West Chester Township – A local family is facing a heartbreaking medical crisis after a Labor Day incident that left a 4‑year‑old boy, Quavez, in critical condition on a ventilator. The near‑drowning occurred at a residence on Cedar Creek Drive, where both children were found at the bottom of a swimming pool.
Family’s account of the emergency
Erica Smith, the children’s mother, said she received a frantic call informing her that her 3‑year‑old daughter, Autumn, and her son, Quavez, had been discovered in the pool and were being rushed to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. “And I said, ‘OK, what happened?’ And they were like, ‘All we know is that your kids were found in a pool,’” Smith recalled, adding that she “lost it.”
Smith rushed to the hospital, where she witnessed doctors performing life‑saving measures on her son. “I saw them drop my son’s bed and the doctor get on top of him and pump his chest … do compressions until I heard, ‘we’ve got a beat,’” she said.
Current medical status
Nearly two weeks after the incident, Autumn has been discharged and is recovering at home, though she now expresses a deep fear of water. Quavez, however, remains in critical condition on a ventilator. Doctors have warned that his recovery may be prolonged and could result in lasting effects. “He is very, very critical,” Smith said. “I shouldn’t expect my son to be the same Quavez that he was.”
Smith described her son as “energetic, bubbly and loving,” noting the emotional toll of not hearing his voice since the Friday before the accident. “That was the last time I heard my son say, ‘Mommy,’” she said, describing the situation as “devastating.”
Investigation and community response
West Chester investigators have classified the near‑drowning as an accidental event, but the investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to determine how the children accessed the pool. Smith expressed lingering questions, asking, “Where was there a pool? Where? How did they get around the pool?”
The local community has rallied around the family, offering prayers and support. Smith said she is “praying for a miracle while my son continues to fight to recover.” A fundraiser has been set up to assist the family with medical expenses and related costs.
What families can do to prevent similar tragedies
While the investigation proceeds, safety experts remind parents and caregivers to secure pools with proper fencing, self‑closing gates, and alarms. Constant supervision, especially for young children, remains the most effective safeguard against accidental drownings.
For those wishing to help, contributions can be made through the family’s fundraising page, which is linked in the original report.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
