 hours. We were encouraged to shut off the machines because he was considered brain dead at that time. My personal and religious beliefs would not allow me to do this as I believe that when God gives someone the PRIVILEGE of giving birth, He also gives that person the responsibility to love and care for their child no matter what.

Preston is no longer in a vegetative state, however, the accident left him profoundly handicapped. None the less, he remains the light of my life! He cannot walk, talk or feed himself. He has a partially collapsed lung for which the diaphragm is now totally paralyzed. He has had pneumonia 6 times since the accident. His bowels do not work on their own and kidneys are not the best. He has reflux and epilepsy. He is currently on 13 medications daily and will be going in the hospital for another CT Scan on his brain soon. The doctors think that he may be accumulating water on his brain because of the many neurological problems he is experiencing. We have had Hospice since his accident. Although it has been 3 1/2 years, he is still considered "Hospice appropriate" because he is very fragile and has come close to death many times since the accident. His life is expected to be limited to childhood. The most wonderful thing about Preston is that God has given him the gift of a happy heart. He smiles often and loves kisses and hugs more than anything. When I hug him and squeeze him as I constantly do, you will hear him say "ahhhhhhh"! It is the only sound he ever makes. We are very thankful for his happy heart and beautiful smile!

I would like to take this opportunity to tell everyone reading this, that drowning is the # 1 cause of death in young children in Florida and the # 2 cause of death in the USA. If you have a swimming pool please fence it and protect your children as well as any other child who might happen to be near your pool! Just so you know, Preston and I are working very hard to get legislation that will require every new pool to come complete with a fence. Preston and I testified before the Senate and House of Representative 7 times in 1998 and will we be going back to testify again the first week of March 1999. I would also like to mention here how important it is to take the time to love and enjoy THEIR family members. As I tell EVERYONE I talk to, it doesn't matter who you are or how much you love your family, you just don't know what tomorrow will bring so you have to take the time to appreciate them TODAY! In doing so, they will not only be giving and receiving the gift of love, but they will also be bringing meaning and purpose to Preston's life and his accident.

Yesterday is history,
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a "gift",
That's why it's called...
"The Present"

(..... to be continued .....)