It takes minutes – mere moments, in some cases – for an accident to happen where little ones are involved, but thankfully there has been a positive ending to this US toddler’s story.
The family of two-year-old Catalina Ackers are heaving a major sigh of relief this week, after the tot awoke early and even spoke clearly for first time, after almost drowning in a pond.
According to ABC News, little Catalina wandered off while her family was in the process of moving house and preparing their belongings. Mum Natalie Holiday had a suspicion that something was up, but it was her son who discovered Catalina face-down in a neighbouring pond.
Neighbour Steven Schwab came running, but feared for the worst when he heard the little boy’s screams and found Catalina ‘limp with her eyes closed’.
Emergency services arrived on the scene shortly after, and after performing life-saving CPR on the tot, she began to cough up water. She was then rushed to a nearby hospital in her native Seattle.
Catalina was placed under sedation and, amazingly, she awoke early – and even spoke to her surrounding family, who were keeping a bedside vigil. This is particularly incredible, as Catalina is developmentally delayed and 'barely spoke' before the accident; now, she 'cannot stop speaking'.
“The first thing she said when she came out of sedation was ‘mommy’. She is speaking clear language, words. So, something clicked. Her face is the same, but as her mother, she is a different child," Natalie told local media.
The family are now preparing to bring Catalina home from hospital.
We’re wishing the little girl all the best with her recovery.
