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never talk, possibly be blind or deaf, that he would live his life out, as long as that might be, being fed through a feeding tube because the neuro pathways from his brain were so damaged that he would never be able to swallow on his own. Yet five weeks after his tragic near drowning Jesse James Arrigo is breathing on his own, his eyes blinking and following and he has just passed a swallow test which shows promise that he will one day soon be able to swallow again without the use of a feeding tube, and then as the family says, “the building back of his life can begin.”
Jesse’s grandparents and his mother Kristin have accepted the reality that Jesse’s rehabilitation may be ongoing for years to come but without hesitation they confess, “We know that Jesse’s life has incredible purpose. We have seen so many small miracles already, and they are adding up to a plan bigger than we ourselves know.” Jesse’s grandfather Bob Arrigo says, “ Friends, family, neighbors and perfect strangers have all been amazing. The outpouring of love and support we feel is emotionally heart wrenching. We are already so grateful for so many who have given of themselves to help the family through this tragedy”.
On May 17th, 2012 at the age of ten months, Jesse James Arrigo fell into his grandparents backyard garden pond and drowned. Moments later as his grandmother called 911, in shocked horror his mother pulled him from the water and frantically began infant CPR and chest compressions on her toddler. In ensuing moments an off duty police officer that heard her screams for help leapt over their back fence and continued CPR. Paramedics, the Fire Department and Police followed suit and by the time they had the baby’s heart beating again forty five minutes had passed. In the following hour Jesse survived two more cardiac arrests for a total estimated time of fifty five minutes without oxygen.
Three and a half hours passed one long moment at a time at Mississauga’s Credit Valley Hospital in an effort to stabilize Jesse’s vital signs before he was rushed to Toronto’s Hospital For Sick Children. From the first hour at Sick Kids the doctor’s prognosis was Jesse’s imminent passing. The family cried and prayed and Jesse held on and lived through the night. Three times since the hospital has expected his passing but Jesse lives on fighting for every hour.
Breathing on his own now the baby is able to leave the hospital for a couple of hours at a time and has begun therapy not offered at Sick Kids Hospital. Doctors said that he would never walk again,
Baby Jesse's Story
"Sometimes it looks like you and me against the world...".
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