In yesterday’s post, I shared some fun pics and lessons from my recent trip to Lava Hot Springs.
One thing I didn’t share was a scary moment that occurred while we were at the pool.
They have these diving platforms there and the highest one is 33 feet high (3 stories).
They make you sign a waiver if you want to jump off.
After my 12-year-old son begged me for 10 or 15 minutes – I signed the waiver and we were watching as Rob and Kimberly’s son, Levi, jumped from the highest platform.
Just as he came from the water, you could tell there was something wrong.
I could see him whispering something to the lifeguard and I could see Rob (Levi’s dad) from behind the life-guard preparing to jump in.
Fortunately, the lifeguard jumped in, tilted Levis head back so he could support his neck properly and began to swim him to the other side of the pool as Levi limply floated along.
Our hearts sank as the pool was cleared out and Levi was rushed to the first aid room and an ambulance was called.
After what seemed like an eternity of tense moments, prayers and me peeking through the door of the first aid room to watch them work on Levi as he struggled with his breathing and his mobility, we finally got the word that he was ok.
The lady at the desk told me that they an ambulance is called at that pool 4 to 5 times per week…
(I’m thinking – gee that would be great info to have before signing the waiver) …
She then told me that most of the time the people are not taken to the hospital because in the vast majority of cases, the swimmer is suffering from shock which can be treated without hospitalization.
I think Levi may have tweaked his back a bit, gotten the wind knocked out of him and had some shock too.
After some rest that day he seemed to fully recover.
I tried to use this experience to share with my boys how fast life can change.
One minute everything can be going great – and another, tragedy can strike.
It’s a reminder and a call for gratitude and conscious awareness of how good life really is, most of the time.
It’s also a challenge to not hesitate or procrastinate in doing the things you really want to do in life because truthfully none of us really knows how long we have.
Each moment – is a gift.
If you want to start that business, start it!
If you want to make that call, make it!
If you want to do that thing, do it!
Don’t let fear or laziness steal your best moments because you never really know how many you might have.
And those, for me, are the lessons from Levi’s near tragedy.