After inhaling water while playing in the family’s backyard swimming pool last month, Elianna Grace, 4, became very ill and struggled to breathe.
Elianna was playing with a noodle when the water was forced down her throat, TODAY reported.
“She was blowing in one end and blowing water out the other. By 100% freak accident, Elianna put her mouth to blow out at the same time someone blew in the other end, causing the water to shoot directly down her throat. She threw up immediately but didn’t really have any other notable things happen. 30 minutes after the “accident” she was totally fine – normal, playing, eating, etc. The next day, even, she was fine. Come Monday she developed a fever. Kids get fevers, this is normal. I didn’t think much. Tuesday she slept most of the day but still overall looked fine. Sent her to school Wednesday and got a call in the afternoon that her fever was back.
I kept replaying that pool scene in my head and remembered reading a story last year about a Dad in Texas whose son passed away because he went untreated after inhaling a bunch of pool water. I wasn’t going to let that be Elianna.”
Mom Lacey Grace knew to take her to the hospital because she had read an article about a boy who died from secondary drowning.
Lacey took her daughter to the emergency room and doctors put Elianna on antibiotics to treat the infections caused from water in her lungs.
Elianna was diagnosed with Chemical Pneumonitis, Aspiration Pneumonia and Perihilar Edema.
“Grateful for the ABUNDANT amount of love and gifts my girl has received today. She is such a champ. You have made her day so much brighter. Thank you for the continued prayers,” her mother posted on Facebook.
A gofundme account was set up for Elianna’s hospital bills.
So what is secondary drowning? How’s it different than dry drowning? Should you rush to the emergency room every time your child swallows water? Find out more from TODAY
The experts want people to know that drowning remains a bigger risk.